Jakarta (11/03) - During the inauguration of the repair of the external appearance of Locomotive C 300 11 at the TMII Transportation Museum, Director General of Railways Risal Wasal expressed his full support for efforts to preserve historical assets carried out by communities and other stakeholders. The collaboration between the Ministry of Transportation, the Indonesia Railway Preservation Society (IRPS), and PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) in the preservation of this locomotive was highly appreciated by DJKA. The event took place on Saturday (11/03).

Risal said that the steps taken by IRPS to preserve locomotive C 300 11 are steps that need to be appreciated. "This locomotive has a very important history as a means of railroad that plays a role in the transportation of materials in the construction of the Gelora Bung Karno Senayan Stadium," said Risal.

 For information, locomotive C 300 11 preserved by IRPS is one of two C 300 locomotives in the TMII Transportation Museum. Since it was first imported to Indonesia in 1957, this series of locomotives has played a vital role in Indonesian railways, especially for the Jakarta and surrounding areas. When it was no longer in active service, this locomotive was stored at Tanah Abang Locomotive Depot before being moved to TMII Transportation Museum.

 Regarding the preservation activities of historical railroad facilities carried out by IPRS, Risal expressed his full support to the community that has been established for 20 years. Risal hopes that this preservation activity does not stop at the C 300 11 locomotive, but can be carried out in a sustainable manner to maintain railway assets that are full of history.

 "After this, we invite IRPS to continue preservation activities on other locomotives stored in this museum so that it can attract our children to learn about railroad services for our nation," said Risal.

 Risal further said that efforts to preserve this historic asset need to be supported by all parties and railroad stakeholders. "We from DJKA are ready to provide support and guidance to communities like IRPS to maintain our facilities, and hopefully colleagues from KAI will also have the same spirit," said Risal.

 After preservation activities can be carried out on the facilities in this museum, Risal invites railway stakeholders to attract public interest so that more and more pliers are interested in learning about the history of Indonesian railways. "We also have to start thinking about creating interesting activities in this museum and providing digital displays about the heyday of the facilities on display here so that people want to come," Risal concluded. (HJA/DA)