Gateway to the East

Surabaya's steam tram could not survive the economic development which came to the city in the late 1970s. Buses, trucks and cars filled the roads and people flooded to the city from the countryside. The authorities were powerless to act, although squatters under the little bridge were regularly volunteered as migrants for the 'transmigrasi' programme to the outer islands, only to be replaced within days.

Few tourists would nominate a visit to Surabaya as the highlight of their trip to Java, but apart from the Steam Tram there was much of interest in the city. The island of Madura with its unique D16 and D17 locomotives was just a short ferry ride away even if the chances of finding one on a train were insignificantly small.

Sidotopo shed had an interesting allocation including two Japanese wartime imports but undoubtedly the star performer was the last active C53 Pacific which worked a daily local train to and from Bangil.

Of course, there is little left now of interest to the steam enthusiast. B1239 is preserved outside Pasar Turi station, moved after the old Kota station was redeveloped. The Wonokromo area is almost unrecognisable and the Madura system is totally abandoned. Sidotopo is recognisably a former steam shed, but few if any people working there can remember the C53!