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This is the 1997 report, you should also read the 1996 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, the 2007 report and the 2008 report.

As many readers of these steam pages will know, I am a regular visitor to Java, this year is my 17th visit and I shall be leading my 9th tour. I look upon it as a very public love affair.

Click here for a brief summary of the main news - it could be a lot worse.......

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 have not used steam in recent years, but may have locos stored on site):

The Main News in Brief Contents

• Jatiwangi has closed its field lines, the steam locos are stored.
• At Sindanglaut, the locos have reverted to their former numbers and green livery, nine locos are regularly steamed here but loaded trains are running later and later.
• At Tasik Madu, IV's boiler has been condemned and as a result Colomadu 5 is now here. The mill has put its vertical boiler steam roller back into commission!
• Semboro's DB Mallets 26 and 27 have been sent to Kanigoro.
• At Pagottan only one loco was in use in early July - owing to insufficient bagasse - more should work later in the season.
• Rejosari has painted its locos blue - their 4^th livery in 10 years!
• Soedhono has repainted its fleet yellow.
• Gending 4 has been donated to Germany for preservation, it has now arrived at the Frankfurter Feldbahnmuseum.
• Pajarakan 1 is at Olean and under repair.
• Kebonagung 5 is having major firebox work and both Henschels are running there.

Mill Closures Contents

The newspaper article named the mills as:

Kalibagor, Colomadu, Ceper Baru, Cepiring and Banjaratma

On talking to a senior official at HQ in Solo, it seems that management intends to close these mills, but no definite decision has actually been taken and it may be very difficult politically. Already, it seems likely that Colomadu has had one closure deferred. This and Kalibagor must be the most likely early casualties.

These pages cover my 2 month visit in July and August, I know from experience that there will be few other visitors and even fewer other reports. (I do not expect reports from the other visiting groups from Japan and the UK). In previous years, I have submitted abbreviated reports to World Steam and Continental Railway Journal, because I know their space is limited. However, these reports contain blow-by-blow details which should better help potential individual visitors judge what actually happens in the mills.

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

PG Rajawali II (formerly PTP XIV) and the private mills do not charge visitors, the rest in theory should do. Most of the mills in PTP Nusantara IX enforce a charge for visitors of Rp 25 000 (~U$11) per head to enter the mill area, subject to a maximum Rp 250 000 (~U$110) for a group. PTP Nusantara X charges U$6, while the mills of PTP Nusantara XI charge U$25 where special facilities are granted (e.g. a special steaming or tour of the fields) and U$5 for simple access. Of course, those enthusiasts interested only in action photography where locomotives work to the fields will not need to worry about this! Important - please see  the 1998 report for up-to-date charging information.

Perumka News Contents

At Ambarawa, E1060 appeared in 1996 from Padang Works in West Sumatra. Its repair is progressing well and staff say it should be ready for testing in late August or September. Business is good here, 15 specials ran in May and July's total could be even greater. I ran steam specials here on July 25^th and 31^st.

Cepu Forest Railway Contents

A visiting Japanese group ran the standard tourist train here on the afternoon of July 8^th, according to staff, the trains are running about once a month. If you are visiting Java as an individual it is worth asking in the Perhutani office in Jalan Sarogo in Cepu about the dates of forthcoming specials because you may be able to join one. Regular logging trains are decidedly irregular and depend on the area being logged, although they are more likely during and immediately after the rainy season when road trucks cannot get into the forest.

On July 30^th, I ran a special logging train. We were charged U$56 per person (including accommodation and full board - minimum 15 passengers) and BMAG 0-10-0T Tudjubelas was made available with five wagons and a (detachable) passenger coach. We took the empties to the forest at 07.30 and returned with fulls at 17.00. In between we were treated to innumerable run-pasts together with the unforgettable sight and sound of loading the wagons by hand to the accompaniment of Javanese work songs. Simply, there is nowhere else in the world where you can see this kind of operation and we shall definitely be back next year. Check out the pictures from 2002.

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