Ferrocarriles - Indonesië: libros - historia

De Indische Mijnspoorwegen

The first passenger train in the Indonesian archipelago started operating on Java in 1867. However, as early as 1849, the Government implemented rail transport at the 'Oranje Nassau' coal mine in Pengaron on Southeast Borneo. Coal mining under the direction of Sultans had long existed in the Indonesian archipelago, but it did not involve rail transport.
After 1880, the number of European-style coal mines increased, but it was not until 1899 that the first steam locomotive reached the mining industry in the Dutch East Indies. Later, locomotives with internal combustion engines also appeared, powered either by electricity or compressed air.

Several thousand mine wagons came from Europe to the Dutch East Indies. Hardly anything was manufactured in the then colony itself. Some mines also had passenger transport, but only for their own personnel. The economic crisis of 1929 caused a devastating decline among the mines in the East Indies, but a few new ones were added during the Japanese occupation.

Of the coal mines and mining railways described in this book during the period 1849-1958, there is only one coal mine of Dutch origin remaining in present-day Indonesia that not only still exists but also still transports coal by rail.
Gerard de Graaf spent over 20 years on archival research and also visited virtually all mining sites on Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi to see what could still be found of the past.

Detalle del libro

De spoorwegen in Nederlands-Indië 1864-1942 - Op smalspoor door tropische Nederland

While dozens of studies have been written about the railways in the Netherlands, covering almost every aspect of the railway world, there is no such thing about the railways and tramways in the former Dutch East Indies.
There are a few serious studies in which certain parts, such as the stations or the steam locomotives, of the railways in the 'belt of emerald' are described and documented. However, a general overview of the origin and manner of exploitation of those railways related to the political and economic circumstances of Insulinde does not yet exist.

Why did the railways arrive there so late, why not earlier? And why a line from A to B and not from C to D? And why construction and exploitation by the State and not by private entrepreneurs?
This book attempts to provide answers to these questions. The beautiful railway networks on Java and Sumatra built by Dutch engineers and Indonesian workers in the 'colonial' period deserve that attention.

Detalle del libro