In memory of Gerry Verhoeven who died in Australia died on December 13, 2006
Gerry comments:
All photos relate to the rack section Jambu - Bedono in the 3'-6" rly line Ambarawa (Willem 1) -Jambu - Bedono -Grabak Merbabu - Magelang. (I believe a lot of track is pulled up now.)
A military special is going up to Bedono (from Ambarawa) during manoeuvres in
either 1938 or 1939, around July/August. The consist was : rack loco leading,
an 8-wheel carriage, 6 4-wheel carriages, rack loc, 3 8-wheel carriages, 1 4-wheel
luggage van, rack loco pushing. (JR: Ambarawa station is visible in the background.
In those days, the left side was the 3ft 6in side and the right hand side was
standard gauge. )
Start of the rack with my father H.C.Verhoeven, then divisional manager here.(Home
station Magelang)
(JR: This is Bedono and I assume it is looking towards Amabarawa. This track
layout still exists.)
Passenger train going up to Bedono. (JR: We see a loco cut into the middle of
the train. There would have been another loco on the rear and possibly one on
the front.)
The back part of the military special going up.
My father, brother and I (H.C., H.G. and G.H.V) at the commencement of the rack
section at Bedono (going down to Jambu)
(JR: This looks like somewhere in the middle of the rack section from Jambu
to Bedono looking towards Bedono. There is no cutting such as this at the beginning
of the rack at Jambu.)
My brother Henk and I and railway fettlers (large white hats with black gang numerals) standing aside. (I think this photo is taken in '38 or early '39, as we left the place in June '39) (JR: This photo is just before Bedono looking down the rack towards Jambu.)
Gerry's family maintain a website about Gerry's life.