User:Longcake Higad/Trams in the Philippines

Trams are first introduced in the Philippines with the completion of the steam-powered Malabon Line of the tranvia system in 1885 under the Spanish colonial era. Horse-drawn tram lines were in full operations in 1889. During the American occupation, the existing tranvia had been electrified and expanded, and construction of new lines in provinces outside Manila had commenced. Trams in the Philippines are long defunct, though short stretches of heritage light rail serve as part of tourist attractions.

Tranvia
The tranvia was the first railway system to run in the country and at Manila. The tranvia came from a decree that details plans and standards for railways in the Spanish colony, known as the Formularios para la reducion de los anteproyectos de ferrocarriles. The standard gauge tramway became part of a business venture of Jacobo Zóbel y Zangroniz, engineer Luciano M. Bremon, and banker Adolfo Bayo, in 1882. The tranvia first served the province of Manila and the city of Malabon, and then was extended throughout Manila, utilizing horse-drawn coaches.

When the Americans took over the Philippines, Charles M. Swift with his franchise of Meralco assumed ownership of the tranvia in 1902. The streetcar system was subsequently expanded, with services extending to Pasig and other districts in Manila. Animal power was replaced with overhead electric systems and subsequently, trolleybuses.

Today, replicas of the tranvia had been produced. Within Intramuros, the replicas had rubber tyres as the steel rails had long been removed. Streetcar designs are housed at the Meralco Museum.

Corregidor
A cape-gauge railroad system was constructed in Corregidor in 1901 to ease the transport of heavy goods during the fortification of the island, despite having around 104.6 km of roads and trails. The overall track length was about 21 km. As the rugged terrain called for tight curves, 0-4-0 saddle tank engines were utilized; the steam engine technology was regarded as a "prime mover" back then. The island also had varying steep grades, and so cable inclines are used. This first stretch of railway allowed the Americans to construct the resistant concrete structures and gun batteries that exist up to this date.

In 1909, construction for electric trolley lines commenced. The island streetcars used a 600V overhead electric system, and are used to facilitate easier transport between batteries. U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps managed the short railway, with some technical assistance from the Manila Street Railroad Company. Operations are reported to be with no incident except during 1925 when a runaway trolley car went down a hill that killed eight people.

When war began on December 8, 1941, the railroad allowed evacuation of the hospital, heavy equipment and other utilities to Malinta Tunnel using electric freight motors. Continuous bombing rendered severe damage to the railway, and the salvaged railroad parts were used to reinforce additional protection during the Japanese Occupation. As Corregidor was liberated in 1942, the Japanese attempted to revive the railway by repairing a single line, but that plan was then scrapped. Today, the line remains unused, with a few markers and slabs standing and some trails, covered through erosion along the island's contours.

Philippine National Railways
Streetcar branch lines of narrow gauge were connected to the Main Line North of the then-Manila Railroad Company. These provincial tramways are built during the American colonial period, and are connected to the Main Line North.

Paniqui-Camiling railway
In 1907, 17.7 km of tracks were laid, utilizing 11.3 kg rails. The Manila Railroad Company played a role in operations by providing traction engines and other railroad vehicles for use in the line.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
The resort catering to bahay na bato architecture and historical architecture in Bataan operated a short tramway. The attraction uses wooden painted coaches.

Nagcarlan tramline
Resembling more of a cable car system, the Nagcarlan agricultural tramline system was made in 2011 to haul local harvest vegetables and fruits at Barangay Bukal. The tramline is powered by a diesel engine, and its length is 1.8 km, connecting the farmland at Mount Banahaw to the market road. Beyond the year of construction, no updates had been made.