Steam in Java July/August 2001

Jan Willem van Dorp is an experienced Java hand, it presents an interesting perspective as he had more time to talk to people than I did while trying to run tour tours back to back. (There is little here I would disagree with although the currency has again weakened after the events of September 11^th ….. RD)

General: As it happened the 2001 cane season on Java was pretty similar to the 2000 one with no further mill closures, which is much better than I feared last July. Indeed most mills which started last season dangerously late compared with neighbouring mills had a much earlier start this year. I am afraid that this is only a temporary reprieve though; especially in the Cirebon and Madiun areas there is just not enough cane to keep all the mills going and this years political changes in Indonesia do not favour the sugar industry either. Unlike its predecessor the current government has no roots in sugar country and little protection can be expected from it. Further more the 30% or so inflation over the last year was initially offset by a similar decrease in the value of the rupiah, but the rebound of the rupiah after the change of government definitely favours imports over local production.

Thus further mill closures should regrettably be expected this year; I would expect one but possibly even two (if the Megawati. government decides to risk public unrest and to take their loss at once at the start of their term) mill closures in both the Cirebon (Karangsuwung or Tersana Baru/Ketanggungan Barat and Madiun (Kanigoro or Soedhono) areas and probably some non-steam mills as well this year and the demise of T.B./K.B. and Kanigoro would be a major blow to steam.

For the further future I find it worrying that at many mills the cane is not weighed any more but guarded during transport; one explanation (but I am only guessing here) could be that these mills in order to have farmers grow cane at all now have to buy the whole harvest beforehand when it is planted instead of buying the cane when and if it arrives at the mill. If true this means that one bad harvest could finish virtually the whole Indonesian sugar industry.

PG Sindanglaut Milling started 20th May this year. Visited ?6th June on which day all 6 working engines were in steam; 6 and 7 for shunting, but in contrast to last year they hardly moved, tractors having taken over their duties, and 8, 10, 11 and 13 for field work. These latter duly left the mill between 16.00 and 17.00 without any derailments. Cutting was taking place close to the mill and 10, 11 and 13 only went some 1-2 km out. 11 was the first to return at 17.20 around sunset. Engine 12 is also still basically in good condition, but it had to be withdrawn because it needs new water tanks and there is no money for that. Indeed, very little cane was arriving, stressing that keeping open three sugar mills in the Cirebon area is no longer viable (see below).

PG Karangsuwung This non-steam mill was expected to close after the 2000 season, but got a reprieve and was milling in 2001. Anybody having seen the quantity of cane (or rather the lack of it) arriving at Sindanglaut and Tersana Baru will realise though that there is no way all three remaining mills in the Cirebon area can continue into next season and Karangsuwung remains a prime candidate for early closure.

PG Tersana Baru Milling started 10th May this year. Visited 27th June when 2, 3, 6, 11, 12 and 20 were in steam for yard work only and 1 was just having some new tubes installed, a single hopeful sign in gloomy times. Like at Sindanglaut very little cane was arriving and security was up from last year - not a good sign - visitors though still welcome being made to wear visitor tags! Tersana Baru was scheduled to close after this - the 2001 season, one year after Karangsuwung. If Karangsuwung’s reprieve was just for one year I guess/hope Tersana Baru (and Ketanggungan Barat) might get a similar reprieve. Otherwise prepare ourselves for a major blow to steam.

PG Ketanggungan Barat Operations started 12th May this year. Visited 27th June/2nd July. 10 was withdrawn after last season, so only three engines remain, 5 (the last Mallet on regular line work in Java), 6 and 7. On both days 5 and 7 were working transfer freights to Luwung Gajah. On 27th June 7 left Luwung Gajah with empties at 8.00, closely followed by 5 with another load of empties. As engines were wood-fired this against bagasse-fired last year, necessitating less stops to brew up, good progress was made despite plenty derailments and Ketanggungan Barat was reached at 11.30, where 6 was in steam at the shed. On 2nd July the same two engines were at Luwung Gajah early in the morning, 7 again taking its load of empties out at about 8.00, but 5 having to wait until 10.00 for its load of empties to arrive from Tersana Baru, delayed by derailments of course. Note that crews work through from 16.00 the previous day. The future of this operation is of course linked to Tersana Baru. When T.B. closes so does Ketanggungan Barat (see above).

PG Jatibarang Milling started 21st May this year. Visited 29th June when 1, 2, 5 and 10 were working in the yard and 12 was kept warm at the shed. Mallet 9, needing minor boiler repairs, is last year’s casualty.

