Java’s Highlights & Sweet Steam

Real steam in Indonesia 04. – 16./22.8.2007

Deutschlandtreffen in Rejosari

We have designed a tour for those who can’t effort a three-weeks holiday during summer. All the best mills of east Java are included in this Java’s Highlights tour.

Indonesia is the last stronghold of European built narrow gauge steam locomotives. But, this living museum of steam is not the only reason which makes Indonesia worth a visit. There are lots of ancient stationary steam engines inside the mills, some of them which have been working for more than 120 years, and we should not forget the amazing countryside.

In addition to the regular steam hauled trains we’ll also substitute a steam locomotive on other service trains which are normally diesel hauled. We can travel on these trains and arrange some additional stops and runpasts to get the maximum of good pictures. We won’t add passenger coaches to these scheduled trains, only authentic wagons are suitable. This is not so comfortable but it’s the only way for serious lineside shots on lines which do not usually see regular steam hauled trains.

The visit to Mount Bromo will give us the chance to enjoy a fantastic view over two active volcanoes, including the highest one on Java: Mount Semeru. The latter spits ash clouds high into the sky at frequent intervals. If we’re lucky we can see Mount Semeru from a sugar railway line as well which can form a spectacular backdrop for one of our steam trains.

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Itinerary

Sweet Steam

Highlights of Java

Itinerary

04.08.

04.08.

Departure Europe/America to Indonesia (Sunday)

05.08.

05.08.

In the late afternoon meeting in Jakarta, connecting flight to Surabaya, hotel in Pasuruan

06.07.

06.07.

In the late morning we’ll go up to Mount Bromo. After lunch we’ll visit the crater of the active volcano Bromo. The most recent eruption of Bromo was in 2004. Our hotel is situated directly at the edge of the crater.

07.08.

07.08.

If you’re going to Java you should not miss the spectacular view of Mount Bromo at sunrise. To experience this we have to get up very early. We will climb to the view point at the top of the volcano for the best view. You can also hire a 4WD Jeep for some 9 Pounds to avoid a walk some 500 yards upwards and two miles in length.

Around 10am we’ll continue to Olean. Here we’ll have the best chance of getting loaded steam trains from the fields in front of our lenses. If there is no traffic on the day of our arrival (perhaps due to a lack of fuel, overhaul of the mill, a derailment in the yard or something else unpredictable) we’ll continue to Asembagus, another mill with a chance of steam operated field trains during daylight. Although they have only two serviceable steam locos (beside several diesels), they used both for line service in 2006. So the chances are not too bad for line action. Hotel in Situbondo

08.08.

08.08.

The full day is reserved for Olean and/or Asembagus with their interesting field work which are the only mills left with frequent daylight steam into the fields. Hotel in Situbondo

09.08.

09.08.

Another day where we will visit Olean and/or Asembagus, according to the best operation. If you like you can also visit the sugar mill in Situbondo (Panji, 600 mm) which uses some diesels for field workings. Hotel Situbondo

10.08.

10.08.

In the morning we’ll visit the line service at Olean again before we’ll continue to Semboro. For the afternoon we “hired” a steam hauled cane train at Semboro. In 2006 Semboro had two spare serviceable steam locos, one Mallet and one Jung 0-6-0 built in 1961. Provided both of them are still serviceable we’ll hire them both, the Mallet for two afternoon journeys and the Jung loco for a morning train on the following day. We won’t use the tourist coaches, we’ll haul real trains which we’ll take over from the diesel locos. Semboro still has a large active network and uses tiny German diesels or water buffaloes for pulling cane wagons out of the fields, while much stronger, but boxy, Japanese diesels haul the trains on the partly double track main lines. Hotel in Jember

11.08.

11.08.

For today we have planned two steam trains at Semboro. The huge system offers plenty off good opportunities for typical field operations. With some luck we can see the volcano Semeru and it would form an extraordinary background for one of our charter trains. Hotel in Jember

12.08.

12.08.

Semboro is not only good for typical line service. As a special we’ll see the last known fireless locos of Java, at least one of them in use in a part of the yard. We’ll use the morning light for taking pictures of these fireless locomotives in the mill and the yard. Around 9am we’ll continue to Kediri which is about 160 miles from Semboro. Part of the route is partly very beautiful. If visibility allows we’ll see the highest active volcano, Mt. Semeru again. In the late afternoon we’ll reach Merican. Here we’ll meet the last 0-4-2 locomotives of Indonesia, used for heavy shunting operation. Merican is especially known for the sparks the little locomotives produce while fired with bagasse. After dusk this is particularly impressive, when the “little volcanoes“ make the air glow. To experience this spectacle we’ll stay there until it’s totally dark (around 6.20pm). Hotel in Kediri

13.08.

13.08.

In the morning we’ll make another brief visit to Merican before we continue to Rejosari. If the unique geared locomotive “SALAK” no. 10 is still serviceable it’ll be steamed up for our group. In the late afternoon we’ll make a brief visit to Pagottan where we’ll probably see the last active inside framed Luttermöller locomotives. Of special interest is the level crossing where it might be possible to get a locomotive and a horse cart together in the same picture. Hotel in Madiun.

