East of Krakatoa

The far west of Java gets much more rain than the eastern end and the countryside is green all year. Travelling west from Jakarta, the urban sprawl is soon left behind. Steam (B51 and C27) was used on local trains between Tanahabang and Rangkasbetung until the late 1970s although the line runs some way from any main road and no-one seems to have bothered to photograph these workings.

Rangkasbetung shed had its own allocation for trains further west. The Labuan branch was usually worked by B51 4-4-0s (occasionally BB1005 would substitute). The service lasted until at least 1983 and attracted many visitors in the final years although by then the turntable at Labuan was out of commission. Labuan itself was no more than a small fishing village, from the end end of the line the island of Anak Krakatoa - 'child of Krakatoa' - could be seen on the horizon.

The 'main line' ran on to Serang, Cilegon and Merak (for the ferry to Sumatra). From Cilegon a short branch ran to Anyerkidul and there was a daily train to here also worked by B51s (I did once catch CC1009 on this train). In later years, at least, there was a C27 service on the main line section although this got little attention.

Today the branches are closed although the main line is quite busy with modern industrial development in the Cilegon area.