| PURWODADI MADIUN REGION |
This 700mm gauge mill is a few miles south of the city of Ngawi and was one of my favourite mills in terms of both the
unusual method of operation and for the intensity of activity during my morning visit in August 2004. Once again the steam
operation is limited to moving loaded wagons between the road delivery yard and the main mill yard but this includes taking
trains over a large viaduct. The method of operation is as follows ...... one of the locomotives attaches itself to the train with
the smokebox facing inwards. The train then leaves the road delivery yard, crosses the Ngawi to Madiun road and then stops
on the viaduct. A second locomotive follows the train from the road delivery yard and waits at the rear of the train while the
front locomotive is uncoupled and moved onto an adjacent siding. The train is then pushed into the main mill yard by the
second locomotive. The nature of the operation requires lots of locomotive movements ....... hence the high degree of
activity.
unusual method of operation and for the intensity of activity during my morning visit in August 2004. Once again the steam
operation is limited to moving loaded wagons between the road delivery yard and the main mill yard but this includes taking
trains over a large viaduct. The method of operation is as follows ...... one of the locomotives attaches itself to the train with
the smokebox facing inwards. The train then leaves the road delivery yard, crosses the Ngawi to Madiun road and then stops
on the viaduct. A second locomotive follows the train from the road delivery yard and waits at the rear of the train while the
front locomotive is uncoupled and moved onto an adjacent siding. The train is then pushed into the main mill yard by the
second locomotive. The nature of the operation requires lots of locomotive movements ....... hence the high degree of
activity.
Orenstein & Koppel's made up the
bulk of the Purwodadi locomotive
fleet although many were scrapped
as field work ended. Here O&K
0-8-0T No.16 stands in front of the
mill at the head of a short train of
loris in August 2004
bulk of the Purwodadi locomotive
fleet although many were scrapped
as field work ended. Here O&K
0-8-0T No.16 stands in front of the
mill at the head of a short train of
loris in August 2004
Orenstein & Koppel No.15 runs
alongside the Ngawi to Madiun
road prior to crossing into the road
delivery yard.
alongside the Ngawi to Madiun
road prior to crossing into the road
delivery yard.
The impressive viaduct across a
small stream, between the road
delivery yard and the main mill,
provides an excellent photographic
location as Orenstein & Koppel
No.11 propels a loaded cane train
into the mill
small stream, between the road
delivery yard and the main mill,
provides an excellent photographic
location as Orenstein & Koppel
No.11 propels a loaded cane train
into the mill
No.11 continues to propel the
loaded wagons back into the mill
yard and passes Orenstein &
Koppel 0-8-0T No.10 which has
previously hauled the train from the
road delivery yard and onto the
viaduct.
loaded wagons back into the mill
yard and passes Orenstein &
Koppel 0-8-0T No.10 which has
previously hauled the train from the
road delivery yard and onto the
viaduct.
No.10 returning light engine to the
road delivery yard. This locomotive
is now one of the oldest working
engines on the island of Java, having
been built in 1910.
road delivery yard. This locomotive
is now one of the oldest working
engines on the island of Java, having
been built in 1910.
Having shunted the loaded wagons
into the mill yard, No.11 follows
No.10 back to the road delivery yard
into the mill yard, No.11 follows
No.10 back to the road delivery yard
Like many other 'pabrik gulas' in Java, Purwodadi has steam powered machinery within the mill itself. Although I am not
particularly devoted to recording stationary steam engines (if you are then you must visit International Stationary Steam
Engines) the interior of the mill more than repays the entry fee. There are engines from a number of British and Dutch
manufacturers including this dual-drive Werkspoor engine pictured below.
particularly devoted to recording stationary steam engines (if you are then you must visit International Stationary Steam
Engines) the interior of the mill more than repays the entry fee. There are engines from a number of British and Dutch
manufacturers including this dual-drive Werkspoor engine pictured below.
The interior temperature in parts of the mill has to be experienced to be believed and so it was with some degree of relief
that I returned to the relatively cooler and less dusty environs of the delivery yard and the viaduct.
that I returned to the relatively cooler and less dusty environs of the delivery yard and the viaduct.
The road delivery yard at Purwodadi
has numerous trees planted to
provide shade, thus preventing the
sugar cane from drying out in the
sun. This made photography more
difficult but here No.16 (without
auxiliary tender) and No.15 stand in
the morning sunlight.
has numerous trees planted to
provide shade, thus preventing the
sugar cane from drying out in the
sun. This made photography more
difficult but here No.16 (without
auxiliary tender) and No.15 stand in
the morning sunlight.
No.16 shunting wagons in the road
delivery yard at Purwodadi
delivery yard at Purwodadi
Another shot of a train on the
viaduct - this time with No.15 about
to propel the train into the mill yard
viaduct - this time with No.15 about
to propel the train into the mill yard
No.10 has followed the next loaded
train from the road delivery yard
and is about to back onto the train
and propel it into the mill yard. A
rudimentary signalling system can
be seen on the right of the picture -
the only signal which I can recall
seeing on a sugar mill system.
train from the road delivery yard
and is about to back onto the train
and propel it into the mill yard. A
rudimentary signalling system can
be seen on the right of the picture -
the only signal which I can recall
seeing on a sugar mill system.
No.16 crossing the Ngawi to
Madiun road with a short train of
empty loris bound for the road
delivery yard. On the right can be
seen the somewhat less than
substantial barrier used to halt
traffic on this busy highway.
Madiun road with a short train of
empty loris bound for the road
delivery yard. On the right can be
seen the somewhat less than
substantial barrier used to halt
traffic on this busy highway.
During the 2011 season steam was still working at Purwodadi with at least four engines - Nos. 5, 10, 15 and 16 - still in regular
use. According to International Working Steam, No.11 is still at the mill with No.1 preserved. The other ten engines which
once worked this mill have all been scrapped including a Maffei 0-8-0T and a Du Croo & Brauns 0-8-0T - the rest being
Orenstein & Koppels.
use. According to International Working Steam, No.11 is still at the mill with No.1 preserved. The other ten engines which
once worked this mill have all been scrapped including a Maffei 0-8-0T and a Du Croo & Brauns 0-8-0T - the rest being
Orenstein & Koppels.