Java Sugar Steam 1997 - Kediri Area Mills

These mills are operated by PTP Nusantara X, previously PTP XXI\XXII, before that PNP XXI/XXII, and before that PNP XXI and PNP XXII. The accountants got here early on. Field lines were closed in the late 70s and early 80s and steam marginalised or eliminated from many mills soon after. Despite having the least attractions of any area, they were the first to start charging visitors - amazingly so in the case of Merican where a public road runs straight through the middle of the mill complex. However, the steam that does remain is generally well maintained, to the extent that the Pesantren Mallets seem to glide noiselessly around. There is only yard working in all the mills here, although diesels still go out at Gempolkerep. There are fair hotels in Kediri and local hotels in Mojokerto (for Gempolkerep)

24. LESTARI Mill Index

If there are any locos left here they will be wrecks, the 3 remaining good locos now being at Gempolkerep.

25. MERICAN Mill Index

On the afternoon of July 8^th at 15.00, the road delivery yard was packed with cane; the mill was far busier than at the corresponding time last year. 2 was working by the crusher as usual, while 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were working the fulls round the system. The usual amazing firework display was on offer in the evening.

At 15.30 on August 2^nd, 2 was shunting the crusher and 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were queued up to bring fulls into the mill area. By 16.30, 3 trains had crossed the main road outside the mill. An evening visit at 18.00 found a succession of trains brewing up in the road yard and leaving for the mill with the customary pyrotechnics.

Of course, 4 and 6 (built 1901) like many Javanese locos are fast approaching centenarian status.

26. PESANTREN Mill Index

Olaf Güttler found steam working normally during a June visit. At 14.00 on August 3^rd, 150, 9 and 214 were outside the shed, cold but serviceable. Inside the shed, 151 was apparently out of use, while 193, 194, 217 and 228 were under repair. A brief visit to the yard at the new mill found 8, 182, 212, 216 and 226 at work. 214 was not seen but was presumably by the crusher.

27. NGADIREJO Mill Index

Olaf Güttler found 205 and 210 in steam here in early June, but all the work was being done by bullocks as usual. At 11.00 on August 2^nd, we were lucky enough to see both locos moving, their principal task seems to be to use a cable to drag fulls the last short distance to the crusher. 71 and 224 were dumped in the shed.

28. MOJOPANGGUNG Mill Index

During a 5 minute visit on July 9^th, 7 was working the crusher as usual, 3 and 8 were seen working the fulls (presumably with 2 also), 6 was spare loco. At 07.30 on August 2^nd, 8 was again in steam (by request) and 6 was again spare. As usual, the mill staff went to great lengths to co-operate with photographic requests.

29. JOMBANG BARU Mill Index

No trace of steam locos remains here.

30. CUKIR Mill Index

The remaining steam locos were sold to the Kediri scrap merchant in 1996.

31. GEMPOLKEREP Mill Index

Olaf Güttler found the mill yard busy with steam activity during a June visit. At 08.00 on August 3^rd, the shed foreman reported that the mill was short of bagasse. As a result, only 3L, 11, 12, 15 and 18 were in use for shunting the road deliveries as usual. In the shed, 1 and 3 were out of use and 2, 5, 8 and 198 were stored serviceable. 4 was in the final stages of repair and 14 was preserved.

32. TULANGAN Mill Index

Three of the remaining steam locos were sold to the Kediri scrap merchant in 1995; the other presumably was scrapped.

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