“Mak Itam”, Tourist Trains in Sawahlunto

Indonesia has 2 (two) railway museums, one of them located at Sawahlunto, West Sumatra. There are approximately 80 collections of railway equipment at this museum such as clock, signal / communications equipment, photos documentation, safety box, jack rail, plant labels, scales and guards bell in the museum. In addition, in the museum yard are several kettle carriages, coal carrying compartments, some touring lorries and two wood-paneled carriages.

Sawahlunto operates 2 (two) touring trains. First, it is the train on the touring route Padangpanjang – Sawahlunto (80 km) withdrawn by diesel locomotives and equipped with BB204 rack gears equipped with executive and business class compartments. The 3 hour travel doesn’t seem to be tiring when the train passes the famous Danau Singkarak (Lake Singkarak) which is famous for its beautiful scene. Here’s detail touring train route, schedules and ticket prices.

Padang Panjang (Singkarak Lake) – Solok – Sawahlunto every Sunday and public holiday.
Dep. Padang Panjang 07.30, arr. Sawahlunto 10.35.
Dep. Sawahlunto 14.30, arr. Padang Panjang 17.38
Stops: Batu Tabal, Solok and Muara Kalaban.

Ticket price:
Padang Panjang – Sawahlunto:
Executive class IDR 80,000.- / person, Economy class IDR 60,000.- / person

Solok – Sawahlunto:
Executive class IDR 50,000.- / person, Economy class IDR 30,000.- / person

Muara Kalaban – Sawahlunto
Economy class IDR 20,000.- / person

Group charter (Mon – Sat) IDR 15,000,000.- (2 coaches [50 seats], snacks, drinks, lunch,     and run passes). Extra coach IDR 10,000,000.- per coach.

The second is the tourist train on the route Sawahlunto – Muara Kalaban (7 km) drawn by a steam locomotive, E1060, that carries wood-paneled cars. The E1060 steam locomotive manufactured by Esslingen (Germany) in 1966 which is also nicknamed ‘Mak Itam’ contributes to the uprising of Sawahlunto and introduces the town as one of the historical tourist destinations. (Name) ‘Mak Itam’ according to the black locomotive. What brings the incredible sensation and nostalgia is when the train enters the Kalam tunnel accompanied by the smoke and the shrill sound of the steam locomotive. It will be a great ride in beautiful countryside to make a special journey. This steam locomotive jouney is very short (30 minute journey time is generous in the extreme) but through a tunnel and features quite a stiff climb – note that this is a rack locomotive but this is not a rack section. Here’s detail touring train route, schedules and ticket prices.

Sawahlunto – Muara Kalaban v.v., every Sunday and public holiday 10.00 – 12.00.

Ticket price:
Group charter IDR 15,000,000.- (1 coach [35 seats], beverages, local delicacies, art    performance).

In the case there is no group chartering the train, it will run on a regular basis on Sundays and public holidays,
dep. Sawahlunto 11.00, arr. Muara Kalaban 11.30;
dep. Muara     Kalaban 11.50, arr. Sawahlunto 12.20.
dep. Sawahlunto 12.20, arr. Muara Kalaban 13.10;
dep. Muara Kalaban 13.30, arr. Sawahlunto 14.00.

Ticket price: IDR 50,000.- (Sawahlunto – Muara Kalaban v.v.). The train will have two wooden coaches (105 seats).

images by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maulana_bb204/

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