Passion for Railway Tracks in Semarang

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

An old diesel locomotive with a background of Tawang Station which is one of the historical traces of the railway in Semarang City, Central Java, on Friday (27/7/2021). The city of Semarang was the location for the first time the railway line entered Indonesia during the Dutch colonial period.

For an increasing number of people, trains are about passion and nostalgia. The rail lovers tread the passage of time along dead tracks, old stations, up to the ruins of history. Even in the city of Semarang, Central Java, there is a milestone in the history of the archipelago\'s railways.

On an afternoon in February, under dark clouds over the sky of the Old City of Semarang, Maybi Prabowo, 48, walked along Jl. Sendowo to the west towards Kali Semarang. Carrying two backpacks, one on his back and one on his chest, he recorded his walk with his mobile phone.

“I am on Jl. Sendowo. In the past, in this vicinity there was the SJS tram line [Samarang–Joana Stoomtram Maatschappij NV] from Jurnatan Station that led to Bulu. We\'ll try to explore it," he said, while making a video on the development of the Little Netherlands area.

Jurnatan Station, which is no longer exists, was built by the private Dutch company SJS and began operation in 1882. Besides being the starting point for trains from Semarang to the east, such as to Demak, Kudus, Pati, Juwana and all the way to Jatirogo and Tuban in East Java, the old Jurnatan was also a tram station serving a number of points in the city of Semarang.

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From that location, Maybi walked northwest to document a bridge that was more than 100 years old. In the past, the bridge was crossed by trains from Pendrikan Station – which has left not traces of its existence – to Tanjung Emas Harbor. Maybi’s two videos were uploaded on his Youtube account, which now has some 154,000 followers.

“I have always been amazed by such historical leftovers. Around 100 to 150 years ago, with limited technology, they were able to build with precision, and the results were durable, sturdy. And that is a lot in railroad buildings," said Maybi, an employee at a mass media company in Jakarta, Tuesday (27/7/2021).

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

A corner of a building owned by PT Kereta Api Indonesia in Kampung Depo Indah, Kemijen District in Semarang City, Central Java, on Friday (27/7/2021).

Maybi is a train lover, more casually known as a railfan. He and his peers are members of one or more of a number of communities, one of which is Dead Rail Hunter. They like hunting for dead railway lines. Maybi\'s love for trains cannot be separated from his childhood. His parents\' house is near Sokaraja Station, Banyumas. His great-grandfather used to be the stationmaster there.

His background as a television journalist working in a number of regions motivated him to explore everything about railways. In addition to Java, he has visited heritage or active rail routes on the islands of Sumatra and Madura. He also always takes the time to go by train when he is abroad.

In addition to travelling, he combines his videos with photos and ancient documentation from various trusted sources, including from the Netherlands.

Maybi, who studied in Semarang for seven years, has been active in a number of rail aficionado communities on Facebook in 2008. Since 2014, he has been uploading videos on YouTube. Social media provides a way to share travel videos and the intricacies of the history of the nation’s train system. In addition to travelling, he combines his videos with photos and ancient documentation from various trusted sources, including from the Netherlands.

YouTube has also been used by Eko Suryo, 45, a train lover from Kudus. On Dec. 31, 2020, he documented a trip to the inactive Semarang Gudang Station in the city’s Kemijen subdistrict.

“Not far from Semarang Gudang Station, there was Samarang NIS Station, the first station in Indonesia. It doesn\'t exist anymore. I think this history is important,” said Eko, who has been uploading his explorations since 2015.

Eko fell in love with trains in elementary school. He was introduced to the passion by his grandfather while the Semarang to Kudus train route was still running. In the mid-1980s, trains from Semarang to the east, including Kudus, were stopped.

KOMPAS/ADITYA PUTRA PERDANA

Kali Asin Bridge in North Semarang District, Semarang City, Central Java, on Thursday (29/7/2021). The bridge is a railway line from the long lost Pendrikan Station, to the station at the port.

Growing up, he liked to follow the path to the old station, especially in Central Java. While studying in Semarang in 1995, he was still able to see a stretch of railway tracks alongside the Semarang-Demak northern coast highway. "However, in 2000, I saw for myself that the route had been dismantled," recalled Eko.

Nostalgia

Tjahjono Rahardjo of the Semarang chapter of the Indonesian Railway Preservation Society (IRPS) said the increasing number of railfans over the last decade, especially in the era of social media, was very positive. "Trains have a great nostalgic element," he said.

However, Tjahjono hoped that Indonesian railfans would be able to do more. He cited railway enthusiasts in England, the country that made the first trains, who created a joint venture to buy a steam locomotive that was to be scrapped and then restored and revived it.

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The increasing love and interest in trains, said Tjahjono, was related to the change in the image of state railway company PT KAI, which had been improving services since Ignasius Jonan’s term as president director of the state enterprise from 2009 to 2014. Tjahjono, who is also a lecturer in environmental and urban studies at Soegijapranata Catholic University, said the change was similar to that of the traditional arts, in that the younger generation was interested if the pursuit was packaged attractively. “At that time, the image of the train became increasingly cool. It\'s no longer [out of style]," he said.

Railfans are also seeking to support the preservation of railway assets. In 2009, for example, Tjahjono, Karyadi Baskoro and Deddy Herlambang, assisted by Ramelan, a resident of Spoorland village in Kemijen subdistrict, found traces of the existence of the Samarang NIS Station, which was built in 1864, the first station in Indonesia.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

One of the old buildings that became part of the history of the railway was seen lying unused in Semarang City, Central Java, on Friday (27/7/2021). Almost all assets belonging to PT Kereta Api Indonesia are old buildings that are included as cultural heritage buildings.The ornaments and parts of the building were exactly the same as in the picture of the Samarang NIS Station in the Dutch book, Spoorweg stations op Java, by Michiel van Ballegoijen de Jong (Amsterdam, 1993). Previously, the public knew more about the first station, namely Kemijen Station or Semarang Gudang Station. The three stations were in the same subdistrict, Kemijen.

In the hallway of the Ambarawa Railway Museum, a display explains that that the first station was Samarang NIS Station, which was built in June 16, 1864.

"The general public does not know much about it, including Semarang residents," he said.

Deputy Mayor of Semarang Hevearita G Rahayu said that even though the management of railway assets was the domain of PT KAI, her party was ready to support the effort. After government preservation efforts, Tawang Station in Semarang’s Old City has become increasingly crowded with tourists.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).