Staatsspoorwegen ter Sumatra's Westkust

Esslingen 0-4-2RT first built in 1889. There were 18 of these in total with the last 3 delivered in 1902. Most at least survived until 1921 when they were officially withdrawn, being replaced by the 0-10-0T in 1922. All were based at Padang Panjang for the Rack sections to Kajoetanam, Fort de Koch and Batoetabal.

Please note that many place names have changed over time, as has the spelling of both Dutch names and Indonesian names

In September 1887 the Dutch Parliament authorised the construction of a line from Emmahaven to Sawahloento to transfer coal from the Ombilin mines to the port in the West coast. The line was to be constructed at government expense and would take a circuitous route around and over the mountain ranges to take advantage of more favourable gradients, thus taking 157.2 kms to cover the 57 km straight line distance. Construction started on 6th July 1889. This line was completed in 1891 between Padang(1) and Padang Panjang(2). The sections from Padang Panjang to Solok, Solok to Muaro Kalaban and Padang to Emmahaven (Teluk Bayur) were all completed during 1892(3). The final link from Muaro Kalaban to Sawahlonto was completed on 1st Febuary 1894(1).

Including branch lines the total length was 296.9 kms with 35 kms of rack sections. The steepest gradient on the section used by the coal trains was 1 in 14 (7%) while on the branch line to Bukit Tinggi it was 1 in 12 (8%) reaching a summit of 1,154 metres between the volcanoes Merapi & Singalan.

Note (1) One report states it was completed from Pulau Air (Muaro Padang) with the Padang to Teluk Bayur section completed in 1892; while another implies it was opened throughout from Emmahaven - Sawahlunto in 1891.

Note (2) One report states Padang Panjang - Bukit Tinggi was completed in 1891 while another states it was opened on 1st January 1894.

Note (3) One source states 1892 while another states 1891.

 

Above: This early map of Padang shows the track layout as it would have been in 1891 with the line to Poelau Air in situ as is the line southwards towards Emmahaven but with no bridge across the Padang River. It also shows lines running into the works compound and a second branch line running into the military hospital, just to the south of the Poelau Air branch. This would seem to indicate that the first statement in Note 1 above is correct.

Below: A map of Emmahaven showing the basic rail layout, photographs show a lot more tracks than shown here.

 

Pulau Aie (Muaro Padang) - Padangpanjang, Padangpanjang - Bukittinggi selesai 1891. Padang Panjang - Solok 1892, kemudian jalur Solok - Muarokalaban, Padang -Telukbayur 1892. Sedangkan jalur Muarokalaban - Sawahlunto selesai 1 February 1894.

I have found an 1894 map showing a branch from Padang Panjang to Fort de Kock (Bukit Tinggi) already open and an extension from Fort de Kock (Bukit Tinggi) to Payakombo under construction. All the rack sections were on these lines.

I now have a map dated 1903 which is similar to the 1906 map but has an inset of Padang at large scale. This inset shows the branch from Padang station following the north bank of the river past Pulau Air up to the river mouth. It also shows another branch to a military hospital just to the south, tracks into the workshops and a track layout for Emmahaven. This map has been folded resulting in a number of breaks along the folds so will need some photoshop restoration.

Previously, I had found a map dated 6th July 1906 which shows the line to Payakombo completed but still no other branches.

 

Above: A 2-4-0RT built by Esslingen posed on Titi bridge near Payakoemboeh.

Below: 0-4-2RT 35 at Padang Panjang c1895. Later batches of 0-4-2RT had pannier tanks with rounded top and bottom edges and no cut-out for the rack drive. The 2 locomotives in the background with 66 on the left are 0-4-0RT's.

 

Above: SSS 0-4-0RT copied from an old postcard.

Below: 2-6-0T 27 (formerly SSS 52 and later PJKA C3327) at Emmahaven. Unlike the early rack tanks which had all been retired by 1921 many of these locomotives, including this one built in 1892 survived into the mid 1980s and 3 have been preserved

Above: SSS 0-4-2RT which appears to be to the design introduced by Esslingen in 1902 with pannier type tanks raised well above the rack mechanism, the earlier design having a cut-out for access to the rack mechanism.

Below: An 0-8-2RT pushing a coal train up the rack from Batutabal to Padang Panjang.

 

 Above: 0-10-0RT 123 at Padang Panjang.

