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Java, 1985.
The train from Prabumulih arrived at Tanjung Karang long after dark and I had to change trains for Panjang and the ferry to Merak in Java, where we arrived just after dawn the next morning. From there I got a train to Tanah Abang station in Jakarta. We passed the shed at Rankasbitung fairly slowly and I managed to identify several steam locos but I was on the wrong side of a crowded coach and only managed to photograph an overcrowded train going the other way. Tanah Abang shed was full of diesels and TD1002 was still plinthed outside. After a days rest I took a train to Karawang and then visited Purwakarta, Bandung (night stop), Cibatu, Tasikmalaya, Banjar (night stop), Kroya, Purwakarta and Tegal. I thought of going to Cepu on an overnight train before returning to Jakarta but decided there was insufficient time. At Cibatu all the locomotives were unserviceable due to the ash from an erupting volcano nearby having contaminated the water supplies. Several were being worked on but all were in poor condition. I saw no active steam anywhere but as my train from Banjar approached Kroya I saw a D52 and a diesel on a freight train waiting at a signal on the line from Purwokerto. This followed my train into the station and although D52086 was in immaculate condition it showed no sign of being in steam - before I could take a closer look the train departed for Kutoardjo and Yogyakarta. At several places locomotives were marked "musium TMII". Many of the D52 locomotives were unidentifiable as the numberplates and works plates had been removed. Although there were still a few locomotives active on the main lines in Java I had not seen them. I would have one more look in a couple of years time, visiting depots I had previously missed.
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times.