Java Sugar Steam 1997 - Private Mills

Rejoagung and Krebet are large efficient mills which got rid of their steam 10 years ago, having used it very little in the years before then. Both have large fleets of diesels. The same company runs the Cirebon mills for the Government, no doubt the attraction was the two new mills at Subang and Jatitujuh rather than the run-down steam mills. They won't be buying diesels for them, more likely, they will shut them down. Trangkil and Kebonagung have the same management who have installed modern machinery within the mills but have stuck with steam for their railways because 'it does the job'. Pakis Baru similarly has new mill machinery (and has just increased capacity by nearly 50%), but keeps the steam locos as the best economic proposition.

45. TRANGKIL Mill Index

Working like clockwork on July 7^th. At 14.30, 1 and 2 double-headed (only the 4^th time I have seen this here) a long train off the Payang branch, pausing briefly near the petrol station before heading for the mill. As usual, the mill van accompanying the train did a superb job holding back the northbound road traffic, creating marvellous opportunities for photography. An hour later, 3 came off the far south end of the system, chased by a Japanese group on a bus who were unaware of what they had missed earlier. By 16.15, 4 was in the yard, it was not clear whether it had been out on the line.

At 14.00 on July 27^th, 1 was heading for the far south of the system. The crossing keeper by the petrol station reported that 2 was down the Payang branch and the presence of pairs of bullocks suggested it was in the nearby desa, Jontro. By 14.30, 2 had brought its train through the kapok trees, splitting it to deal with the gradient and curve to access the main line. It then proceeded to the mill, crossing 3 travelling light engine from the mill. 1 was experiencing steaming problems which made for slow progress, (crossing 2 which was by now on its second trip) ultimately it ran out of bagasse just short of the mill turn-off and ran off for 'refreshment'. 3 then appeared with its train and had to await 1's return. Both then headed for the mill arriving about 17.00, followed by 2 some 15 minutes later. 4 was also in steam but its movements were not logged.

At 13.30 on July 28^th, 1 and 3 were shunting the road delivery yard. 2 was at Suwadak and 4 was down the Nguren line, both on the 'north' side of the mill. 4 returned about 14.45, as usual it struggled up the final steep approach to the mill and had to be assisted by a diesel. 4 went out to the same place again later, 2 returned to Jontro and 3 went to the far end of the south line near to Pati. 3 brought its load in just as the sun went down.

At 13.30 on July 29^th, 2 was at the end of the Payang branch, making a spirited departure at 14.30 and thereafter taking things much more gently so that it only made the main line by the petrol station just after 16.00, by which time we had to leave for Cepu. 3 was working in tender first from Sumur on the north side of the mill; 1 and 4 having shunted the road yard were due to go to the fields later and, indeed, 4 was at the petrol station as 2 came up.

46. PAKIS BARU Mill Index

This mill seems to have a steamy future thanks to enlightened management. 'If it works don't fix it' or in their case 'If it needs mending, don't throw it away' ....I wouldn't say no to this one for Christmas though.

On July 8^th, a 07.00 visit found the mill working flat out with all locos in steam except for 1 which is now kept in reserve. 2 was working field empties with the other locos taking their turns to bring the fulls round the mill as usual.

On July 28^th, a 07.00 visit found 3, 4, 6 and 7 busy on the fulls. 5 was stopped temporarily with injector failure and 2 was working empties towards Tayu. 1 worked a 'charter freight' of empty mud skips for my tour group.

On July 29^th, 4 was on boiler wash out and 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 were busier than I have ever seen them on the mill circuit. Not only were there trains running by 07.00, but by 09.00 each of the locos had done at least 2 runs round the mill. As a result, there was no steam hauled train of empties, 1 taking the other half of my group on the south line again towards Watoroyo.

47. REJOAGUNG Mill Index

Only the OK Mallet preserved at the north end of the mill by the road junction remains of the once large fleet of steam locos.

48. KEBONAGUNG Mill Index

Despite the oft-professed doubts of the mill staff, steam field working here survives with all the major parts of the system open to traffic. Olaf Güttler found 2,4 and 6 out and about in early June. On July 9^th, only 6 worked to the fields in the afternoon - in the south area near Payak. 4 and 10 were in use around the yard and 2 was under light repair. 9 was also stopped for a minor repair. The good news is that major repairs are being undertaken to 5's firebox with a view to it being available for 1998! Previously, 3 and 7 were stopped with boiler problems and have been stored ever since.

At 14.00 on August 3^rd, 2 was stopped for minor repairs, 4 and 6 were shunting the yard. 10 was at Buring on the east line and 9 nearby just east of Bumiayu village. At 16.30, 10 brought up 13 fulls behind 9. They then waited until 17.45 when diesel C5 appeared from the south-east. All three trains then went back to the mill in convoy. As usual, the sparks from these wood burners in the early evening light were tremendous as they charged up the street in Bumiayu. The following morning, 4 and 6 were shunting the yard, 10 made a brief excursion with some empties on the south line, but otherwise there was no line work. The mill was clogged up with cane following a breakdown, so in the afternoon 6 was spare, 4 and 10 shunted the factory and only two diesels went to the fields. 9 shunted the mud train to the north side of the factory and then took out some empties to the holding sidings at Sonotengah, 1 km out on the south line before bringing in a short train of fulls which had been left there.

Having spent a day or more on conventional tourism, we found 9 at Bululawang at 16.15 on August 15^th. By 16.30 all the fulls were on the line and the train left in lovely early evening sunlight shortly after. Of course, the sun immediately set behind the clouds. At Tangkalsari, 10 was found with a load of fulls from the Tanjung Sari branch (having used the giant bridge there). Thereafter, the two trains followed each other into the mill, passing Bumiayu at 17.45. The fairy lights in the village were on for Independence Day on August 17^th and they complemented the fireworks from the locos.

On August 16^th, at 14.00, 4, 9 and 10 were in steam on shed. 9 was to work just east of Bumiayu and 6 was already at Karang Duren on the south lines. We visited 6 and watched as the sun came and went and the fulls were slowly brought to the main line until just before 17.00 when one of them hit the dirt on the temporary track. We transferred our attentions to 9, which duly left for the mill just after 17.30. A bad day for still photos but the roman candles from 9 were excellent as usual. The weather here is very fickle owing to the nearby volcano but a daylight train in the sunshine here produces some of the best photographs in the whole of Java.

49. KREBET BARU Mill Index

I have heard that the following Mallet is somewhere in Melbourne.

3 0440T OK 3770/1909(b)

There are no steam locos left on site.

Click here to return to the Java Contents Page.