Below: E1016, ahead of E1053 and E1051, was delivered with the first batch from Esslingen in 1920, but managed to survive right to the end making a last trip to Bukit Tinggi on the afternoon of 12th July 1984 with a special passenger train. In the morning it had worked the last steam-powered coal train from Kayutanam to Padang Panjang with E1062. E1064 had also been in steam this day and they were still in steam the following day while E1051 and E1053 were also serviceable. The arrival of a batch of rack diesels had spelt the end but they were held in reserve and sometimes steamed in case they might be needed. When I took this picture in August 1985 they were all cold and silent but E1060 was still undergoing overhaul at Padang works. It was later transferred to Ambarawa, Java, where it worked tourist trains until 2008 and has since been based at Sawalunto for the same purpose. It will need to keep working until 2030 to catch up with E1016, which itself has been preserved at Taman Mini in Jakarta, along with two other veterans from West Sumatra which I saw in Padang works at the same time, F1015 and C3318. By a happy coincidence two other locomotives which I saw in the works have also survived, C3322 at Pekanbaru & C3325 at Padang.

 

 

 

A landslide in Anai Valley severely damaged a railway bridge connecting the West Sumatra capital of Padang and neighbouring Bukittinggi on Tuesday 30th March 2010. The line between Lubukalung and Padang Panjang has remained closed since then.

 

 

Above: An 1894 map showing the lines and rack sections around Padang Panjang and the proposed extension from Bukit Tinggi (Fort de Kock) to Pajakombo.

Below: An undated map showing the lines at the fullest extent about 1930s.

Here is a link to a map showing the locations of the rack sections: http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/tales/wilson02.htm#Map

The following Locomotive data has been derived from a number of sources but not all appear to be prime sources (direct from Manufacturer's records or the owning company records). Where there is general agreement the data appears in blue while where there are discrepancies they are in green with remarks at the side. No definitive data has been found for the numbers 9-14 but I have a photograph of an 0-4-2RT with the number 11 or 12 on the chimney. Some works numbers do not match the years quoted by a long way; it may be that some were returned for refurbishment or rebuild (see 27-30) then came back with original works numbers but new dates and were then given new running numbers; it is also possible that some were lost at sea during delivery so replacements were sent out - this could account for 2 extra 2-6-0T locomotives. We may never find the truth.

I have now obtained a number of copies of Works lists from various manufacturers and other sources, all sourced by me from the Stephenson Locomotive Society. One Esslingen list shows works numbers 2512 & 2513 duplicated. The first entry for each is for 0-4-2T locomotives supplied to NZASM in South Africa by Saronno, a company set up by Esslingen which uses both its own numbers and Esslingen numbers, with a plate for each factory affixed to the locomotives. South African records confirm they had these two locomotives. The second entries for 2512 & 2513 do not have any details except for B1/a for Padang-Sawahloento. This could well be an error in my opinion.

Regarding Esslingen 2269-2272 the lists show these built in 1889 at Esslingen with no mention of Saronno. None of the Saronno lists mention these numbers but other sources do, but with a date of 1894. As they were built before the line opened and several years before the rack section was started it is my view that they were built for construction as standard 0-4-2T, with running numbers in the range 9-14 and later returned to Saronno for conversion to 0-4-2RT for use in construction of the rack section, hence they would also then carry Saronno rebuild plates dated 1894, and on return to Sumatra given new running numbers 27-30.

For PNKA numbers those in red I have seen and/or photographed the locomotive with that number (I was not permitted to take photos inside Padang works), those with the last two digits in red I had seen and/or photographed some parts of the locomotive (several were dismantled inside Padang works) while those with two digits in green were at Padang or Solok, again mainly just parts without identity but the numbers assumed from records from others who saw them being cut up at that location. In general cylinder blocks and fireboxes tended to be left where the locomotive had been cut up so an earlier picture showing a derelict identifiable locomotive in the same location was used to determine what had been there. At Solok there were several photographs in the station of the scene when the cutting up started a few days before I arrived to find nothing but the cylinder blocks and fireboxes of 4 F10s and 5 C33s. Since there were 6 F10s and 7 C33s recorded there earlier I should be able to narrow it down to 9 out of 12 as F1015 was moved to Padang. It is also not clear whether the renumbering took place in 1912, as in Java, or much later.

I have two pictures below of SS 34, one is an 0-4-2RT at Pajoekoemboeh and the other is a 2-6-0T at Emmahaven! The 0-4-2RT was built in 1889 and only written off in 1921, but may have been withdrawn before, and was never renumbered. The 2-6-0T was built in 1894 as SSS 24 and at some point renumbered to 34, later becoming C3334 on the PJKA system.

