Grobogan – Seeing the neglected railway facilities and infrastructure makes people who are members of the IRPS (Indonesian Railway Preservation Society) train lovers excited. Seeing the word "preservation" itself, at a glance represents the vision of this railfans organization, through their concern for railway buildings or assets that have heritage or historical value.

With fellow institutions in the railway environment, IRPS Semarang Branch held a visit to the Railway Maintenance Center located in Grobogan Regency, Central Java, on Sunday (5/3).

As part of the railway sub-sector, synergy between regulators and the community is expected to strengthen service and development of the railway sector.

The Railway Maintenance Office performs the role as a regulator of rail transportation, while the IRPS performs the role of observer and representative of the community.

The two institutions will strengthen the railway environment among other roles carried out by transportation companies as operators, consumers as users of rail transportation facilities, groups of contractors for the construction of the railway sector, and other elements, which must unite in synergy to foster a symbiosis of mutualism between these various parties.

IRPS Semarang Branch came with direct coordinator Wisnu Widiatmoko, with no less than 15 members who have different backgrounds. "We are an organization that is open to all people who have the same love for trains," said Wisnu when introducing the IRPS profile in front of the forum.

IRPS members come from various professions, there is a teacher, then there is someone who works for the railway operator PT KAI, there is also a civil servant in the ministry of transportation for the maritime sub-sector, as well as entrepreneurs and other private sector employees.

Railfans have visited the Railway Maintenance Center several times, and this is the first time the IRPS community has come directly to the Ngrombo Workshop to exchange information and experiences in the field of railways. IRPS is a special community, because it has a specific character in the field of preserving historic railroad buildings.

IRPS is a non-profit organization partner of PT Kereta Api (Persero) which seeks to save and preserve Indonesia's railway assets that have historical value. The IRPS consists of train lovers, historical observers and members of the public who have concern for the history of Indonesian railways and the desire to contribute to the preservation of the historic assets of Indonesian railways.

Their vision is for people who care about Indonesian railways, actively and passively participate in saving and maintaining railway objects of historical value and contributing to advancing Indonesian railways.

This organization has carried out a lot of preservation or preservation of heritage assets, including they have carried out exterior repairs and maintenance of the CC 200 15 locomotive, then washed the CC 201 83 31 Livery Vintage locomotive and the BB 200 29 locomotive, then painted the NISM 24 locomotive boiler and the even more vintage they wash the B25 steam locomotive which is stabling in Ambarawa.

In addition to railroad facilities, preservation activities are also carried out on mechanical signal infrastructure, in addition to the water funnel in Bedono.

There is a division of fields in the IRPS, including the Preservation Sector, the Education Sector, the Trails Sector, the Joyride Sector and the Social Sector. All activities carried out by IRPS are in line with the spirit of developing railway assets, with the hope that they will have more optimal benefit values ​​for service to the community.

On the same occasion, representatives of the Perdana Kresna Railway Maintenance Center saw this meeting as a positive relationship from each party. "Hopefully it can provide benefits to IRPS, establishing a symbiotic relationship of mutualism between parties," explained Perdana.

The Bapeka team involved gave explanations and a short tour around the Railway Maintenance Office. Before going down to the workshop location, all participants wore protective helmets. The IRPS group was invited to explore the maintenance workshop room between the red CC 300 Locomotive and the Yellow Gauge Train, contrasting with the green floor color of the workshop area.

The group was given the opportunity to see the facilities in the measuring cart. Covers a section of the machinist's table, then looks out over the inspection room, meeting room and operator's quarters behind it. Apart from the two railway facilities, the group was invited to walk to the fourth spoor where the inspection train stabling stood. Then shifted to the washing facilities on the terrace of the Ngrombo Workshop. In that area, there is a Multi Tie Tamper (MTT) facility which can be seen directly from a short distance.

The group could also see a series of green official trains from the stand next to the MTT facility. There is also a flat section of the gebong which is beside the official train.

To express their satisfaction at seeing the railway facilities at the Ngrombo Workshop, the IRPS group took a group photo in front of the CC 300 locomotive which is in the facilities washing area, right at the west end of the MTT. A group photo was also taken in front of the landmark blue twin buildings Ngrombo Workshop, with the typical inscription of the Ministry of Transportation and Ngrombo Workshop.

There is one spot that is of concern to IRPS, namely a mini monument in the middle of the Railway Maintenance Center area. The monument is the remains of a railroad bridge that used to be a sleeper that once crossed from Ngrombo Station to the city of Purwodadi. The ruins of the building were then maintained and made sufficient restoration given parameters surrounding the building to become a heritage point that was left behind and can be enjoyed by visitors to the Railway Maintenance Center. (yogo)