Kendati Beda Komunitas, usia, maupun agama, dalam kegiatan ini semua bersatu padu bahu-membahu mencuci lok BB20021 dan BB20029 yang usianya hampir 53 tahun itu menjadi kinclong kembali. Dalam waktu 2 jam seluruh pekerjaan mencuci lok rampung. Setelah selesai dicuci, lok BB20021 langsung keluar dipo dan berangkat ke Stasiun Semarang Tawang untuk langsiran, sementara lok BB20029 yang dicuci pertama kali malah stabling Dipo Semarang Poncol.

Acara cuci bareng lok BB200 kali ini sempat diliput oleh 2 media elektronik yaitu dari TPI dan Cakra Semarang TV (tv lokal Semarang). Setelah acara selesai, rombongan dari Jakarta, Semarang dan Bandung pamit ke Stasiun Semarang Poncol karena akan naik KRDI Banyubiru (Joglosemar) menuju Yogyakarta.

Sebelum acara penghijauan dimulai, IRPS berkesempatan untuk mengadakan diskusi dan tukar pendapat dengan Jajaran pejabat PT Kereta Api (Persero) Daerah Operasi (Daop) IV yang bertempat di suatu ruangan yang di sulap jadi ruangan pertemuan. Dalam diskusi itu, PT Kereta Api (Persero) yang diwakili oleh Kahuams Daop IV mengucapkan terima kasih atas bantuan bibit pohon yang terdiri dari 18 pohon Mangga, 4 pohon nangka, 5 pohon jambu air, 5 pohon belimbing dan 2 pohon kedondong serta bantuan IRPS dalam acara penghijauan stasiun ini.

Selain itu PT Kereta Api (Persero) memaparkan kondisi Stasiun Kedungjati saat ini dan rencana ke depannya nanti. Dalam diskusi itu ada kami menerima kabar baik tentang jalur ke Ambarawa yang sedang dan akan diperbaiki. Dalam kesempatan tersebut hadir pula bekas PPKA Stasiun Kedungjati, Beliau bernama Bp. Santoso, beliau menceritakan pengalaman dulu ketika berdinas di Kedungjati. Dipenghujung acara diskusi dan ramahtamah, IRPS menyerahkan cendramata berupa foto-foto Stasiun Kedungjati dari masa ke masa karya Mas Karyadi Baskoro.

Pukul 11.11 WIB Acara penanaman pohon dimulai, secara simbolis Pak Untung Rustadi menyerahkan bantuan bibit pohon dari IRPS yang diserahkan kepada KS Kedungjati dan sekaligus penanaman pertamapun dilakukan. Bersamaan dengan itu diserahkan pula 30 bibit pohon jati dan 10 mahoni sumbangan dari Steve Noon kepada IRPS yang diserahkan oleh Bp. Sisworo dari Perhutani Cepu. Akhirnya seluruh anggota bergotong royong menanam semua jenis pohon di sekitaran Stasiun Kedungjati terutama di lahan kosong arah ke Solo.

Kurang lebih 1 jam kemudian, acara penanaman pohon selesai dan para anggotapun hunting sejenak di dekat Kali Tuntang karena KRDI Banyubiru akan melintas menuju Semarang dari Solo. Setelah selesai hunting, para anggota kembali ke stasiun untuk makan siang dan juga untuk Sambungrasa sambil menunggu KRD Pandanwangi. Pukul 14.57 WIB Para peserta dari Semarang, Jakarta dan Bandung kembali menuju Semarang dengan naik KRD Pandanwangi, sedangkan rekan-rekan dari Surabaya, Yogya dan Solo langsung pulang dengan kendaraannya masing-masing.

On 13th-20th September 2009 the team built a network with the main stakeholders and identified issues on historical railway stations revitalisation, of which numbers were up to 900 stations. Discussions about them were hold at least twice in Jakarta Kota Station on 14th September and Semarang Tawang Station on 16th September.

