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Manila’s Trolley Boys

Discussion in 'Life in the Philippines' started by Anon04576, Jan 13, 2019.

  1. Anon04576
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    Anon04576 Well-Known Member

  2. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    You see something similar in any town on a Friday or Saturday night where there is a Supermarket near a pub!
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  3. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    BBC seems to be blocked here is Vietnam, not that it really bothers me.

    I guess you must be referring to this:



    Quite fancy having a go on that, looks like fun, though Julie says it is not good for a foreigner to go there, it is supposedly a dangerous place, bad politics. Is that true, in other countries it would be a major tourist attraction.

    We visited "railway street" here in Hanoi after attending mass at the Cue Bac Catholic church earlier today, just missed a train passing, but it was a good excuse to sit down and have a beer in one of the trackside cafes.

    Not my video:
  4. KeithAngel
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    KeithAngel 2063 Lifetime Member

  5. Bootsonground
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    Bootsonground Guest

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  6. RobH
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    RobH Member

    I went on a more sophisticated version of this in Calaug in 2015. There is a derelict railway that runs along the coast. which was closed due to a land slip some years ago. The trolleys have seats and a roof, powered by a small petrol engine driving a v belt. this is loose and a lever with a block of wood acts as the clutch, wheels are old ball bearings about 4-5 inches diameter, works really well, we went on it for a 6 mile ride at 20 mph. Kids use them to go to school. when a trolley is coming in the other direction, its all off and they lift it off the tracks. I think the railway has been closed for at least 30 Years. There is a station Thats closed and a snack bar. I thought it was very inventive.
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  7. graham59
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    graham59 Banned

    I was riding on them in Bicol as far back as 1990... as well as the regular, twice a day trains then. (My pic)

    Around 12 passengers sitting back to back, plus bags of rice, etc.

    Whole trains of them carrying crates of Coke or San Mig would quickly clear the line of all others (which were lifted bodily off the track, with those wheel-barrow type handles each end). I'm sure they will still be doing good business today.

    These things would probably hit 30-40mph on the twisted and undulating track, which was quite exciting enough. :eek:

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    Skates in Ragay.jpg
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2019
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  8. graham59
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    graham59 Banned

    Incidentally, the 'wheels' are actually adapted truck wheel bearings, and the motor is based on a 7 hp 'pump boat' (Banca) motor... so I was told. :like:

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