The Main Line North, commonly known as Northrail is a defunct railroad line of the Philippine National Railways. It was also called in such names like the Manila-Dagupan Line, Manila-San Fernando Line and Manila-La Union Line.
History
Originally part of the Manila-Dagupan Railroad, the proposal for a railroad line across Luzon was submitted by Don Eduardo Lopez Navarro on June 26, 1875 as a royal decree of King Alfonso XIII of Spain, the concession was awarded on January 1, 1887, the cornerstone for the Tutuban station was laid on July 31, commencing the construction of the line.
The first segment was opened on March 24, 1891 from Manila to Bagbag, February 2, 1892 to Mabalacat, June 1 to Tarlac and November 24 to Dagupan, the Rio Grande de Pampanga Bridge was opened on May 1, 1894, completing the whole project.
The line was completed to San Fernando, La Union on May 16, 1929. A preliminary survey for a extension towards Vigan was conducted in the late 30s, planned was shelved and abandoned because of the Main Line's damages during the war.
Rolling Stock
The Manila-Dagupan Line has 34 locomotives, 76 passenger cars, 16 baggage cars and 537 freight cars. Passenger cars uses Vacuum Brakes and Hand Brakes for the freight cars. Steam locos varies from British to American.
Station List
| Station Name | Distance | Code | Location | Opening Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manila | 0.0 | MA / TU | Tondo, Manila | March 24, 1891 |
| Caloocan | 5.22 | CN | Caloocan City, Metro Manila | March 24, 1891 |
| Acacia | ACA | Acacia, Malabon City, Metro Manila | ||
| Polo | 11.55 | VAL / PO | Valenzeuala City, Metro Manila | March 24, 1891 |
| Meycauayan | 15.01 | MY | Meycauayan City, Bulacan | March 24, 1891 |
| ITM | ITM | Marilao, Bulacan | ||
| Marilao | 18.12 | MR | Saog, Marilao, Bulacan | March 24, 1891 |
| Bocaue | 22.46 | BO | Bocaue, Bulacan | March 24, 1891 |
| Taal | TAAL | Taal, Bocaue, Bulacan | ||
| Balagtas | 26.43 | TAS | Balagtas, Bulacan | March 24, 1891 |
| Guiguinto | 29.11 | GG | Cruz, Guiguinto, Bulacan | March 24, 1891 |
| Tabang | Tabang, Guiguinto | 1929 | ||
| Santa Isabel | 33.62 | YS | Santa Isabel, Malolos | |
| Dakila | DK | Dakila, Malolos | 1929 | |
| Malolos | 37.14 | ML | Malolos City, Bulacan | March 24, 1891 |
| Longos | OS | Longos, Calumpit | ||
| San Marcos | 42.98 | MO | San Marcos, Calumpit | 1929 |
| Bagbag | BBG | Iba Este, Calumpit | March 24, 1891 | |
| Calumpit | 45.96 | CT | Calumpit, Bulacan | February 23, 1892 |
| Calumpit Norte | Gatbuca, Calumpit | February 23, 1892 | ||
| Sulipan | SLP | Sulipan, Apalit | ||
| Apalit | 49.69 | AP | Apalit, Pampanga | February 23, 1892 |
| Macaluc | 52.40 | MC | Minalin, Pampanga | |
| Santo Tomas | 58.39 | STP | Santo Tomas, Pampanga | February 23, 1892 |
| San Fernando | 61.61 | SFP | San Fernando City, Pampanga | February 23, 1892 |
| Calulut | 69.83 | CU | Calulut, San Fernando City | February 23, 1892 |
| Tablante | 73.75 | Baliti, San Fernando City | 1924 | |
| Angeles | 78.44 | AG | Angeles City, Pampanga | February 23, 1892 |
| Balibago | CKP | Balibago, Angeles City | ||
| Dau | 82.81 | DU | Dau, Mabalacat City | November 11, 1902 |
| Mabalacat | 87.10 | MB | Mabalacat City, Pampanga | February 23, 1892 |
| Bamban | 93.62 | BN | Bamban, Tarlac | June 1, 1892 |
| Capas | 102.34 | CA | Capas, Tarlac | June 1, 1892 |
| Talaga | Talaga, Capas | |||
| Murcia | 109.91 | MU | San Agustin, Concepcion, Tarlac | June 1, 1892 |
| San Miguel | 112.33 | SM | San Miguel, Tarlac City, Tarlac | 1929 |
| Tarlac | 119.43 | TR | Tarlac City, Tarlac | June 1, 1892 |
| Albendia | ||||
| Dalayap | 123.20 | YAP | Dalayap, Tarlac | |
| Parsolingan | 126.12 | LIN | Parsolingan, Gerona | 1929 |
| Amacalan | Amacalan, Gerona | |||
| Gerona | 131.79 | GA | Gerona, Tarlac | November 24, 1892 |
| Paniqui | 139.52 | PI | Paniqui, Tarlac | November 24, 1892 |
| San Julian | 144.3 | San Julian, Moncada | August 9, 1926 | |
| Moncada | 146.78 | MD | Moncada, Tarlac | November 24, 1892 |
| Poponto | 152.36 | PP | Poponto, Bautista | |
| Bautista | 161.61 | BT | Bautista, Pangasinan | November 24, 1892 |
| Bayambang | 163.39 | BB | Bayambang, Pangasinan | November 24, 1892 |
| Quesada | 168.70 | QUE | Nalsian Norte, Malasiqui | |
| Don Pedro | 171.27 | PRO | Don Pedro, Malasiqui | |
| Polong | PLN | Polong, Malaiqui | 1939 | |
| Malasiqui | 175.96 | MQ | Malasiqui, Pangasinan | November 24, 1892 |
| San Carlos | 182.03 | SC | San Carlos, Pangasinan | November 24, 1892 |
| Buenlag | 188.77 | Buenlag, Calasiao | ||
| Calasiao | 191.85 | CA | Calasiao, Pangasinan | November 24, 1892 |
| Dagupan 2nd | DG | Mayombo, Dagupan | 1935 | |
| Dagupan | 195.60 | DG | Dagupan City, Pangasinan | November 24, 1892 |
| Maasin P. | Maasin, Mangaldan | 1939 | ||
| Mangaldan | 202.68 | MN | Mangaldan, Pangasinan | January 11, 1908 |
| Patalan | Patalan, San Fabian | 1939 | ||
| San Fabian | 207.58 | FA | San Fabian, Pangasinan | January 11, 1908 |
| Sapdaan | Sapdaan, San Fabian | 1939 | ||
| Alacan | 212.85 | AC | Alacan, San Fabian | July 5, 1908 |
| Rabon | 218.07 | RN | Rabon, San Fabian | July 5, 1908 |
| Bani | 219.6 | Bani, Rosario | June 30, 1926 | |
| Damortis | 221.10 | DM | Damortis, Rosario, La Union | 1938 |
| Old Damortis | 222.20 | DOS | Damortis, Rosario, La Union | November 14, 1908 |
| Cupang | 224.85 | Cupang, Santo Tomas | November 14, 1908 | |
| Santo Tomas U | 227.71 | STU | Santo Tomas, La Union | November 14, 1908 |
| Agoo | 231.96 | GO | Agoo, La Union | December 4, 1908 |
| Paraton | 235.92 | San Pedro, Aringay | ||
| San Eugenio | San Eugenio, Aringay | |||
| South Aringay | Santa Rita West, Aringay | July 26, 1909 | ||
| Aringay | 240.66 | Aringay, La Union | ||
| Caba | 244.61 | Cava, La Union | October 14, 1912 | |
| Urayong | Urayong, Caba | |||
| Santiago | 250.52 | Santiago, Bauang | October 14, 1912 | |
| Calumbaya | 253.62 | Calumbaya, Bauang | October 14, 1912 | |
| Bauang | Bauang, La Union | January 16, 1929 | ||
| Romas | Paringao, Bauang, La Union | 1931 | ||
| Sevilla | Sevilla, San Fernando City | May 16, 1929 | ||
| San Fernando U | 265.4 | SFU | San Fernando City, La Union | May 16, 1929 |
During the construction of the Rio Grande de Pampanga Bridge until 1894, a temporary station; Calumpit Norte was erected to provide connection with raft ferry services at the northern end of the bridge.
