Java Sugar Steam 1998 - Madiun Area Mills

The Madiun mills are operated by PTP Nusantara XI.  There is clearly room for rationalisation in this area, already Purwodadi and Rejosari are under joint administration and local staff say that Kanigoro has problems with a shrinking cane area. 1998 has proved to be a disastrous year for steam around Madiun, the number of active locos is about half what it was three years ago. Visitors are supposed to be charged the equivalent of U$5 per head per mill visit but I have found that this is usually only enforced for groups.

19. SOEDHONO Mill Index

A visit on 31st July found the mill ankle deep in mud and clogged up with cane.  6 was the only serviceable steam loco, the rest being stored on shed.  On 21st August 6 was again in use, with 3 in steam on stand by. 6 was burning coal, 3 bagasse. One of the Maffei 0-8-0T has been preserved at the mill turn-off, the only number on it, 3627, is from a long scrapped Jung.

20. PURWODADI Mill Index

At 19.00 on 30th July, 5, 10 and 11 were simmering in the dark in the road yard in a sea of mud. The following evening, 10, 11, 15 and 16 were in an ocean of mud following more rain. An evening session on August 20th found 5, 11, 15 and 16 at work with 10 apparently under repair, the mud having dried out. On the morning of 21st August, 10 and 11 were working the road yard as normal at 10.00, with loaded trains running approximately every 30 minutes. I stopped for 5 minutes at 09.00 on 1st September, I saw 5, 10 and 11 in steam, the mill seemed to be operating as before.

.21. REJOSARI Mill Index

An afternoon visit on 31st July found the field lines out of use and all work in the mill and transfer yard in the hands of diesels.  The steam locos were stored serviceable, a shortage of bagasse may have made their demise temporary. On August 20th, 10 was sharing the transfer duties with the big diesel and the helpful mill staff steamed 12 for us the following day. On both occasions, steam hauled 2 transfer trains during the afternoon. On 1st September, 10 worked in the first loaded train at 08.30 and the big diesel would have worked the second one sometime later.

22. KANIGORO Mill Index

A morning visit, on 31st July, found the active locos burning coal (probably from Sumatra). 1, 2, 5, 6 and 11 were in steam doing the usual shunts although there was not much cane around.  Two diesels were seen out in the fields.  On 20th August only 1, 2 and 11 were in steam. Diesels were active on the bagged sugar trains and one of the road yard lines with tractors seen taking empties to the field.  2 was working the mud train. The steam locos had returned to burning damp bagasse. During the afternoon of 21st August, the mill was rather busier.  1 and 6 were on the road deliveries, 11 was on the mill and 2 on the mud train. I called in briefly in the afternoon of August 31st, 1, 6 and 11 were hard at work but I did not have time to check out 2.

23. PAGOTTAN Mill Index

Very quiet on the morning of 31st July.  A very brief visit saw three small diesels in the road yard and the only steam loco in use appeared to be 8 on the mill shunt. A similar situation was apparent on 20th, 21st and 31st August, suggesting that this mill is a virtual write-off for enthusiasts for this season at least.

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