The Young Engineer: A story of Eka Purnama

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be in a locomotive cabin, responsible for thousands of lives behind, and crossing the tracks at high speed?

In this special episode of Talk More - Hike More from Hikemore ID, we had the opportunity to chat directly with Eka Purnama, a young train driver from Bandung and Hikemore Brand Ambassador. He shared his story, from the rigorous recruitment process to his traumatic experience on the tracks.

Here is the true journey and challenges behind the profession of a machinist.

1. Long journey: Not a childhood dream

Who would have thought that being a train driver wasn't Eka's childhood dream. Instead, he aspired to be a police officer and even took the initial test. Eka first encountered the world of railways in vocational school and only discovered the vast community of train enthusiasts ( railfans ) after becoming part of the profession.

For those of you who are interested, there are formal education paths such as the Land Transportation College (STTD) or the Madiun Railway Academy (API), although Eka emphasized that the main key is to pass the KAI recruitment .

2. Machinist School: Physical and Mental Selection

After passing the recruitment, Eka's journey to the locomotive cabin was very long, taking at least 1.5 years :

• Semi-Military Education (10 Days): A mandatory initial stage, focusing on character development and discipline. Here, solidarity between the armed forces is forged through collective punishment.
  
• Technical Education at BPTT Yogyakarta (3 Months): Intensive training in regulations, simulator practice, and technical mastery at the Solo Locomotive Depot.
  
• Field Practice (2 Weeks x 2): After completing the education, the machinist must undergo two weeks of direct service practice, following a senior machinist, and two weeks of technical practice at the Locomotive Depot in their respective areas.

The process is multi-step. It took Eka 1.5 years from being accepted to becoming a First Engineer (Assistant Engineer), and he needed to accumulate at least 2,000 flight hours or one year of work to advance to Junior Engineer level—the level at which he could operate a train himself.

3. Risks, Trauma, and Challenges in the Cabin

Driving a train is not just about pressing the gas and brake; it requires high levels of focus and dealing directly with risks.

• The Biggest Challenge: Eka admitted that the biggest challenge was fighting sleepiness and preparing for a good rest before work.
  
  
• Collision Incident: Eka experienced trauma after colliding with a car and a motorcycle at an illegal crossing. He shared the terrifying moment he saw the victim's face moments before the collision. Despite the traumatic incident, the driver was obliged to continue his duties as intended after filing a report.
  
  
• Extreme Emergency Procedures: In case of unavoidable major danger (for example, a collision with a large truck or other vehicle), the regulations allow the driver to leave the cab (jump) after he has made maximum efforts to activate the emergency braking.
  
  
• Personal Needs: Since non-KRL locomotives aren't directly connected to passenger restrooms, biological needs must be strictly regulated. The driver must ensure they're "clean" before starting work. For emergency urination, the solution is to use an empty mineral water bottle!
  
  
• Risk-Equivalent Salary: Seeing the high risk, Eka believes that the salary of a machinist should be above 10 million rupiah, considering that this profession deals directly with death.

4. Two Professions at Once: Train Driver and Social Media Star

Amidst her busy work schedule on the Argo Parahyangan route between Bandung and Gambir, Eka is also known as an influencer and Hikemore brand ambassador. These two careers began by chance.

Initially, Eka simply wanted to document official moments at the suggestion of a senior. These documentations were popular with railfans , who then spread the photos by word of mouth. His popularity soared that he began receiving endorsements in 2021.

Eka is now proud to carry the Hikemore name, especially when he sees railfans carrying Hikemore bags and rain covers while taking photos of trains on the side of the tracks—a real appreciation from the community.

Eka Purnama's story proves that the profession of a machinist combines military discipline, in-depth technical knowledge, and extraordinary mental resilience. If you dream of becoming a machinist, prepare yourself for the lengthy selection process and the high-stakes challenges behind the wheel.

#MoreTalkFun | #EkaPurnama | #KAIMachinist | #Hikemore

Watch the Full Interview!

Curious about the exciting details of Eka Purnama's experience and the mystical stories he heard from fellow train drivers? Watch the full conversation in the following "More Talk Seru" video:

Eka Purnama's Favorite Products (Hikemore Brand Ambassador)

As an adventurer on the tracks and occasionally in the wild, Eka Purnama has several flagship products from Hikemore.

Take a peek at Eka's favorite collection that accompanies her on duty and in her activities: