Mak Itam Returns Home: The Revival of the Minangkabau Locomotive Icon in Galanggang Arang

Padang - Mak Itam, the historical locomotive of Minangkabau's railway heritage, is now being revived from its long slumber. This deep black coal-fired locomotive is being brought back to life to accompany the Galanggang Arang event themed "Children of the Village Celebrate World Heritage," which was recently launched by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) together with the West Sumatra Provincial Government, researchers, cultural figures, communities, and various segments of society at Fabriek Bloc, Tabing, Padang City, on Thursday (19/10/23) evening. 

Galanggang Arang is an event celebrating the designation of the Ombilin coal mine site as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The series of events will focus on seven districts/cities traversed by the railway line, namely Padang City, Padang Pariaman Regency, Tanah Datar Regency, Solok Regency, Sawahlunto City, and Solok City. The series of activities will take place from October to December 2023.

The Director of Development and Utilization of Culture at Kemendikbudristek, Irini Dewi Wanti, stated that Galanggang Arang is expected to become a platform for collaboration among stakeholders to jointly preserve, develop, and utilize the World Heritage of the Ombilin Sawahlunto Coal Mine (WTBOS).

“The goal is to create community welfare through economic utilization and tourism programs, as well as sustainable management of the Ombilin Sawahlunto coal mine based on cultural knowledge,” Irini explained.  

The Coordinator of the West Sumatra Railway Care Community (MPKAS), Yuhefizar, mentioned that the coal railway line in West Sumatra passes through Sawahlunto City, Solok City, Solok Regency, Tanah Datar Regency, Padang Panjang City, Padang Pariaman Regency, and Padang City, as well as Pariaman City, Bukittinggi City, Sijunjung Regency, and Payakumbuh.

In the past, Mak Itam was the star locomotive on the Minangkabau railway line. Now, after a long rest, Mak Itam is being revived as an attraction for the general public and enthusiasts of cultural and historical tourism. In the future, Mak Itam will pass through the crossing stations in Galanggang Arang under the title “Mak Itam Returns Home.” 

“Currently, Mak Itam has started operating with one passenger carriage that can accommodate thirty people. In the past, besides carrying passengers, Mak Itam also transported goods. For now, it is only a tourist train that carries passengers,” said Yuhefizar, who is also an academic at the State Polytechnic of Padang.

There is certainly a different sensation in riding Mak Itam. Besides its iconic appearance, Mak Itam still uses coal as fuel. Thus, black smoke continues to billow from the chimney, and the distinctive sound of the old locomotive will always resonate.

To operate Mak Itam, a warming period of three to four hours is needed. Aware of its diminished power due to age, a pioneer train is prepared to pick up passengers in case Mak Itam breaks down on the way.

In addition to Mak Itam, there are still several attractions of Minangkabau railways, namely the cog railway that exists only in two places in the world, which are Minangkabau and Switzerland. Not only that, West Sumatra also has the longest railway line that circles a lake for 19 kilometers, passing through three calamus holes (Muara Kalaban, Kupitan, Tanah Datar), as well as a high railway bridge (part of WTBOS).

“This could become an interesting tourist attraction,” Yuhefizar stated after being a speaker in a dialogue about “Activation and Strengthening the WTBOS Ecosystem through the Synergy of the Children of the Village and Institutions” at the Hajj Dormitory, Tabing, Padang City, on Thursday (19/10/23) afternoon.

In addition to the cultural history dialogue, the agenda also formulated an agreement between traditional stakeholders and the local government to successfully implement Galanggang Arang and strengthen WTBOS. The results of this agreement demonstrate a joint commitment to preserve, maintain, and develop WTBOS, including the railway line and all its properties for the advancement of sustainable culture.