In January 1981 and August 1983 locomotives derelict at Solok were C3327/28/33/34/36/38 and F1001/14/21/28. Probably I miscounted the fireboxes/cylinder blocks and these locomotives were the source of the remains.

Listing of all locomotives known to have worked in West Sumatra.

Manufacturer Works # Year Type Cylinders D.W. Dia Owner Number 1912 # PNKA  
                     
Esslingen 2263 1888 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 1      
Esslingen 2264 1888 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 2      
Esslingen 2265 1888 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 3      
Esslingen 2266 1888 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 4      
Esslingen 2267 1888 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 5      
Esslingen 2268 1888 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 6      
Esslingen/Saronno 2448 1890 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 7     Saronno 31
Esslingen/Saronno 2449 1890 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 8     Saronno 32
Esslingen 2269 1889 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 9      
Esslingen 2270 1889 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 10      
Esslingen 2271 1889 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 11      
Esslingen 2272 1889 2-4-0T 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 12      
Esslingen 2668 1894 2-6-0T       13     Maybe belongs to a number between 9 & 14
Esslingen 2669 1894 2-6-0T       14     Maybe belongs to a number between 9 & 14
Esslingen 2450 1891 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 15      
Esslingen 2451 1891 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 16 37 C3337 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Esslingen 2452 1891 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 17 17 C3317  
Esslingen 2453 1891 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 18 18 C3318 Seen in Padang works 1985. Preserved at Taman Mini, Jakarta.
Esslingen 2454 1891 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 19 19 C3319  
Esslingen 2455 1891 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 20 20 C3320 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Esslingen 2670 1894 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 21 31 C3331 Stored Padang works 1/81.
Esslingen 2671 1894 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 22 32 C3332 Stored Solok  1/81.
Esslingen 2672 1894 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 23 33 C3333 Stored Solok 1/81, 8/83.
Esslingen 2673 1894 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 24 34 C3334 Stored Solok 1/81, 8/83.
Esslingen 2674 1894 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 25 35 C3335  
Esslingen 2675 1894 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 26 36 C3336 Stored Solok 1/81, 8/83.
Esslingen/Saronno 2269 1889 2-4-0RT 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 27     Possibly rebuilt to 2-4-0RT by Saronno in 1894? Written off 1921
Esslingen/Saronno 2270 1889 2-4-0RT 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 28     Possibly rebuilt to 2-4-0RT by Saronno in 1894? Written off 1921
Esslingen/Saronno 2271 1889 2-4-0RT 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 29     Possibly rebuilt to 2-4-0RT by Saronno in 1894? Written off 1921
Esslingen/Saronno 2272 1889 2-4-0RT 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 30     Possibly rebuilt to 2-4-0RT by Saronno in 1894? Written off 1921
Esslingen 2424 1889 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 31     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2425 1889 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 32     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2426 1889 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 33     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2427 1889 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 34     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2428 1889 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 35     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2429 1889 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 36     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2515 1892 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 37     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2516 1892 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 38     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2517 1892 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 39     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2518 1892 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 40     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2519 1892 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 41     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2634 1894 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 42     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2635 1894 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 43     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2636 1894 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 44     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2637 1894 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 45     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2552 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 46 21 C3321 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Esslingen 2553 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 47 22 C3322 Padang works 1/81 overhaul. Seen in Padang works 1985. Preserved on pedestal at Pekanbaru.
Esslingen 2554 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 48 23 C3323 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Esslingen 2555 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 49 24 C3324  
Esslingen 2556 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 50 25 C3325 Derelict Padang 1/81. Seen in Padang works 1985. Preserved on pedestal at Padang.
Esslingen 2557 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 51 26 C3326  
Esslingen 2558 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 52 27 C3327 Stored Solok 1/81, 8/83.
Esslingen 2559 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 53 28 C3328 Stored Solok 1/81, 8/83.
Esslingen 2560 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 54 29 C3329  
Esslingen 2561 1892 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 55 30 C3330 Stored Padang works 1/81.
Esslingen 3068 1902 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 56     Written off 1921
