Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Indonesian transport theme First Day Covers, 1964, 1998




The diesel locomotive in the 1964 envelope is a GE CC200: (slightly edited) info taken from the YouTube post:-

"CC200 15 was the last CC200 locomotive in running condition. It was used to haul cash collection service between Cirebon to Tanjungrasa. The type was the first mainline diesel locomotive to see service in Indonesia commissioned in 1953. Built by General Electric of USA, it was powered by an Alco 244 engine (when the GE-Alco partnership was still in place) and have "shovel nose" cab design, with carbody body design. The locomotives also had the unique wheel configuration of Co-2-Co, the only one of its kind in the world. The addition of the idle bogie in the middle was necessary as most mainlines in Java were lightly laid when the loco was introduced. When new, it was frequently employed to haul premier express trains on Java island on routes between Jakarta-Surabaya, Jakarta-Bandung, and many more. The locomotives's usage began to decline when spare parts supply for Alco 244 dried up, owing the decline and cessation of American Locomotive Company itself, added to by competition from newer types of diesel locomotives. The turbulent political situation in 1960s also hastened its decline from mainline work. For the remainder of 20th century the locomotives were employed to haul local or freight trains around Cirebon area. In the early 21st century, a preservation movement spearheaded by Indonesian Railway Preservation Society (IRPS), led by Widoyoko, successfully led to the saving of last 3 locos from the scrapper's torch. One loco (number 15) was even repainted to its (near) original livery, and kept in running condition with cannibalized spare parts from the other two (number 8 and 9). For several years, it was the mascot of the railway preservation movement, and burgeoning railway enthusiast activities in Indonesia. But the infighting within IRPS which led to expulsion of its founder, Widoyoko, plus ignorance among the younger generation meant the preservation of the CC200 was in limbo. Even no.s 8 and 9 were moved to Pengok locomotive works in Yogyakarta, allegedly to be scrapped. But thanks to caring railway employees, the locomotives soldiered on for several years before being withdrawn to the Indonesian Railway Museum in Ambarawa in 2016, where it is displayed now."

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