Sweet Spot

The sugar mills of Java are unique in the world for two reasons. Firstly, many have a huge amount of working traditional steam powered machinery; the greatest and most varied concentration in the world today. Secondly, some still operate steam locomotives not only within the mill areas but also in a few cases into the surrounding cane fields. Olean mill is just north of Situbondo in East Java has both features and still operates in a manner which would be instantly familiar to anyone who worked there 50 or more years ago.

It is the smallest working mill on Java, and this DVD sets out to tell its story and record a way of life that will soon change for ever. Special features include:

• Detailed coverage of mill operation including many of the nearly 40 stationary engines in the mill and other traditional machinery including belt driven centrifugals

• Planting, hand cutting and loading of cane

• Laying down and use of the temporary railway track (Decauville system) with water buffalo hauling the cane cars ('loris')

• Operation of the railway - shed scenes, empty and full trains, on board shots 

• The mill in context showing life in the local villages including mosque scenes and children studying the Koran. 

We have prepared 3 sample clips (reduced size 320 x 240, wmv format) which you can download:

	Heading for home also available YouTube Version
	Steam and Religion also available YouTube Version
	Bagasse Burning also available YouTube Version

The material for this DVD was filmed by independent film producers Rob and Yuehong Dickinson who have made many visits to Olean and the surrounding area between 2004 and 2006 - Rob, of course, has been visiting Olean annually for nearly 20 years. It was recorded in DV-AVI format and the result is a 55 minute broadcast quality film. Like 'Logging Off', 'Shibanxi Heaven' and 'Battlefield Heroes' this is not just another steam video, it is a total record of a way of life that has hardly changed in the last 80 years or so.

The full cost of this DVD including postage is just U$34 / GBP 17 / Euros 23.

For full ordering information please send an email to , indicating where you would like the DVD sent and we will advise available methods which will avoid excessive bank charges. Alternatively you can use this Paypal account but please make the payment in GBP (British Pounds) if possible, we would prefer UK residents to send a cheque or make online payment, we can advise an address/account.

(IMPORTANT: the addresses with "@" above are NOT LINKS which can be clicked, they are images, you will have to retype them for an email or Paypal transaction. Sorry but that has to be done to try to prevent the address being spammed.)

See also:

• Logging Off - the last year of the Weihe Forestry Railway

• Shibanxi Heaven - the World's last real steam narrow gauge passenger railway

• Battlefield Heroes - Henan's 21st century narrow gauge steam survivors

• Black Diamond Express - Tipong Colliery, India's last real steam narrow gauge railway

• Gula Java DVDs - the historic sugar mills of Java on DVD

• Temples of Steam DVDs - steam powered rice mills in Myanmar (Burma)

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Email: webmaster@internationalsteam.co.uk