Dutch Colonial-Era Turntable in Banyuwangi, a Living Witness to Railway History

BANYUWANGI, KOMPAS.com - The development of railways today is increasingly modern, yet an old technology from the Dutch colonial era surprisingly persists and remains actively used in Banyuwangi, East Java.

That technology is the spoor putar, or locomotive turntable, located at the Ketapang Locomotive Depot.

At first glance, it appears simple.

A giant circular rail platform connected to several railway tracks.

However, it is from this spot that the direction of the locomotive is rotated before undergoing inspection or maintenance.

When the locomotive stops precisely on the turntable, several staff members begin to slowly push the rail iron until it rotates following the direction of the intended track.

Amid the modern transportation system that is now fully automated, this scene presents a different atmosphere, as if bringing a small piece of railway history to the present day.

Manager of Law and Public Relations for Daop 9 Jember, Cahyo Widiantoro, stated that the spoor putar is part of the railway technology heritage from the Dutch era that is still maintained to this day.

“The existence of the spoor putar serves as historical evidence of the development of railway technology since the Dutch era. To this day, the facility is still utilised to support locomotive operations effectively and efficiently,” said Cahyo on Friday (8/5/2026).

According to him, the spoor putar helps make the process of changing the locomotive’s direction faster compared to navigating a longer looping rail track.

For history enthusiasts or transport tourism, the spoor putar at Ketapang holds its own unique attraction.

Not many colonial-era facilities are still functioning actively today, let alone continue to be used in daily railway operations.

The sound of the slowly moving iron, the old tracks that keep turning, and the manual work of the staff create an atmosphere that is hard to find in modern stations.

In Banyuwangi, the spoor putar is not just a technical facility, but also a living witness to the long journey of railways in Indonesia.

From the colonial era to the modern age, this old technology continues to function without losing its utility.

Although it holds historical value, the spoor putar area remains a restricted operational zone.

KAI Daop 9 Jember urges the public not to engage in activities around the location to ensure safety and the smooth operation of the railway.