IRPS were asked to participate in the discussions as an information source. In a discussion in Jakarta which was moderated by Bambang Eryudhawan of Badan Pelestarian Pusaka Indonesia (BPPI/Indonesian Heritage Trust), IRPS Chairman Aditya DL presented a paper titled “Revitalising and Conserving Indonesian Railway Station”. Other discussion participants were Junus Satrio Atmodjo, Tourism and Culture Ministry’s head of cultural research and development; Paul Peters of the Dutch Embassy, Pingki Pangestu of Real Estat Indonesia (Indonesian Real Estate Developers Association), Asep Kambali of Komunitas Historia (Historia Community), a representative of Pusat Dokumentasi Arsitektur (Indonesian Center for Architecture Documentation) and several persons from BPPI.

In Semarang, IRPS’ Tjahjono Rahardjo presented a paper titled “Semarang, Where the Journey Started” in a limited and informal discussion. IRPS was the only participant to present its paper. Other participants were a team of Dutch (including Gerard de Graaf of Stichting Backer-Du Croo), A Kriswandhono (architect and archaeologist currently dealing with Lawang Sewu conservation) and Widya Wijayanti (architect).

In both discussions, IRPS stated the main function of a station was a place where passengers boarded or disembarked trains and switched to other means of transportation. On the other hand, a station should have a positive impact on a city’s development. Therefore, there were different treatments to active and inactive railway stations because of their different characters. Homme Heringa added a station was also a city’s gate. An active railway station’s ability to do its functions was a benchmark of its existence. IRPS saw a potential conflict between revitalisation and conservation. If one talked about conservation,  one should consider railway technology and city development, which of course was different compared to times when a station was built. In Semarang Tawang Station case, environmental damage (flood) was also needed to considered. In Netherland, many railway station buildings were replaced by new ones or moved because they could not accomodate present demand. Therefore, one could not talk about conservation at all cost.

In both discussions, IRPS’ Deddy Herlambang was actively participated although he acted as a personnel of PT Kereta Api’s Center for Historical Asset Preservation.

The roadshows had been held in six major railway stations in Java:
July 10-12: Gambir, Jakarta
July 17-19: Cirebon
July 24-26: Semarang Tawang
July 31-August 2: Surabaya Gubeng
August 7-9: Yogyakarta
August 14-16: Bandung

Several events in the roadshows:
1. Photo Exhibit    
- Trains Art Scenic    
- Heritage and Tourism    
- Product, Infrastructure and Technology Development    
- Trains and Human Beings
2. Documentary Films Show  
 - Retro Films    
- Railway Trips Exploration   
- New Products
3. Reading Corner   
- Books on Introduction and Illustrations of Trains Elements    
- Books on Rail Transport History and Heritage   
- Other Media (magazines etc)
4. Trains Love Campaign
5. Railway Tour Promotion
6. Rail Transport History Education 

He grew up in Tambak Boyo, Ambarawa, in a family of which members did not work for railway company. “My father was a soldier, and he never let me to become one,” he said. When he was a schoolboy, he played on both sides of Ambarawa-Tuntang railway tracks near his house, where his love of trains grew. When he studied at Sekolah Teknik Negeri 1 and sekolah teknik menengah (both were vocational schools), he had the opportunity to taste the work atmosphere in Ambarawa Locomotive depot in 1973. “At that time, there were many big steamers, such as CC50, and the Ambarawa-Tuntang-Kedungjati railway line was still active,” he said.

After graduating from the vocational school, he applied for a job in Perusahaan Jawatan Kereta Api in 1975. At first, he was given the responsibility to drive diesel-hydraulic shunters, i.e D300 and D301, on the line between Semarang Locomotive Depot, Semarang Poncol Station, and Semarang Tawang Station. After getting through processes in the railway company, he was permitted to operate bigger locomotives, such as BB300, BB200, BB301, BB304, BB203 and CC201, and diesel multiple units. “I could drive CC200 and BB201, but I don’t have the license,” he said. His duty was to control locomotives which hauled medium-to-long distance passenger cars and wagons. Suprapto, a former member of public relations division of PT Kereta Api, once said that Pujiono was a smart engineer of Semarang Poncol Locomotive Depot, therefore he was sent to Ambarawa to study and maintain steam locomotives.

