One for Edwin

[Chas]

Took this photo today and thought of Edwin . Hope it is not too cold at the moment where you live, it is very hot here.

Guimaras Island from Iloilo

Guimaras Island from Iloilo.JPG (113.1 KiB) Viewed 3750 times

Paid a quick visit to Iloilo and took this photo of Jordan on Guimaras. Unfortunately I did not have time to explore Guimaras.

[Edwin]

Thank you for that, Chas! Carol visited her brother, who lived on Guimaras Island. She visited him in year 2006. She and they spent lots of time going from the island to Iloilo, back and forth, as they is where they did all their shopping, in the open markets and so on. I was supposed to be there in year 2010, but Carol's brother was too occupied installing a solar electrtric system to come to get me. They planned to come get me, but they had problems with what they were doing, and people were coming from China to help them, so I spent all my time between Manila and Southern Negros Oriental with my friends' filopino families there. It was a disappointment, but I had lots of fun with all those people, so it was okay. Our sister-in-law still lives there, so we are still connected to that place. I'm glad you were able to visit the Philippines again, and thank you for that picture!

[crisipicada]

Wow that is good to hear from you, Chas.... Yes, it is very hot in the Philippines, for it is summer right now... I got so many moments to faint because of high temperature this season (dry season) . How have you been, Chas?And your health, I mean....

[Chas]

Thank you for the enquiry Crispi. I am enjoying myself searching for steam engines and photographing them. I hope to get access to the BISCOM sugar cane mill tomorrow where I believe some derelict locomotives remain. Then home.

An important part of the Philippines industrial heritage is being lost as locomotives and other machinery is scrapped or allowed to rust away. A shame as future generations of Filipinos will have to rely on photographs to learn about the wealth sugar brought to the Philippines and it's place in the industrial development of the country.

I discovered reading about Iloilo City that an Englishman, Nicholas Loney, was instrumental in the expansion of the sugar industry on Panay. Unfortunately despite asking many people it seems no railway relics exist on Panay, or at least not in the immediate vicinity of Iloilo.

[Edwin]

Yes, Chas, railroads have an interesting history. My grandfather and great grandfather came west USA working on the railroad. My Mom's family, her grandparents came west on the railroad. For many years cargo was shipped on the railroad, but trucks have replaced the railroad, and many tracks have been removed. Carol with her 1st grade class when she was a first grader got a ride with her class on passenger railroad cars from the town where they lived to the next town. I got an unwanted ride, and I was worried about how far out of town the train would go before they stopped as I was on top of a chip car putting a net on, and they didn't realize I was up there, so down the tracks we went, but not very far! I was able to walk back. A year and a half ago or so Carol, I, her cousin, his wife went on a short train ride north of Spokane to Medeline Falls and back. The trip was supported by the Shriners who help children with medical needs. The cars were antique from the 1930s and it was a lot of fun. Last summer Carol and one of our daughters rode cross country from Spokane to the East Coast USA on the train to visit our grandson who is a Youth Pastor, and worship leader, piano, guitar, and singing in an Assembly of God church there. It is amazing that they traveled 120 miles per hour on that train until the weather got hot, and then they slowed down to about 60 miles per hour, because in the heat the rails expand, and they were afraid of derailing the train! Lots of fun with trains! I am glad Chas that you enjoy researching, visiting and photographing trains!