Java Sugar Steam 2008 - Madiun Area Mills

The Madiun mills are operated by PTP Nusantara XI.  There is clearly room for rationalisation in this area.  These days, only Purwodadi is likely to offer anything that might be described as 'busy steam'.

Click here for a photo gallery from the 2006 LCGB tour, courtesy of Robin Patrick.

19. SOEDHONO Mill Index

100% diesel operation by 2002/3. Several of the steam locomotives look as if they could easily be returned to activity but I can't see it happening although 2008 visitors were told it was under consideration for 2009.

20. PURWODADI Mill Index

(Buses between Madiun and Solo pass the mill, which is some 6km north of Maospati, the major road junction west of Madiun.)

With up to four OK 0-8-0Ts this is the busiest steam mill in the area, with locomotives top and tailing trains on the short run over the main road and across the photogenic viaduct before vanishing into the mill. It can only be a matter of time before a gricer is mown down by the heavy passing traffic. Likely to begin milling before the end of May 2008. I had no time to visit on May 16th, besides 12.30 on a Friday is perhaps not the best time to find people in the office! A July 2008 visit found 3 locomotives in steam working normally.

The Railway Touring Company offered 'a special cane train into the fields' here in 2005 and again in 2006. If either ran then it will have been a hover train or maybe a maglev...

This was the last time I saw all four steam locomotives at work in 2003.

A July 2007 visitor found 5, 10 and 16 working. In August it was 5, 15 and 16, apparently an extra railing has been added to the viaduct which spoils photography... Well, in that case remember this picture was taken in 2002!

.21. REJOSARI Mill Index

(The mill is at Gorang Gareng, south-west of Madiun. Minibuses run from the newer (southern) of the two bridges on the west side of town.)

Since road deliveries are now taken directly to the mill compound, the amount of rail activity is much reduced although in recent years one of the OK 0-8-0T has been in use alongside the diesels. The unique jackshaft locomotive 10 (Salak) has been steamed in recent years on request for parties. Rejosari started milling in early May and I found 7 working as usual on 16th May 2008 together with the mill's other venerable jackshaft loco, by July both 6 and 7 were at work.

10, was in use for our Java Tour 2008 on July 26th. This was Salak in action similarly 'on request' in 2006.

Although this picture was taken in 2002 when 10 was in daily use, in theory at least we may be able to do something a little bit similar with our 2008 charter 

A July 2007 visitor found 7 working, 10 had been in steam earlier in the day for a tour group. August visitors reported that 6 is also available and the engines have reverted to the old livery of dark green with a yellow stripe.

22. KANIGORO Mill Index

(The mill is a little way south of Madiun. Buses and colts between Madiun and Ponorogo pass a set of traffic lights on the outskirts of town. Walk, take a becak or minibus T east some 1km to the mill.)

Expected to start milling on 23rd May 2008. I visited on 16th May and found 6 looking very smart ready for the new season. It was working daily in July 2008 and anonymous 11 was being worked and expected to act as spare.

One or two of the OK 0-8-0T were in use for shunting along with the diesels in 2006. A July 2007 visitor found 6 working and 2 standby, 6 was working in August too.

23. PAGOTTAN Mill Index

(The mill is 9km south of Madiun. Buses and colts between Madiun and Ponorogo pass the main gate.)

It has used more steam in recent years, including two of the Luttermöllers. When I visited on 16th May 2008, 6 and 7 were ready to roll for the new season which was expected to start on 23rd May, both were in use in July 2008. With 4 small diesels in use, there are no more staff to operate more steam locomotives although 1 is nominally serviceable and spare.

However their normal operation involves limited activity most of which is propelling fulls into the mill, but the nature of this, when it happens, means that there is a chance to see the semi-articulated system in action with the outside wheels spinning apparently without cause when the locomotive slips....A July 2007 visitor found 6 and 7 working, the same two locomotives were at work in August. This is 6 a little less smart in action in mid-season in 2004.

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