In 1995, he was transferred to Ambarawa. Therefore, he never had the opportunity to drive the then newest class of diesel-electric locomotives in Indonesia, CC203. He maintained B25 02 and B25 03 in the locomotive depot. Then in 1997 a new kid from Regional Division II of West Sumatra, E10 60, arrived at Ambarawa. The steamer was broken and in a bad shape. “I remember the locomotive had to be transported by a container truck. The truck’s tyres burst all the way,” Sudono, former head of Ambarawa Train Museum, said in 2006. Pujiono and his team in Ambarawa Locomotive Depot repaired the locomotive so that it could be reactivated. In 2008, the locomotive returned home to West Sumatra.

 In 2004, a C12 18 from Cepu, Central Java, was sent to Ambarawa. It was also broken. But, Pujiono and his team could revive it. The locomotive with high smokestack now hauled tourist cars on level surface. Approaching his retirement day, Pujiono was still active maintaining B25 02, B25 03, and C12 18. He also guided young engineers. He deserved for a decoration to honor his loyalty and dedication

 The participants were Nugroho Wahyu Utomo, Tjahjono Rahardjo, Herman Dirgantara, Budi Tuntang, Dedi Kurniawan, Bambang Sumantri, Wahid N, Deni, Abid, Dr Djalidin, Wisnu, Mega and Yos. Several reporters from TVKU, TV Borobudur, Sindo, Antara, Suara Merdeka and Radar Semarang also covered the event.

The team started cleaning BB200 29 at 11:00 AM. Juremi (a member of crew of the locomotive depot) and Darmadi (Chief of Semarang poncol Depot) also gave their hands. An hour later the team finished cleaning up the locomotive. Darmadi thanked the team for their help in maintaining the locomotive.

Karyadi said, the fact that Semarang as the starting point for the railway line is unarguable, but the exact position of the first station was still debatable. Some considered Kemidjen as the place where the first station was built. This opinion was so strong that Kemidjen name plate was put in Transportation Museum in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII). He said that the opinion should be put into further research.

That was why IRPS searched through railway publications, maps and photos and observed the location. Based on sources which mentioned the first train operation in Indonesia, none mentioned Kemidjen. They only mentioned that the train served Semarang-Tangoeng line and stopped at severel stations and shelters on the line, i.e Samarang, Allas-Toewa, Broemboeng, and Tangoeng.

Regarding the name of Samarang instead of Semarang, the Dutch administration used Samarang in documents before 1880s. Karyadi said that, therfore, the first train station in Semarang was Samarang Station and located in a place which was called Tambaksari on the present day. Kemidjen was not recognized until 1909, after Samarang Station was built by Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS).

Kriswandono said that the finding showed IRPS’ concern about railway history in Indonesia. He also said that controversies caused by the finding were not big problems as long as the research was conducted correctly. He appreciated IRPS’ effort in finding the station.

 In 1915, railway tracks of 1067 mm gauge were laid in the teak forest in Cepu for transporting timber. The length of the line was said to be about 300 kilometres, and the choice of 1067 mm gauge was thought to enable trains transporting the timber to enter the main line of Semarang-Surabaya. There was no accurate record of numbers and types of steam locomotives which had served on the line in the teak forest.

The locomotives left in a traction depot of Perum Perhutani Cepu were three Berliner Maschinenbau-Actien-Gesellschaft (BMAG)-made steam-powered locomotives named Tudjuhbelas, Agustus, and Bahagia—they were made in 1928; two Du Croo & Braun-made shunters; and a Ruston & Hornsby-made diesel-powered locomotive. There was also a steam locomotive made by Hanomag in 1922, then PJKA’s C29 02.Bahagia was the locomotive used to haul three passenger cars and two tenders on the occasion. In the past, it was used to haul timber-loaded wagons from the teak forest to a temporary storage. But now, it hauled tourists-loaded passenger cars to Gubug Payung Monument.

