Sweet Spot

Sweet Spot

The Story of the Olean Sugar Mill in Java

By Rob and Yuehong Dickinson
DVD+R 60 minutes

Published by International Steam Videos

The Olean sugar mill in eastern Java, Indonesia, was established in 1846.

Serving the sugar mill is a 70cm gauge tramway, operated by a number of 0-8-0TT Orenstein & Koppel steam locomotives, dating from 1910 to 1920. In the sugar cane fields extensive temporary track is still used, with oxen providing the motive power.

This DVD includes extensive scenes of the steam locomotives at work, the laying of temporary track, oxen hauling cane in the fields, and the machinery in the mill. The mill retains much of its original structure, and the majority of the machinery inside is steam powered and over 70 years old. Manufacturers include Werkspoor, Amsterdam; Fives Lille, France; Bellis & Morcom, England; and Machine Fabrik Breda.

The quality of the videography is exceptionally high, as is the quality of the editing.

The DVD also includes a number of fascinating scenes of the way the mill works in the community – scenes in the mosque, in the school, and in the town.

Also on the DVD is a pdf file including diagrams of the sugar mill and a glossary of terms. There is no commentary on the DVD, but the sound quality is very high.