Esslingen 3069 1902 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 57     Written off 1921
Esslingen 3201 1902 0-4-2RT 340 x 500 983 mm SSS 58     Written off 1921
Esslingen 3252 1903 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 59 38 C3338 Two locos with Number 59, was the other written off before 1903? Derelict Solok 1/81, 8/83.
Esslingen 2514 1892 0-4-0RT 430 x 500 983 mm SSS 60     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2589 1893 0-4-0RT 430 x 500 983 mm SSS 61     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2590 1893 0-4-0RT 430 x 500 983 mm SSS 62     Written off 1921
Esslingen/Saronno 2802 1896 2-4-0RT 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 63     Saronno 82/1896. Written off 1921
Esslingen/Saronno 2803 1896 2-4-0RT 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 64     Saronno 83/1896. Written off 1921
Esslingen/Saronno 2804 1896 2-4-0RT 300 x 450 983 mm SSS 65     Saronno 84/1896. Written off 1921
Esslingen 2958 1898 0-4-0RT 430 x 500 983 mm SSS 66     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2959 1898 0-4-0RT 430 x 500 983 mm SSS 67     Written off 1921
Esslingen 2960 1898 0-4-0RT 430 x 500 983 mm SSS 68     Written off 1921
Esslingen 3319 1904 2-6-0T 360 x 500 1000 mm SSS 69 39 C3339  
Esslingen 3177 1901 0-4-0RT 430 x 500 983 mm SSS 70     Written off 1921
Esslingen 3320 1904 0-4-0RT 430 x 500 983 mm SSS 71     Written off 1921
Esslingen 3678 1913 0-8-2RT 450 x 480 1000 mm SSS   101 D1801 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Esslingen 3679 1913 0-8-2RT 450 x 480 1000 mm SSS   102 D1802 Derelict Padang 1/81.
SLM 2326 1913 0-8-2RT 450 x 480 1000 mm SSS   103 D1803 Derelict Padang 1/81.
SLM 2744 1922 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   104 E1004 Derelict PP 1/81. Remains seen 3/8/85.
SLM 2745 1922 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   105 E1005 Cab seen at Padang works 3/8/85.
SLM 2746 1922 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   106 E1006 Derelict Padang 1/81.
SLM 2747 1922 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   107 E1007 Padang Works 1/81 repair. Stored PP 13/7/84
SLM 2748 1922 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   108 E1008 Derelict PP 1/81. Remains seen 3/8/85.
SLM 2749 1922 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   109 E1009  
SLM 2750 1922 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   110 E1010 Cab seen at Padang works 3/8/85.
SLM 2751 1922 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   111 E1011 Derelict Padang 1/81.
SLM 2752 1922 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   112 E1012  
Esslingen 3986 1920 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   113 E1013 Derelict PP 1/81. Remains seen 3/8/85.
Esslingen 3987 1920 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   114 E1014 Working PP 1/81. Stored PP 13/7/84
Esslingen 3988 1920 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   115 E1015  
Esslingen 3989 1920 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   116 E1016 Waiting to go to PW 1/81. In steam PP 10/83, 13/7/84.
Esslingen 3990 1920 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   117 E1017 Bits lying around 1/81. Cab seen at Padang works 3/8/85.
Esslingen 3991 1920 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   118 E1018 Padang Works 1/81 repair.
SLM 3128 1926 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   119 E1019 Derelict PP 1/81.
SLM 3129 1926 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   120 E1020  
SLM 3130 1926 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   121 E1021 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Esslingen 4214 1928 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   122 E1022  
Esslingen 4215 1928 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   123 E1023  
Esslingen 4221 1928 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   124 E1024 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Esslingen 4222 1928 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS   125 E1025 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Esslingen 5306 1964 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1051 Derelict PP 1/81. In steam PP 10/83. Usable 13/7/84.
Esslingen 5307 1964 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1052 Ex-works, waiting to go to PP. Padang works 10/83.
Esslingen 5308 1964 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1053 Derelict PP 1/81. Usable 13/7/84.
Esslingen 5309 1964 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1054 Derelict PP 1/81.
Esslingen 5311 1966 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1055 Derelict PP 1/81.
Esslingen 5312 1966 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1056 Derelict PP 1/81.
Esslingen 5313 1966 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1057 Derelict PP 1/81.
Esslingen 5314 1966 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1058 Derelict PP 1/81.
Esslingen 5315 1966 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1059 Derelict PP 1/81.
Esslingen 5316 1966 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1060 Working PP 1/81. Padang works 10/83.
Nippon Sharyo 2486 1967 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1061 Padang Works 1/81 overhaul. Stored PP 13/7/84.
Nippon Sharyo 2487 1967 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1062 Working PP 1/81.  In steam PP 10/83, 13/7/84.
Nippon Sharyo 2488 1967 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1063 Derelict PP 1/81.
Nippon Sharyo 2489 1967 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1064 Serviceable PP 1/81.  In steam PP 10/83.
Nippon Sharyo 2490 1967 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1065 Working PP 1/81.
Nippon Sharyo 2491 1967 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1066 Working PP 1/81.
Nippon Sharyo 2492 1967 0-10-0RT 450 x 520 1000 mm SSS     E1067 Working PP 1/81.
Werkspoor 375 1915 2-12-2T 540 x 510 1106 mm SSS   130 F1024 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Werkspoor 376 1915 2-12-2T 540 x 510 1106 mm SSS   131 F1025  
Werkspoor 377 1915 2-12-2T 540 x 510 1106 mm SSS   132 F1026  
Hanomag 9353 1920 2-12-2T 540 x 510 1106 mm SSS   133 F1027  
Hanomag 9354 1920 2-12-2T 540 x 510 1106 mm SSS   134 F1028 Derelict Solok 1/81.
Borsig 13950 1930 2-6-2T 425 x 600 1350 mm SSS   1791 C3091 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Borsig 13951 1930 2-6-2T 425 x 600 1350 mm SSS   1792 C3092 Derelict Padang 1/81.
Borsig 13952 1930 2-6-2T 425 x 600 1350 mm SSS   1793 C3093 Shunting at Padang 1978. Stored Padang 1/81.
                     