The train departed at 08:00 AM from a locomotive depot of Perum Perhutani. The route taken by the train was BKPH Ledok, Kendilan, Pasar Sore, Blungun, Nglobo, Cabak and Nglebur. Some of these locations were located in the subdistricts of Cepu, Sambong, Jepon and Jiken in Blora district, whereas the others were located in Kasiman subdistrict of Bojonegoro district in East Java Province.The train made several stops so that its passengers could visit a timber storage in Batokan, Cepu Timber Processing Industry, and a teak plantation field inside the complex of Cepu Research and Development Center.The train also stopped at other locations to let the passengers enjoy the scenery and take some photos. The train reached its final destination, Gubug Payung, at 11:20 AM.

The passengers went to the rest area, which was 300 metres away from the shelter where the train stopped. There was a 150-year-old teak near the rest area, but unfortunately it had been cut down.The train departed Gubug Payung shelter at 1 PM and arrived at the locomotive depot of Perhutani Cepu at 2:48 PM.

 The discussions was facilitated by Indonesian State Railway 4th Operational Area-Semarang and was held on Saturday, August 31, in a meeting room of Indonesian State Railway. Its participants were 35 people, some of them were experts in civil engineering. Acting as moderator was Prof Ir Totok Rusmanto. Some public figures were also present, i.e Prof Eko Budiharjo, Dr Bambang, Dr Robert Kondoatie and Nelwan. Unfortunately, Djoko Setijowarno was not present. Tjahjono Rahardjo and Deddy Herlambang represented Semarang branch of IRPS.

Tjahjono stated that old building conservation and Indonesian State Railway’s core business were hard to combine. Ideally, old building should be conserved. But in reality, in business view, the most important things were profit and good services onboard trains. Therefore, a different approach was needed.

Semarang Tawang was built by NIS and inaugurated in June 1, 1914. Stations built by NIS were the best in architectural design compared to other Netherland-Indies railway companies, such as SS, SJS, SCS, OJS, and SDS. NIS-built stations spreaded on Semarang-Solo-Yogyakarta line via Kedungjati and Gundih, including Ambarawa (Willem 1).

According to Totok, each canopy above each platform of the station had different type of arch depended on rail gauges. The station had two rail gauges of 1067 mm and 1435 mm. The 1067 mm gauge was used on Semarang-Solo-Yogyakarta line, whereas the 1435 mm gauge was used on Semarang-Surabaya line.

If the station were to be rehabilitated, it was hoped that the current building design would not be changed. We could think of solutions to prevent damages caused by flood. There was a 6-year-time to restore the station to its perfect condition so that it was ready to celebrate its 100th birthday. We believed that the station would be a world heritage in the next few years, therefore it should have been conserved properly.The discussion was held to urge government to care about the station, especially about damages caused by flood. If the government legitimated the discuccion, a petition would be created to control the station building.

Participants who followed this agenda in part: Deddy, Mr Tjahjono, Yosanto, Saiful (Pekalongan), Wahid, Baskoro, Ugik (Yogyakarta), Herman and Saiful.

The trip was begun at 10:30 AM in a gathered manner in the Poncol station and departed together for several stations like the Mangkang station, Jrakah station, Alastua station and the Brumbung station. The activity ended by returning to the Poncol station at 03:15 PM.

This activity apart from the IRPS introduction on the whole, we introduced IRPS Semarang and his activity. Not only that, we gave the snack the photograph of the IRPS documentation (belonging to Yosanto) that was quality enough to be displayed in the station, his aim so that IRPS always in remembered.

Be impressive enough, that we were welcomed in a friendly manner and we could introduce ourselves. Moreover, we could also witness the building and equipment that still were around the station but also stories about the railway that up to date.

This activity evidently very beneficial in our knowledge towards conditions for the station and the railway at this time. It is hoped this activity could continue to be continued, apart from IRPS Semarang possibly from the other colleague of IRPS.