PG Pangka Milling started 5th June this year. Visited 29th June/2nd July. Engines 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10 were in steam working frequent trains across the road. Everything seemed healthy here and last year’s extremely late start which got me worried then for now just an incident.

PG Sumberharjo Milling started 13th June this year. Visited 1st July when 9 was feeding the mill and 3 was in steam for shunting empties. 11, 7 and 6 left tender-first with empties for the fields between 12.00 and 14.00. Of these 6 on the North line took most of its load to a field about 1 km beyond the point where the Pemalang road diverges from the line and then took some 10 empties 300 m. back (chimney-first now) before continuing to a warung near the road to wait for its load of cane to be ready - some time at night. The mud train was seen later in the afternoon on the West line - with diesel.

PG Sragi Milling started 9th June this year. Visited 30th June/1st July/15th August. 5, 6, 7, 16 (15-8) and 18 (30-6,1-7) were pushing loaded trains from the yard into the mill, 1 was shunting empties at the back of the yard and 10, 11 and 14 occasionally brought empties to the back of the yard. The mud train was diesel on 30-6 and not running on the other two days, but 8,12,17,19 and 20 were working field trains again. All engines are wood fired. Out of the active fleet only 8 and 20 retain their ugly oil drums. On 30th June 20 was still near Comal railway station at 9.00 with a load of cane from Ampelgading. In procession with two diesel hauled cane trains first 12, which had brought in its load from Ampelgading earlier in the morning and now on a track repair duty was crossed and then 8 and 19, each with empties. After several derailments the mill was reached at 13.00, by now followed by 12 LE. The next day a 7.30 arrival at the mill found all steam trains already in, except for. 17 which was waiting at the back of the yard with a load of cane from Tegal Suruh on the South line, which it took over the weighbridge at 8.00. On 15th August even a 7.00 arrival at the mill found most steam trains already in with one notable exception, 17 and 8 doubleheading a train of 47 loaded loris from Muncang were still waiting at the Western weighbridge, not proceeding into the mill until 9.00. 17 then left to the South on a track repair duty and 12 (Ampelgading) and 19 (Ujung Gede) took the first loads of empties tender-first to the West. The Ujung Gede duty was interesting as it involves a reversal at Comal Baru (that is the disused mill at Comal) and thus an albeit short, just across the railway, stretch of chimney-first running with empties. Regrettably the system map at the dispatchers office near the level crossing by the mill has disappeared, but the duty board remains and the dispatchers are as helpful as ever.

PG Tasil Madu Milling started 8th June this year. Visited 8th July/12th August. All field work having finished. III, V and magnificent VI were working transfer trains from the yard in front of the mill. XIV pulled empties out of the main yard, where 1 (on mill feeder duties) and 7B were also working. On 8th July, 5B was in steam at the shed as well. Staff were understandably not too happy with the quality of cane, but there didn't seem to be anything wrong with the quantity.

PG Soedhono Milling started 20th June this year. Visited 10th July. 3 was in steam and was fed regularly, but wasn't seen to do anything, all yard work being diesel. Visitors were not welcome and generally the mood was gloomy. I would say "death sentence passed, but date of execution probably not yet fixed". Assuming Kanigoro closes after this season Soedhono might just get one more year, but as the new government can be expected to be less protective towards the sugar industry in general and in East Java in particular nothing is impossible, even in Madiun with its reputation as a communist hotspot.

PG Purwodadi Milling started 4th June. Visited 10th/12th July. 5, 10, 11 and 15 were busy working loaded trains from the yard across the road, but the empties were diesel. For the rest everything seemed to be alright for the time being, but beware for Kanigoros diesels.

PG Rejosari Milling started 2nd June this year. Visited 9/10/12th July/11th August. Splendid. 10 "Salak" shared the loaded trains from the transfer yard with a diesel.. 6, at least on 10th July in steam, was reserve. Empties were diesel worked. As at Purwodadi everything seemed to be alright here for the time being, but beware for Kanigoro’s diesels.

PG Kanigoro Milling started 1st June. Visited 11th July. Coal-fired. 1 (on the mud train, leaving the mill for the dump just across the former PJKA line at 14.00) and 6 (on the mill feeder duty) were working with 11 and 2 in reserve. Although visitors were still welcome, security was tight and the mood generally very gloomy. 1 would say death sentence passed and date of execution set for this year. A reopening of this mill next year would (pleasantly) surprise me. Remains the question where its diesels will go then? A transfer to Rejosari and/or Purwodadi would be disastrous for steam in the Madiun area, but perhaps Pagottan has some use for them.

PG Pagottan Milling started 14th June this year. Briefly checked 11th July. No steam working this year "because the firewood is too expensive". (What about good old bagasse??).