14.08.

14.08.

In the early morning we’ll go to Purwodadi where all trains have to pass over a photogenic girder bridge between the loading point and the yard. Steam and diesel locomotives share the work. Almost all trains are banked by a second engine and offer good photographic potential. In the late morning we’ll continue to Tasik Madu. We’ll take the beautiful mountain road via Magetan. If the mountains are not wrapped in clouds we’ll enjoy nice vistas over the countryside. In Tasik Madu we’ll meet the largest Luttermöller engine on Java. The impressive 0-10-0, 150 horse power engine has a six axle tender! For the evening we have planned some night pictures. Hotel in Solo

15.08.

15.08.

In the early morning we’ll take another look at the depot of Tasik Madu. Around 8.30 hrs we’ll continue to Semarang airport. We’ll say goodbye to the part of the group which booked the first part of our trip. Domestic flight to Jakarta and return flight to Europe/America

 

16.08.

Arrival in Europe or America.

15.08.

 

The remaining group will continue to Sragi, where we’ll arrive in the afternoon. Heavy trains are pushed from the large loading area in the mill’s yard. Often two locomotives are necessary to do this hard job - really heavy trains even require three pushers! Such a spectacle can bring together locomotives from Hartmann, Schwartzkopff (0-10-0s) and Henschel. We expect to find five or six steam locos in service. Hotel in Pekalongan

16.08.

 

In the morning we’ll return to Sragi. Beside up to six steam locos Sragi uses diesels as well. The morning light offers the best conditions for photography in the depot. In the afternoon we’ll visit the lines around Sumberharjo. Sumberharjo is among the last mills which uses steam locos for line service. Unfortunately most of the loaded trans running shortly before or after sunset. Of course, line work is predominated by diesels, but the steam locos have still a share of the field work too. Hotel in Tegal

17.08.

 

Again Sumberharjo, for a good reason: in the morning all steam locos will be prepared for the daily duties. They are fired in or in front of the shed, usually causing really photogenic sunray games when smoke is rising from the chimney and spreading under the roof of the loco shed. In the afternoon we’ll continue to Pangka. Beautiful 0-6-2 locomotives from Jung serve the mill (beside tiny diesels which are responsible for the line service). In the early evening we have planned some night shots as well. Hotel in Tegal

18.08.

 

In the morning we’ll start the day in Jatibarang, where a nice roundhouse with a turntable dominates the loco shed. Unfortunately all field work ended in 2004 and the surplus diesels took over some of the shunting in the yard. In 2007 only two steam locos should be left as diesel locos took over many duties after all the field lines were closed. We’ll make a visit to the ancient machinery in the sugar mill as well. There are stationary boilers which are some 100 years old. Stationary steam engines power nearly the whole mill. The afternoon is reserved for Tersana Baru. We’ll see a rather non-economic shunting operation with up to seven steam locomotives and three diesels in use although the situation rarely requires work for more than two steam locos the same time. We’ll spend some time for visiting the ancient machinery in the mill as well. Hotel in Cirebon

19.08.

 

In the morning we’ll visit a fish market near Cirebon. Fishermen return in the early morning with their wooden fishing boats into a small harbour and market traders immediately start to sell the catch. In the afternoon we’ll continue to Sindanglaut, where all steam operation ceased in 2003. We will try to steam up the spare locomotive for a journey into the sugar cane fields and take over a part of the load of a diesel. Hotel in Cirebon

20.08.

 

Today we’ll go to Jakarta. In the evening we’ll make a visit to the railway museum with its interesting collection of steam and a few diesel locomotives. Hotel in Jakarta

21.08.

 

In the morning we’ll make a visit to the sailing ship harbour. Wooden ships are loaded and unloaded by hand, a rare sight in 2007! In the afternoon we’ll go to the airport. Flight back to Europe or America.

22.08.

 

Arrival in Europe or America.

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Olean 2006

Small Print

Indonesia has changed rapidly over the last decade. Quite a lot of the sugar mills - in former times well protected from the international market – have had to give up or try to be more cost efficient. This is the reason why some of the sugar mills have closed and why others have converted from railway to road transport. Although the present government introduced new taxes to protect the domestic sugar industry and save labour for the workers in the mills, many mills have changed their system of bringing in the cane. Given that the farmers around the mills are free to decide which kind of crop to grow, the system of field lines to the sugar cane fields has had to be abandoned. At many places it’s more profitable to plant other crops than cane. So it was necessary for the factories to switch to road transport anyway, to reach sugar cane fields far away from the mill. Because new lines to other fields will not be constructed anymore the truck was and is the only way for a mill to survive.

Despite all the losses over the recent years you can still experience the largest variety of steam locomotives in the world in daily use during the harvest season. Three mills still use steam to bring cane trains into the mills while others offer interesting and, sometimes, very extensive shunting in the large yards.

Jatibarang

On the tour we will probably experience Mallett locomotives as well as Luttermöllers or Klein-Lindner axle locos. A special highlight is the geared locomotive built by Orenstein & Koppel. If still serviceable, we will hire it for an afternoon of shunting operations. While Orenstein & Koppel seem to be omnipresent on the island, other producers, mostly non-existent any more, are still part of the greatest narrow gauge steam show in the world: Decauville, Schwartzkopff, Maffei, Jung, Ducroo und Brauns, Hartmann and others.

