Java Sugar Steam 1998 - 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. In 1998, the mills charged a uniform RP 25000 per visitor - in 1997 this would have been U$10, but it was a highly affordable U$2 in 1998.

7. BANJARATMA Mill Index

This mill has now closed as was threatened last year.

8. JATIBARANG Mill Index

Appeared to be very busy in passing at 16.20 on 28th July.  4 locos were stored outside the shed and 12 was shunting road deliveries. One of Cepiring's diesels has been transferred here which cannot help steam activity.

It rained overnight and in the early morning of 12th August.  By 08.30, 9 was ready to work its overnight train in from the road yard together with the new Cepiring diesel.  12 was yard pilot and the only other locomotives in steam were 2 and 10.   All the other locomotives were stored in varying condition.  6 was not present and looking at my notes, I realise I have not seen it for some time.  Staff said it had been scrapped.

On 7th September in the afternoon, the same four locos were in steam which suggests that these are the only ones in use this year.  10 and 12 were working the yard, 2 and 9 were on shed and there was no field work for them.

9. PANGKA Mill Index

The road delivery yard was totally clogged up at 16.45 on 28th July.  From experience this was probably equally likely to have been caused by a mill breakdown or a derailment in the main yard.  1 and 9 were seen in steam.  Locos are burning wood this year.

At 14.30 on August 12th, the mill appeared to be recovering from a breakdown as the last loaded wagons were being pulled out of the storage sidings for unloading.   Thereafter, the regular procession of loaded trains from the road yard to the mill occurred.  2, 3, 9 and 10 were at work while 1 was being lit up. 7 also appeared serviceable, while 5 and 8 were still stored. According to shed staff 4 (ex Jatibarang 3) had been scrapped.

At 16.00 on 7th September I found 7, 9 and one diesel working in from the road yard as usual.  No doubt other locos were in steam inside the mill.

10. SUMBERHARJO Mill Index

A small diesel has arrived from Kalibagor and was seen on the mud train at 17.00 on July 28th.  The crew said the main reason for its use was a shortage of bagasse..... I stayed in Pemalang on August 7th and was on my way to the mill for a night photography session when I found 11 brewing up at the roadside. This provided enough entertainment for me - the crew said that the baby Borsig 1 was not in use this year.

On 13th August, the hotel breakfast was slow in coming and we only arrived at the mill at 08.00, but we had missed nothing. 3, 4, 6, 7 and 10 were in steam around the shed, 11 was yard pilot and 5 was shunting the empties. 1 was not in use and 2 and 12 were stored as before at the back of the shed.  This left 9 missing, which was apparently still out on the east line from the previous day.  Distilling the various opinions, we set out along the line and found it 2km out trapped by a minor derailment.  After this was cleared, it worked into the mill at 10.00, the sun was high but it was only the second time I have ever seen a line working here, and the approach to the mill area through the desa is quite delightful and more than adequate compensation for the loss of the mud train.  Owing to a bagasse shortage locos were burning wood.

11. SRAGI Mill Index

8 was seen at the level crossing north of the Comal Mill Site at 17.30 on 28th July.

On 7th August, I found the system busy in the afternoon with 5, 6, 7, 16 and 19 on the fulls and 1, 11, 14, 15 on the empties all in the Sragi mill area. Apart from dumped 9, 13 was at the back of the shed and 10 outside it. The stored locos (2, 4, 4K and 6K) had been taken to Comal but their tenders were dumped next to the shed.  Of the other locos 3 was stored at Comal and 18 was at the back of the shed there too.  I was told 8 was out south of Sragi.  20 was found near the petrol station near Comal mill site and to show I hadn't lost my touch I tracked down 12 which was south of Comal town and 17 which was at Lowo east of Comal town and north of Sragi.  Neither was likely to return with fulls until well after dark so I retreated to Pemalang.  13 locos in steam in 1998 wasn't too bad.  What other system outside China could produce as many locos?

On 13th August the situation was almost identical. The yard full trains were worked in turn by 5, 6, 7 and 16 and the empties by 1, 10, 11 and 15. 12 was cold outside Comal shed and 8 outside Sragi shed. We did not look for standard OK 19 and 20 which were out, but we tracked down 17 which was at Lowo as before.  This time we waited for the departure which occurred just before sunset at 17.20. All locomotives were burning wood.

I only stopped in Sragi yard on 3rd September to check on the position of locos in the fields but the mill was working normally.  Staff said that mud trains had finished.   19 was apparently 5km south of the mill. Following the information I found 17 at 15.15 just north of Comal town (by 18.00 it had gone back to the mill with its fulls). 8 was just setting from Comal Mill site to the north at 15.30 and was likely to be delayed crossing the Perumka main line. By 16.00, I found 12 west of Blimbing south of Comal Mill, and 20 just further south.  20 seemed the best bet for a daylight train, it only just made it at 17.25, but it was a most impressive sight with 43 loaded cane cars. The morning of 4th September was quiet as usual with few road deliveries and most locos on shed.   At Comal, the usual stored locos were present (compared to 3 weeks earlier minus 5 worksplates which were presumably removed by the German tour group) and 8 was in light steam preparing to go to the fields at 10.00. In the afternoon, the weather was poor, with intermittent light rain. The planned operation was normal, except for an extra working for 14 from Comal to Sragi.  I didn't want to risk going to the fields with rain around so waited for 14 to perform.  It dragged it heels getting to Comal, arriving at 16.00. It then sat under the trees until the light failed and so I went home. Not a very good day....  I popped in for 5 minutes at 07.15 on 5th September to deliver some photos.  All locos had arrived from the fields, road deliveries were just starting to come in.  5, 6, 7 and 16 were all lined very photogenically waiting to begin work.

12. CEPIRING Mill Index

I visited briefly on 29th July and found the mill closed with the field lines already in poor condition.  Staff said that one of the large Japanese diesels had been transferred to Jatibarang but that the other locomotives were still on site.

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 August 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.