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While the interior of Gondang remains a monument
to 19th and early 20th century engineering to this day, the field lines here
closed at the end of the 1998 season. Wile they lasted, they provided the most
consistent daylight operation in the whole of Java, I never failed to see at
least one train working here on all my many visits.
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I first visited Gondang in May 1979. Such
was my haste that I declined the offer to see 'their very old engine' - I
assumed it was of the stationary variety. I finally got to see cape gauge
OK 0-4-0Tr "Simbah" at work on 23rd August 1984.
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Gondang Baru's other rarities were two Linke
Hoffman 0-8-0T. #1 was withdrawn soon after I started visiting, here it
hustles along a train on the south line on 24th August 1986.
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On the other hand #2 was a consistent (and
very noisy) performer right up to the end of steam. Here it breaks cover
and dashes past a field of rice ready for harvesting south of the mill on
4th August 1984 - a birthday treat for me!
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The other three members of the
original fleet were all OK 0-8-0Ts. #3 is seen very close to where #1 was
photographed above while the ducks look for grubs in a padi field which
has just been flooded after the harvest.
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Also on the south line was #4 on
25th August 1986 - Gondang was so good for action, it was always worth at
least two or three days every bash.
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Independence Day, 17th August
1994, was especially memorable as I managed to photograph all five active
members of the fleet in action on the same day. This was #5 in action on
the east line.
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OK 0-8-0T former Kalibagor 6 was
a welcome addition to the fleet but it had too low a water capacity to be
much use. Here if prepares to take out the mill's mud train on 17th August
1994
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Another even later recruit was
OK 0-8-0T Rendeng 8, here it rushes a train along near Gantiwarno south of
the mill on 3rd August 1996.
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