The Island of Poncol

There has always been a little boy inside me that loves trains. I grew up near Poncol Station, Semarang, Indonesia. Almost everyday my mom took me to this small train station, watching the trains went by while she was feeding me breakfast. From then on, trains have run in my blood. With inspiration from Thomas the Train and its island of Sodor, I am creating my own island. It is the Island of Poncol. Scroll down to see the creation.

A little imagination turns a childhood memory to the garden railroad


Semarang, Indonesia circa 1945


This crew checks the ballast and makes sure it is level


Tracks have to be imported from Germany


Rocks for the ballast comes from Rockville, Maryland


The line is checked numerous times before the real operation


A shipment of electronic signals just arrived this morning


The freight line starts operating on May 25th, 2008 at 2:17 P.M.


With oil approaching $130.00 per barrel, this old tanker is operating again


Poncol Station, passenger train begins operating at 2:52 P.M.


Grease is being applied to an old steam engine at Obsidian Point East


The first passenger train is approaching Obsidian Point West


The new diesel engine waits for clearance


A new line is being added near the scenic route


Approaching the 1200 mm water falls (scenic route)


Looking north to the Garden of Herbs


The engineer point of view



(c) Yongkie who refuses to grow up, 5/25/08