                  C1905 Stored Padang works 1/81.
                  C1907 Derelict Padang 1/81.
                  C1110 Derelict Padang 1/81.
                  C1112 Derelict Padang 1/81.
                  C1128 Derelict Padang 1/81.
                  F1001 Derelict Solok 1/81.
                  F1009  
                  F1013 Reported working at Padang Panjang in 1985 but not seen.
                  F1014 Derelict Solok 1/81.
                  F1015 Stored Solok 1/81.
                  F1021 Derelict Solok 1/81.
                  F1023 Stored Solok 1/81.

 

C1110, C1112, C1128, C1905, C1907, F1001, F1014, F1015, F1021 & F1023 transferred here from Java by 1970s.

In the early years the system used the abbreviation SSS, at least on some buildings and documents, but at some point in time this was changed to SS. In spite of this the locomotives remained in separate number series so most numbers between 1 and 125 were duplicated. At least the classes were different so the types used in West Sumatra were not found in Java, though some Javan types were found in South Sumatra, such as the ex- Solo Valleiwerken locos which were used on construction and numbered between SS 24 and SS 45. This has caused a few problems when trying to identify locomotives from old photographs where the only data is that provided by non-railway knowledgeable people when scanning old photographs for museum collections. I have used SSS for all the West Sumatra locomotives in my filenames and captions to avoid confusion. Most of the pictures below are from either Tropen-Museum or KITLV with those from elsewhere annotated where known.

 

Above: 0-4-2RT SSS 34 on the rack near Payakoemboeh.

Below: 2-6-0T SSS 34 at Emmahaven.

Above: An unidentified 2-4-0RT posed on Titi bridge, Payoekoemboeh.

Below: SSS 33 and another unidentified class member at a passing loop between rack sections.

Above and below: 2-6-0T SSS 32 at Solok

 

Above: 2-6-0T SSS 34 at Emmahaven.

 

Above and below: 0-4-2RT 35 at Padang Panjang c1895. Later batches of 0-4-2RT had pannier tanks with rounded top and bottom edges and no cut-out for the rack drive. The 2 locomotives in the background with 66 on the left are 0-4-0RT's.

 

Below: SSS 0-4-2RT 62

Above and below: SSS 0-8-2RT 102 climbing from Batoetabal to Padang Panjang with a coal train.

Above: 0-10-0RT 123 at Padang Panjang.

Below: A coal train descending the Anai valley with two engines, one leading and the other cut into the middle. Likely two trains attached together.

Above: A rack train descending towards a passing loop.

Below: 0-8-2RT 102 on the rack between Batutabal and Padang Panjang.

Above: A pair of 2-6-0T locomotives with a mixed train of coal and passengers skirts Lake Singkarek between Batutabal and Solok.

Below: An early picture of Emmahaven.

Above: Coal trains at a passing loop.

 

Above and below: Padang Panjang is a junction of 3 rack systems and is a hive of activity in these pictures.

Above: An 0-10-0RT propels a passenger train through the jungle.

Below: Sawoelento coal terminal.

Above: A passenger train pauses for a photostop near Padang.

Below: A coal train at a passing loop.

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