The Staatsspoorwegen (SS) ordered 30 1600 class Mallets from several European firms such as Werkspoor and the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) between 1927-1928. They worked on mountainous lines such as the Cibatu-Cikajang-Garut and Purwakarta-Padalarang lines. The 1600s distinguished themselves by pulling a train weighing 1,300 tons at a speed of 55 km/hour, and also with their good cornering abilities. During the Japanese occupation, the 1600s were redesignated as the CC50s, and continued to be used from the DKARI era to the PJKA era.[1]
With all the advantages possessed by the CC50, this locomotive is also used for the Purwakarta, Cibatu, Purwokerto, Ambarawa, and Madiun. In fact, Cibatu is one of the main bases for all Mallet type locomotives.
In 1981, CC50 number 22 of Purwokerto was donated by PJKA to the Utrecht Railway Museum, as a symbol of friendship between Indonesia and the Netherlands. This locomotive unit was then returned to its original numbering, namely the SS 1622 series. Apart from that, number 19 of Purwakarta became the main star in the War of Independence themed film entitled Last Train in the same year.
The impact of the policy of rationalizing steam locomotives to diesel locomotives meant that the CC50 had to retire in 1984 after the end of its service period spent on the Cibatu-Garut route which began to close that same year. Its existence was displaced and replaced by various diesel locomotives, plus at that time the CC 201 locomotive had just been imported.
Currently,[when?] there are only 3 CC50 units left, namely CC5001, CC5022, and CC5029. CC5001 is at the Transportation Museum Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta. Before being taken to TMII for preservation, this locomotive unit first obtained components that were cannibalized from other CC50 units, for example the tender taken from CC5019. CC5022 is in the Utrecht Railway Museum, Netherlands, and CC5029 is in the Ambarawa Railway Museum.
^Bagus Prayogo, Yoga; Yohanes Sapto, Prabowo; Radityo, Diaz (2017). Kereta Api di Indonesia. Sejarah Lokomotif di Indonesia. Yogyakarta: Jogja Bangkit Publisher. p. 115. ISBN978-602-0818-55-9.