Indonesia:

[Steve Appleton]

Posted for the photogapher, Dennis Mitchell:

Dear friends,
One of the most incredible survivors to recent times was this steam tram system in Surabuya, 2nd largest Indonesian city after Jakarta [pop approx 3 million in 1973]. The electric tram system closed in 1968, but these steam trams kept rolling until 1978.
1. B 12-45 encounters downtown traffic shortly after coming off a reserved track section of about 3 kms. 8/1973.
2. Patiently waiting for a break in traffic, Javan style.
3. The "loco" of the steam trams at Wonokromo about 10 kms from the city centre. Note the lady sifting ashes for coal lumps for her fire.
4. B 12-40 approaching Wonokromo from the docklands.
5. A tram weaves its way through the traffic around the 2kms of markets between downtown and the docks.Please note the 2 tracks. When the tram returned on the other track, the vendors had all moved their stalls onto the other track. Don't know what happened if two had to cross on this section!!
6. B12-45 Docklands area. The blokes with the blue containers are selling "ize" (the frozen water kind). It was about 100 degF and humid, but too wary to try as water needs to be boiled in Java.
7. B12-21 B12-26 AND B12-08 waiting to go to Madiun works for overhaul in the "loco" 8/1973
8. B12-21 coming off shed to pick up the tram waiting on the platform.
Thats all folks. Happy Steaming,
Dennis