The Ambarawa Railway Museum in Ambarawa, Central Java, Indonesia is a fascinating destination for railway enthusiasts and history lovers. Here is some interesting information about this museum:
Location and history:
The Ambarawa Railway Museum is located in Ambarawa town, about 50 km south of Semarang. It was an important base for national heroes during the Dutch occupation in World War II.
The town of Ambarawa is located at the junction of the national highway between Yogyakarta and Semarang and is easily accessible from nearby cities such as Salatiga , Magelang and Bandungan .
Antique locomotives:
The museum houses an impressive collection of antique steam locomotives. These were originally used on the 3ft 6in (1067 mm) wide narrow gauge lines of the Indonesian State Railways (Perusahaan Negara Kereta Api, PNKA).
The locomotives are on display outdoors next to the original station, which was once a transshipment point between the 4ft 8in wide line from Kedungjati to the north-east and the 3ft 6in wide line to Yogyakarta via Magelang to the south.
The different sized tracks on both sides of the station are still visible.
Special features:
In addition to the locomotives, the museum has a collection of antique telephones and other communication instruments that were used for railway communication. The museum visit should be arranged in advance for groups.
Tourist train rides:
The museum offers tourist train rides. A scenic route leads along the Danau Rawa Pening. The third class wooden carriages, which were originally put into operation on the rack railway line in 1909, are now pulled by the D30124 diesel locomotive. The trips take place on Sundays and public holidays and last approximately one hour. Tickets cost 50,000 rupees and are available only on the day of the excursion. It is advisable to arrive early as places are limited.
The Ambarawa Railway Museum is a place where history and technology merge in a fascinating way. It is a must-see for anyone interested in railways and Java's past.
