DER SCHÖNSTE SPIELPLATZ DER WELT - The Most Exciting Playground of this World

DER SCHÖNSTE SPIELPLATZ DER WELT - The Most Exciting Playground of this World

This photograph was taken in Java, Indonesia during a nine-month backpacker tour across Southeast Asia. I found this location by chance on the way to Yogyakarta when the slow commuter train was passing this vast steam locomotive cemetery. Out of a sudden idea I got off the train. Most of the afternoon I wasted my time to find a Losmen to stay overnight. Once I had settled this affair and I was able to get rid of my gear I headed back with my Nikon stuff to the graveyard just shortly to arrive before the usual tropical evening downpoor was to set in. Single sun rays were beaming through the dark clouds and entering the whole place in a limelight, producing an unreal atmosphere. Although not being a railroad aficionado myself I could not escape the fascination of this place.

Manufacture plates were indicating that the oldest locomotives originated from British production of around 1900 and were apparently abandoned since many years and left there to rust. The large deposit area harbored two dozend steamers and was used by the village youth as a playground with several volleyball nets stretched between locomotives and carriages. The locomotive shown in the photo was part of a former contract comprising more than 100 Tender locomotives of German Series D 52 locomotives. The order batches were delivered between 1951 and 1952 by Krupp Germany. The locomotive had a total weight of 124 metric tons and were used until the late seventies of last century on the island of Java.

The picture processing is not final on this version - this image was a result of my first Photoshop Trials - not being aware of the noise reduction functionalities..

Below another version with reduced noise but nonetheless with major PS modification.