South Aringay was the temporary terminus during the construction of the Naguilian River Bridge, unlike Bagbag, South Aringay Sta. was not retained.
Bacnotan Line
The Bacnotan Line, which was opened in 1955, acts as a branch line rather than a extension of the Manila-San Fernando, most services were freight, serving the Cebu Portland Cement Company. Passenger services still ends at San Fernando U. The alignment of the Japanese-Era Sudipen extension was used, save for the first 3.9 kilometers from Sevilla Junction of the Main Line North to Brgy. Biday, San Fernando.
| Station | Distance | Code | Location | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New San Fernando U. | 265.73 | San Fernando, La Union | January 25, 1955 | |
| San Juan | San Juan, La Union | |||
| Baroro | ||||
| Bacnotan |
The tracks beyond Bacnotan station continues up to the compound of the Cebu Portland Cement at KM 283.05.
Sudipen and Tagudin Extensions
The line was extended for 41.6 kilometers to Sudipen, La Union and Tagudin, Ilocos Sur in 1943 during the Japanese Occupation to handle copper ore from the Lepanto Mines in Mankayan, Benguet, a road connects the line from Mankayan to Tagudin via Cervantes, Ilocos Sur.
Informations
- The section of the then Manila-Dagupan Line from Bagbag to Mabalacat was completed on February 2, 1892 just in time for the Mabalacat Town Fiesta, services from Manila to Mabalacat with raft ferry connections between Calumpit Town Proper and the barrio of Gatbuca (Calumpit Norte).
- Some sources claim that the Manila-Dagupan Line started in 1894.
- It was because the train "Alfonso XIII" from Manila during the inauguration of the line 1892 did not reach Dagupan yet due to the ongoing construction of the Rio Grande de Pampanga Bridge.
- The original San Fernando U station building has the same architectural structure with those in Bauang, College and Yawe.
- Bautista station was originally named Bayambang Mercancias or Bayambang M. (Bayambang Freight) until 1900, when it was separated from the municipality of Bayambang.
- With the exception of the one daily Local train between Manila and San Fernando U, Local trains only stops at flag stations whether there are any passengers.
- A Local from Manila to San Fernando U and vice versa takes 8 hours and 39 minutes, leaving Manila at 9:30 am and arriving at San Fernando U at 6:09 pm.
- The section between Caloocan and Balagtas (Bigaa) was planned to be double tracked in 1929 but it was not implemented.
- Amacalan, San Julian and Romas were not present in a 1939 timetable.
- San Julian disappeared since 1937.
- New stopovers were added during the early 60s up to 1980 at various locations although its unknown if any of these have platforms or station buildings erected, these are:
Fares
MDR Era
- First Class = 0.03
- Second Class = 0.02
- Third Class = 0.01
The fares of tickets from origin to destination (MRR Era).
San Fabian
- Maasin = ₱ 0.09
- Sapdaan = ₱ 0.05
- Caba = ₱ 0.87
- Bauang = ₱ 0.81 (Return)
Spanish-Era Station Buildings
- Out of the twenty-nine stations built during the Spanish Colonial Era
- Fourteen were original station buildings
- Polo, Malolos, Calumpit, Angeles, Mabalacat, Tarlac, Gerona and Moncada were reconstructed after sustaining damages from previous wars.
- Polo and Mabalacat were entirely destroyed during the Philippine-American Revolution, the upper level of Bocaue station was damaged on the same war, though the brick wall were retained until it was demolished in 2006/2007 for the Northrail Project.
- Polo was rebuilt during the term of General Manager Pete Prado due to its historical role as the headquarters of General Antonio Luna.
DO NOT COPY THIS PAGE TO WIKIPEDIA
Referrences
- National Almanac and Guide of the Philippine Islands (1926)
- https://www.vialibri.net/years/items/1464470/1894-philippines-manila-and-dagupan-railway-copy-manuscript-of-the-contractual-agreement