Our route may differ from the above itinerary in order to get as many good pictures of steam trains as possible. On the way, side trips to historical or other places of interest are always possible. If agreed, the group may separate and meet together later. We will travel either by up to four hired jeeps which will give us a maximum of flexibility for special requests of some group members or by bus which has the advantage of a cool box to keep beverages chilly. A combination is possible too. Just let us know your preference when booking the trip.

We will choose our hotels by their distance from the next steam mill, not according to the offered standard. All our hotels offer air conditioning (exception: Mount Bromo, where temperatures can drop below plus 5 °C (40 °F) in  the morning) and a private bath room, some offer a pool as well. European style toilets are not common in Indonesia. The chosen hotels will have a European style toilet, but in small restaurants on the way or at railway stations for example you should expect Asian (or you may also say French) style lavatories.

On many days we’ll get up early (around 6.00 am) and may even leave without breakfast sometimes. The best time for photography is the early morning between half past six and nine and the late afternoon between three and sunset around 17.45 hrs. The time in between is, according to the high sun, not rewarding for photography, even the dedicated video film maker wouldn’t be happy with the results during the noon time. You can enjoy a bath in the sea when we’re close to a beach. Because of the active volcanoes on the island the beaches offer black instead of white sand. The sea itself may be polluted near the cities.

Pagottan

Please understand that in a country like Indonesia not everything will work as planned and/or paid for. The Indonesian (better to say the Asian) way to repair things with the help of primitive tools is amazing and will help us to fix some of the technical problems which may occur. Whatsoever, you never can be sure that the most important switch of the yard isn’t blocked by a derailed train, the mill have run out of fuel a day before our arrival, and so on. The whole traffic could be stopped by such a problem. In such a case we’ll try to head for another mill. Sometimes it might be impossible to get pictures and the only thing you can do is to relax and drink a cup of tea or a beer.

For the mills with the best chances for line steam we have planned some spare time. We haven’t planned to go to sugar mills with dumped steam locos only. However, if time allows and we’re just passing by, we can make a stop at such mills as well.

The climate is tropical with high humidity and temperatures between around 30 degrees Centigrade (90 Fahrenheit). Our jeeps/buses are fitted with air conditioning but you’ll do better if you acclimatize and accept the need to sweat a bit if you have to move quickly to get a photo.

The tour is planned with the dedicated photographer and video filmmaker in mind. The itinerary is designed for those who think it more important to get the perfect shot in the morning sun than a substantial breakfast. Meals are not included in the tour price. In addition, meals are a matter of time. Sometimes it might be necessary to postpone a meal or even cancel it. In such cases we’ll have to make do some cookies or bananas. Meals are cheap with the exception of beer and other alcoholic drinks. You should calculate with some two to ten pounds Sterling a day for food. Please remember that we are guests in a mainly Islamic country where alcoholic drinks (including beer) are not available everywhere. Chilled beer is another matter ...

Charter vehicles and trains represent the standard of our host countries, which may deviate form European expectations. While we will try to avoid long walks, some photo positions may require a bit of an extra effort. Travelling on trains and driving cars is at your own risk. The charter trains will look like real trains did some years ago. So we will not attach coaches to the trains. Please remember that the exhaust of the steam locos contains sparks who may harm your clothes or skin.

If you choose the option of travelling in a Jeep and would like to drive it, in Indonesia you should be over 25 years old and the holder of an international driving licence. On the other hand you should be willing to accept the Asian way of driving which is quite different from that what you have learned at the driving school. On the main trunk roads the traffic may be horribly fast and dangerous while on minor roads you may be the only motorised car amongst ox carts (without any kind of illumination during the night, of course). However, most visitors will learn very quick how Asian traffic works and will have additional fun driving a car without the restrictions you have to care about in central Europe or north America. There is no insurance for the cars available. So we have to pay for dents ourselves, please consider this while driving. The one and only rule of the traffic seems to be not to touch other traffic participants.

Semboro mit Mt. Semeru

Please bear in mind that accommodation and transportation in China fall short of EU/US safety standards. Always use common sense when crossing roads and railway tracks. FarRail Tours cannot be held responsible and will not accept any liability whatsoever in the case of any accident or damage. We suggest you take out a comprehensive overseas accident and health insurance policy.

Registration period expires: 31.3.2007

Later bookings will be accepted for the then actual flight prices.

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Price:

Java’s Highlights 3 to 16 participants £1.395
04. to 16.08.2007 Single room supplement £115
Sweet Steam 3 to 16 participants £1.890
04. to 22.08.2007 Single room supplement £155

Minimum number of participants:      3
Maximum number of participants:   16

Without international flight: please deduct £485 from the tour price.

The price includes:

Not included are:

Above prices are based on specific bookings with the respective airlines, which have to be confirmed well in advance. Your early booking is hence appreciated.

Semboro - beim Losbrechen des Zuckerrohrzuges kommt die Mallet ins Schleudern

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