Rabu, 19 Agustus 2009
Kereta Untuk Bagunharja
Steam in Java 2008 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I have lost count of my visits to Java since I first went in 1975. In the 33 years since then, I have missed just 7 years, all but one in the 1980s. I have often described my relationship as like a public love affair. Alas the global recession and the associated collapse in the value of the GBP mean that I shall not be there in 2009.
This is the 2008 report, you should also read the 1996 report, the 1997 report, the 1998 report the 1999 report, the 2000 report, the 2001 report, the 2002 report, the 2003 report, the 2004 report, the 2005 report, the 2006 report and the 2007 report and the 2009 report. There are so many pictures already on this site, I have stripped all the retrospective ones out of the individual area pages for 2007/8, they are easily found by looking back. These days I just sit and watch or take video, if anyone has something good (and new!) from 2008, please let me have them for the site...
Click here for a brief summary of the main news. Click here for the non-sugar news.
In 2002 I produced a series of pages containing photographs of the best steam action, Trangkil, much of Sragi and Cepu are now history of course, the rest will be all too soon: Click here for the Mill Index or Mill Map or choose the area you want:
The mills are arranged from West to East, North Coast then South Coast with the Private Mills at the end. Click on the mill in the Index below (mills with no link no longer use steam, but may have locos stored on site), I have now added 'how to get there' information for the mills with active steam in 2008, but Jan Willem's guide has more comprehensive information.:
The numbers are those used in the reports, they have no official status. The Main News in Brief Contents 2006/7 were probably the best sugar seasons in Java for some years, first time visitors seem broadly satisfied by what was on offer given that the real steam clock stands at 1 minute to midnight. Of course, it often differed from what was promised by some tour operators but that was down to a combination of their misleading advertising, sloppy proof reading and lack of good quality local contacts. The main offenders as usual were the late and unlamented Globe Steam (consistently overstating the amount of active steam and offering a Borsig at Sragi for a start) and the Railway Touring Company (numerous and noted as appropriate under the individual mills, but 'many steam locomotives in action' at Semboro took the cherry for 2007 and, amazingly, again for 2008). You have to wonder whether their researchers ever bothered to read the detailed reports on these pages.... My guess is that with world food prices soaring (sugar included), there will not be many changes apparent in 2008 - a dangerous comment no doubt and one that invites the unexpected!
These pages will cover reports received during the 2008 season which is expected to start in May and run through as late as October in the Far East. I know that there will be few independent visitors (and not as many tour groups as in 2006) so all news will be particularly welcome. If you are planning a visit then the 1996 report, 1997 report, 1998 report, 1999 report, 2000 report, 2001 report, 2002 report, 2003 report, 2004 report, 2005 report, 2006 report, 2007 report and 2009 report have lots more relevant information. All the loco numbers will not make sense if you do not have the complete roster of current and recent industrial steam locomotives in Java. PT Keretapi News Contents I ran 3 specials at Ambarawa using B2503, E1060 and C1218 as usual in August 2006 and tried to do the same in July 2008, although C1218 was a last minute failure. I have posted a page of pictures of C1218 at work in 2006. Click here for the unofficial Ambarawa Railway Museum website. The first two pictures are of 2003 trains, but note that as Ambarawa is in the mountains, the weather may not always be kind, even in the dry season. First E1060 at Jambu:
Here is B2503 during a late afternoon runpast.
C1218 on the bridge south of Jambu station in August 2006.
Regular logging trains ceased some time ago and much of the system has been lifted. The only way to see this unique operation was to organise your own special logging trains which I did regularly once or twice a year since 1997 and did again for a final time in July 2005. However, the political anarchy which is taking over the country has seen large parts of the forest devastated and in September 2001 Perhutani lost its Smartwood accreditation which has stopped legal exports of teak from Indonesia to Europe. They were planting on an 80 year cycle but cutting on a 10 year cycle, now all (legal) logging has been stopped in Java. In 2003/4 we didn't load much wood but we still got some good pictures. There is a full illustrated report of one of the 2002 trips available, the picture below is from 2006 when we were restricted to the log yard owing to the damage to a bridge, despite appearances the locomotive could not move itself.....
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Lokomotif kita
Locomotives of the Ambarawa Railway Museum | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Click here for the main unofficial Ambarawa Railway Museum Home Page. Photographs on this page are courtesy of John Tillman (JT), Nick Bryant (NB) or Rob Dickinson (RD). Click here for a full list of preserved Indonesian main line steam locomotives. Click here for more information about the steam locomotives at the Taman Mini Railway Museum. Click here for more information about the other preserved steam locomotives in Java. Click here for more information about the Java's forgotten steam locomotives. Steam locomotives of the Perusahaan Negara Kereta-Api (PNKA) were numbered according to the Japanese system, with a letter to indicate the number of powered axles followed by two digits for the class (10-49 tank, 50 upwards tender locomotives), then the individual number. The locomotives at Ambarawa were brought here around 1977 at a time when steam was still in widespread use on the island of Java. Therefore, they were not always the best examples available. Click on each thumbail for a larger image, then use the back button on your browser. These are the active locomotives:
These are preserved out of use:
Click here for the main unofficial Ambarawa Railway Museum Home Page |
Click for pictures and further information about the museum:
| A Ride on the Ambarawa Rack Railway | |
| Locomotive Shed | Ambarawa Station |
| Southern Stations in the Ambarawa Area (Jambu and Bedono) | Northern Stations in the Ambarawa Area (Tuntang, Bringin and Kedungjati) |
| Restoring the North Line (Part 1 - Ambarawa) | Restoring the North Line (Part 2 - Out in the country) |
| A Glimpse of 'Real' Steam | Non steam power |
| Carriage and Wagon | Potential Carriage and Wagon |
| Ancilliary Equipment | |
| A train in the Ambarawa Military Museum | About the Museum |
Ambarawa Sation
Ambarawa Station | | |
| Click here for the main unofficial Ambarawa Railway Museum Home Page Photographs on this page are courtesy of Nick Bryant (NB), John Tillman (JT), Vincent Corasi (VC) and Rob Dickinson (RD). See also:
The 'jewel in the crown' is undoubtedly Ambarawa itself. This is the first view that visitors get as they arrive. (2001 NB picture)
B2503 departs with the station (and its toilets) in the background - this was the 'standard gauge' side originally - on 21st July 2000 (RD)
This is the same side looking in (1997 VC picture)
The interior is a period piece. This is the 'cape gauge' side which is no longer in use. (1999 JT pictures)
This is the period piece booking office: (NB 2001 pictures)
Lever frame:
Telegraphic Office
Among the other buildings is this 'godown' (gudang = wharehouse) used by the same company that rents Tuntang station. (2001 NB picture)
Finally the staff headed by Mr.Sudhono who maintain the museum site.
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Statsiun Kita
Southern Stations in the Ambarawa Area | | |
| Click here for the main unofficial Ambarawa Railway Museum Home Page Photographs on this page are courtesy of Nick Bryant (NB) and John Tillman (JT). See also:
Jambu is a small station at the foot of the rack. It suffered in storms in 2001 and needed urgent repairs which were undertaken with the support of the 'Friends of Ambarawa Museum'. This shows the station afterwards. (2002 NB pictures)
Bedono station is larger than might be expected because it at the top of the rack section(s) and hence locomotives were turned here. (2001 JT picture)
The station from the rail side. (NB 2001 picture)
Close up of the turntable (NB 2001 picture)
Taking water at Bedono (NB 2001 picture)
Click here for the main unofficial Ambarawa Railway Museum Home Page |
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