The International Steam Pages


Indonesia 1977, Part 9 The Wild West of Java

Derek Huntriss had what he describes as 'his best ever trip' to Indonesia in 1977. You may like to compare what he saw with what I saw a year earlier in Java although he had less time available and also went to West and Norrth Sumatra. He and companion John Hunt very loosely attached to the Dorridge Travel Group which t hey used for cheap flights, the special train at Ambarawa and also to chase the train between Kediri and Pare. As you will see, he took every opportunity to do a bit of 'riding on the loco'.. I believe these pages will be of special interest to Indonesian enthusiasts who will be very grateful to Derek for making these pictures available. If you are one of them, please respect his copyright and thereby ensure that further such pages will appear from time to time. The "I" in the captions refers to webmaster RD who has actually written most of the captions after reference to Derek - a real role reversal as Derek has often done the same job for a number of books he has helped produce.

See also the other parts:


The final area visited in Java was around Rangkasbetung and in particular the branch from there to Labuan on the west coast near Krakatoa Island. All pictures in this section were taken on 7th and 8th August 1977.

Rangkasbetung shed had a plentiful supply of active steam locomotives at the time, they also worked to Anyerkidul to the north west and to Tanahabang in Jakarta:

The most numerous type were the C27 used on the Jakarta trains, C2729 like all the locomotives here was a very smokey oil burner:

There were two Mallets on the roster, however, BB1005 was currently surplus to requirements:

CC1009 was in steam, it worked together with the B51s on the Anyerkidul service, it was too heavy to work to Labuan:

During the visit, B5132 was working the Labuan branch, here it is on shed waiting for the afternoon departure:

Just beyond the junction outside the station was a river bridge, B5132 roared across it for the photographers:

Once the railway crossed the 'main road' to the west, the two went their separate ways for some distance:

This is the train leaving Tjimenjan

The two came together at Saketi, the junction for the long abandoned Japanese wartime railway. Here it leaves there:

Next morning, the train was caught leaving at the opposite end of the station returning from Labuan. 

That day, the afternoon train was lightweight in the extreme. it was photographed leaving Warunggunung which was the first station out from Rangkasbetung:


Click here for Part 10 - West Sumatra Coastal Plains


Rob Dickinson

Email: webmaster@internationalsteam.co.uk