Titled 50th years celebration of BB200, PT.Kereta Api (Persero), Dirjen Kereta Api (Director General of Railway, Transportation Department) and IRPS was made a supporting event, such as Photograph Exhibition, Drawing Competition and Coloring Competition for Children.

BB200 21 and BB200 29 locomotive at Semarang Tawang station

Rony Wahyudi, President of PT.Kereta Api (persero) slicing tumpeng then cosigning to Rono Radipto, Chief of 4th Operational Area PT.Kereta Api (persero).

IRPS Awarding Director General Railway of Transportation Department, Soemino Ekosaputro

Friends of BB200

Aditya Dwi L (IRPS Chairman, right) awading Suharjono (Chief of Ambarawa Museum)

Aditya Dwi L (IRPS Chairman, right) awarding Pujiono (Chief of Ambarawa Locomotive Depot)

Ambarawa Railway Mountain Tour

IRPS Members and Families at the ex-platform of Jambu Station

• Deliberation has fulfilled quorum and validity to be carried out by has been attended by member of IRPS representing all region. Grand total member of IRPS attending this activity is 45 members.
• Opening of Deliberation done by IRPS Chairman period 2006-2007, Budi Bahariawan Sofyan.
  Agenda is continued with forwarding of IRPS Chairman Responsibility Report period 2006-2007 and approval from participant to the Responsibility Report.
• Deliberation is continued with election process of IRPS Chairman period 2007-2010. Based on result of election through balloting in is closed through 2 phase, chosen Aditya Dwi Laksana as IRPS Chairman period 2007-2010.
• Deliberation Agenda then studies presentation of activity program from each IRPS region submitted by Regional Coordinator.
• At 07:45 PM, IRPS National Deliberation 2007 closed by IRPS Chairman period 2007-2010, Aditya Dwi Laksana.
• This event continued with visiting to Ambarawa Museum in July 22, 2007.

forwarding of IRPS Chairman Responsibility Report period 2006-2007 by Budi BS

from left: Edja, Aditya Dwi Laksana and Budi BS (IRPS Chairman period 2006-2007)

The Participant

from left: Leo Krisanto, Harsono, Deddy Herlambang, Risman H and Novaprima

from left: Novaprima, Aditya Dwi Laksana and Lutfi Tjahjadi.
the result of election process chosen Aditya Dwi Laksana as IRPS Chairman period 2007-2010

The participant

Ario, Pura and Bagus Widyanto sees the old CR car at Semarang Poncol

Kaligung Bisnis trains set (Semarang Poncol – Tegal)

ex-SCS (Semarang-Chirebon Stroomtram maatschppij, a private company of Dutch East Indies Railway) building at Tegal city

from left: Bagus Widyanto, Pura, Asep, Muhammad Rizky TH and Ario

D301 28 locomotive at Cirebon station with original cream and green livery, which was the livery of Djawatan Kereta Api (DKA)

IRPS members and CC200 15 locomotive at Cirebon locomotive depot

rom left: Intrias Herlistiarto, Asep Suherman, Ario Wibisono, Muhammad Rizky TH, Nugroho Wahyu Utomo, Bagus Widyanto and Rudy Linggadiharja.

In June 25, 2007, IRPS Semarang members (Deddy Herlambang, Yosanto, Raymond, Syaeful, Helmi, Wahyu Aji, Tjahjono Raharjo, Safrinal, Stefanus Hanie and Nugroho WU) organized a celebration of the 5th anniversary of IRPS. IRPS has performed a activity to mess together with the officers of Semarang Poncol locomotive depot. Event of started with greeting from Deddy Herlambang (IRPS Semarang coordinator), then is continued greeting from Sutiyono and blowing the waxy at Tart cake cake by Sutiyono. Event of continued with delivery of Tart cake from Deddy Herlambang to Sutiyono and continued with informal meeting.

Deddy Herlambang (with the black jacket) gave greeting to the participants

from left: Sutiyono, Hartono and Muntadi