PG Merican Milling started 3rd June this year. Visited 14th July when. 4, 5, 6 and 8 were working the yard with 2 on the mill feeder duty as usual.

PG Pesantren Milling started 9th May this year. Visited 16th July/11th August. Both days the mill was functioning and Mallets 212/216/228 (16-7) resp. 216/217/228 (11-8) were working the yard together with one diesel. On 16th July several derailments caused a build-up of full cane loris with the resulting long trains too heavy for one engine to push through the S-curves into the stabling yard and thus a second engine provided assistance from the weighbridge on several occasions, judging by the swiftness this was done with apparently not too uncommon an occurrence, but in 2001 a train pushed by two Mallets is certainly a memorable sight.

PG Ngadirejo : Briefly checked 14th July. Seems to use only bullocks and tractors these days.

PG Mojopanggung : Milling started 10th May this year. Visited 14th July when 3 (conventional chimney) and 6 (chimney with half an oil drum instead of a spark arrestor, apparently transferred from.3) were working the yard with 7 on the mill feeder duty.

PG Gempolkerep If at all visitors will only be entertained during office hours as I was curtly told on Sunday 15th July, and all steam activity is within the mill compound. From the outside only 19 was seen working

empties.

PG Glean Milling started 19th June. Visited 18/19/20/21/22nd July/7/8th August on which days the working fleet consisted of ex Pajarakan engines. 1, 4, 5 and 7. 5 was assigned to the Semiring line, usually starting its loaded train back to the mill at 14.00-14.30, whereas the other three engines were working the West line, working in loaded trains from fields close to the mill, near the surfaced road, anytime during the afternoon. Twice a doubleheader was seen, including 22nd July when 4 had to assist 5 on 39 loris of cane for the last section into the mill. On the other hand, cane loris overturned on both the West and Semiring lines meant no (daylight) trains on 20th July and nothing was happening on 8th August (mill breakdown??) either. Crews work one week on, one week off, changing Sundays at midday. They take empties out at 8.00-9.00 in the morning, return LE to the mill and go out again LE to pick up their loads at 12.00 or soon thereafter, if necessary followed by a second trip. Although there doesn't seem to be an immediate threat, one driver expressed his anxiety over the quantity of cane coming in, referring to the fate of PG De Maas, the other small mill in the area, which had to close because it could not secure enough cane to mill.

PG Asembagus Milling started 4th June this year. Visited 19th July/8th August. This year 3 and 5 were available for one steam duty, going out to the fields with empties at 9.00-10.00, returning LE to the mill for lunch and going out again LE to collect a load of cane at 15.30, not returning until 18.00 or later, well after sunset. On 19th July. 5 facing North took some empties (which were left in the fields on the return trip) and a box van to accommodate a Japanese group and yours truly on a photo special to Jangkar. On 8th August. 3 facing South was working the South line. This engine is not in a very good condition and it had to abandon half its load of empties on the bank out of the mill immediately after starting at 10.00 just to get going, returning for the rest at 12.00 after bringing the first part to a field some 2 km down the line. An entry charge of (the equivalent of) $5 is charged, but visitors are very welcome and staff will try to accommodate your wishes.

PG Trangkil Milling started 15th May this year. Visited 3/4/5/6th July. According to two dispatchers the decision to turn away from rail traffic in favour of road traffic has been taken and the South line is currently expected to close entirely by 2005. Steam is to be retained however to work the transfer yard and possibly the East line as well. Indeed, although all four engines were in steam, on 3rd and 5th July all steam activity was centred on the transfer yard and that only up to 15.00, the only exception being a brief outing of. 3 with the mud train on the North line on 5-7, but the other two days were a little better. In the morning of July 4th. 2 was on the South line empties duty to Payang and Kajar and 4 on the East line to Nguren. In the afternoon 1 (Payang) and 4 (Kajar) worked in cane trains from the South and 2 (Nguren) from the East line. On 6th July 2 again worked the South line empties and 3 those on the East line with loaded cane trains in the afternoon from Payang (1) and Nguren (3) with in each case the remaining steam engines working the transfer yard and diesels also taking some trains. Do remember that 1, 2 and 3 face right for loaded trains from the South and empties to the East (and North) lines, whereas the reverse applies to 4. Empties generally leave the mill at 8.00-9.00 after which the engine returns LE. At 13.00 the crews on the afternoon shift gather at the dispatchers office near the water tower to sign in and find out where they are going that afternoon. The engines then leave as soon as possible to be back at the mill with their loads by 17.00 or so.

PG Kebonagung Milling started 2nd May this year. Visited 17th July. 4 was working in the yard only with 6 in reserve.

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