Ambarawa Railway Museum : a military city during the Dutch Colonial Government

Ambarawa Railway Museum

Ambarawa was a significant military city during the Dutch colonial government due to its strategic location. King Willem I recognized the importance of the city as a transportation hub and ordered the construction of a new railway station in Ambarawa to enable the government to transport its troops to Semarang.

On May 21, 1873, the Ambarawa railway station was built on a vast 127,500 square meters of land. The railway station, which was known back then as Willem I Station, was one of the largest and most important railway stations in the region during the colonial period. It was a vital transportation hub, connecting various parts of Java and facilitating the transportation of goods and troops across the island.

Today, Ambarawa is renowned for its heritage railway, which operates between Ambarawa and Bedono, using steam locomotives. The railway is a popular attraction among tourists and train enthusiasts, providing a glimpse into the past and the rich history of Java's railway system. Additionally, a tourist railway operates between Ambarawa and Tuntang, providing visitors with a unique and unforgettable experience.

The city also boasts a fascinating museum that showcases the history of the railway system in Java. The museum has collected an impressive collection of 21 steam locomotives, four of which are operational, providing visitors with the opportunity to see these historic locomotives up close. In addition to the locomotives, the museum also features a range of other interesting artifacts, including old telephones, Morse telegraph equipment, old bells and signals equipment, and some antique furniture. The museum is a popular destination for train enthusiasts and anyone interested in the history of transportation in Java.

The Ambarawa railway museum boasts an impressive collection of steam locomotives and other railway artifacts, including some that are over a century old. Among the most notable locomotives are the 2 B25 class 0-4-2RT B2502 and B2503, which were part of the original fleet of five that were supplied to the line around 100 years ago. These historic locomotives are carefully preserved and maintained by the museum, and visitors can even take a ride on them along the Ambarawa-Bedono heritage railway line.

Another noteworthy locomotive in the collection is the E10 class 0-10-0RT E1060, which was originally delivered to West Sumatra in the 1960s to work on the coal railway. The locomotive was later brought to Java, before being returned to Sawahlunto. The museum also has a conventional locomotive 2-6-0T C1218, which was restored to working order in 2006, but has since been transferred to Solo to work as a tourist train, named Sepur Kluthuk Jaladara.

In addition to these steam locomotives, the museum also has a small diesel shunter D300 class 0-8-0D D300 23, which was previously based at Cepu, an old UH-295 crane from Semarang, and the newly restored B51 class 4-4-0 B5112, which was specially restored for use on the Ambarawa-Tuntang tourist railway line. Visitors to the museum can also view a fascinating collection of old telephones, Morse telegraph equipment, old bells and signals equipment, and some antique furniture, providing a glimpse into the rich history of the railways in Indonesia.

What was the ambarawa called during the dutch colonial government ?

Ambarawa was known as Willem I during the Dutch colonial government. It was named after King William I of the Netherlands, who was the reigning monarch at the time of the establishment of the town in the early 19th century. The name Willem I was used by the Dutch East Indies government until Indonesia's independence in 1945, after which the town reverted to its original name, Ambarawa.