Java Sugar Steam 1997 - Central Java North Coast

These mills were operated originally by PNP XV which became part of PNP XV/XVI, subsequently PTP XV/XVI which is now known as PTP Nusantara IX. They have a large number of steam locos, most operating to the fields in the traditional manner but they have the universal attribute of doing most of their most interesting work during the hours of darkness - presumably to balance the road deliveries which tend to be made during the day time.

7. BANJARATMA Mill Index

At 08.00 on July 17^th, 4C (ex Colomadu) was shunting the yard while all other steam locos were on shed - in steam except for 6 (spare) and 7 and 8 (both out of use). During the next hour 1 and the original 4 were fuelled up and assisted shunting. By 10.00, 4C was on the mud train about 500m west of the factory, apparently a regular working. Banjaratma is having a good season according to the staff. The field lines are long and almost inaccessible by road, especially those worked by steam to Larangan in the far south by the Perumka Cirebon to Prupuk line - in any case they are almost entirely nocturnal. Along with Kanigoro 5 (under repair early in the season but working later), 6 is a rare Vulcan Iron Works loco. On July 23^rd, 6 was steamed specially for my group and was shunting the yard in the morning. All the other locos were in steam as before, at 09.00, 4C took the mud train out to the west of the mill.

8. JATIBARANG Mill Index

Jatibarang had a good season in 1996, fortunately the mill is a long way from large towns. Olaf Güttler found it working normally in June. At 14.00 on July 23^rd, 2, 6, 9 and 12 were absent in the fields, 5, 10 and 11 were in steam in the yard. 1 was stored with 4 and 7 spare. 8 is preserved outside the mill offices.

9. PANGKA Mill Index

In the early evening of July 6^th, the road delivery yard was full of loaded cane cars which were being cleared as rapidly as possible by the combined efforts of 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9. At 15.00 on July 23^rd, 1, 2, 7 and 9 were working the fulls from the yard with 10 shunting within the factory. 3 was under repair, 4, 5 and 8 were in store, apparently finished.

10. SUMBERHARJO Mill Index

At 14.00 on July 16^th, 4, 9 and 10 were shunting road deliveries as and when required. 11 and 7 had left for the fields with empties in the late morning and returned light engine by 15.00 (other field workings were diesel). 1 was preparing to take out a mud train later in the afternoon and, at 16.00, 3 appeared unusually smokebox first on a long set of empties from the mill for the road delivery yard. I took a break as the weather was cloudy, but by 19.00, 5 (the rare Alco) was simmering in the road yard. In practice, there was a lot less activity than this report suggests!

At 07.30 on July 24^th, all locos were on shed, 2 and 12 were dumped, 5 was having a wash out and the rest were being lit up (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11). By 09.00, 6 was simmering in the main yard and 1 then took out the mud train to the west. By 10.00, 1 had returned and shunting activity in the yard had commenced in earnest although by now the sun was very high.

11. SRAGI Mill Index

At 07.40 on July 7^th, at Comal, 3 was out of use, 20 was having a wash out and 8, 12, 17 and 19 were at Sragi having worked cane there overnight. The shed at Sragi was not visited, but 1 and 15 were taking empties to the road delivery yard, 5, 6, 7 and 16 were propelling the fulls to the mill. Loco presentation here was now excellent, 5 looking particularly smart with polished rods. Locos here were still burning wood.

At 13.30 on July 24^th, 3 was stored, 19 was delivering empties near Comal, 20 was derailed in Comal yard and 8, 12 and 17 were reported in the fields nearby. At 14.00 at Sragi itself, all steam was in the mill area. 5, 6, 7 and 16 were propelling fulls; 1, 10, 11, 14 and 15 were delivering empties to the road yard and 18 was cold on shed. 2, 4, 9, 4K and 6K were all stored unserviceable. 13 was ready to depart on the mud train at 15.00 although its departure was delayed until 16.15 by a multiple derailment at the throat of the yard, after which it promptly derailed one of its own skips. Ten 600mm locos in steam in the same place in 1997!

In passing, 17 was found by the roadside by the petrol station opposite the turn-off to Comal at 16.30 on August 21^st. After some delay waiting for a diesel to pass, it set off for the factory at 17.00, crossing the Perumka line on the flat. The only other mill with steam still using such crossings regularly is Kebonagung (although there are other - usually diesel operated - at Sindanglaut, Tersana Baru and Wringinanom).

12. CEPIRING Mill Index

At 07.00 on July 25^th, all locos were on shed. 4, 6 and 7 were dumped,1 was cold, while 2, 3, 5, 8 and 9 were in steam. 3, 8 and 9 had left for the fields with empties by 09.00 while there appeared to be another set waiting to go later. According to the board in the transportation office, the previous afternoon, 4 locos had gone to the fields around 15.00 and had all arrived back between 19.30 and 20.30. Three of them had done a further trip, returning between 00.30 and 01.30. The 2 Japanese diesels were also being used intensively, with a total of 305 cane cars being collected in the day. There is a (very) narrow gauge push system here for limestone (in skips), the gauge appears to be about 380mm (15 in), which should not be missed.

 13. RENDENG Mill Index

All 6 steam locos here have been in store for more than 10 years except 8 which has been transferred to Gondang Baru. They were still here on July 7^th. Anyone looking for 900mm gauge locos should have a look at these ones, they are in excellent condition (it took Gondang Baru just a month to get 8 back in working order and now it is their best loco).

Click here to return to the Java Contents Page.