One of the significant technical monuments the town of Veľký Šariš is a historic steam locomotive which the locals affectionately call „Mill Pond“. The locomotive is on display at a memorial on the grounds of the railway station in Veľký Šariš and serves as a reminder of the period when steam rail transport played an important role in the town’s industry and economic life.
Design and technical specifications
The locomotive was made predominantly of steel and its design reflected the technical standards of the period in which it was built. The individual parts of its structure are joined mainly by riveted joints. Power was provided by a double-acting steam engine, to which wet steam was supplied via an internal distribution system with flat slide valves.
The steam required to power the locomotive was supplied by a steam boiler in which solid fuel was burnt. The water tank was housed in a separate frame on the locomotive. A coupling chain, together with a safety coupler, was used to connect the carriages.
The condition of the locomotive
The locomotive’s current appearance is not complete and differs from its original state in certain details. For example, the original conical chimney, part of the boiler fittings, three period lamps and the steam engine rods are missing. These losses are also reflected in the locomotive’s current estimated weight, which is approximately 16 tonnes.
Although incomplete, it is a valuable record of the development of railway technology and the region’s industrial history. Its preservation in a public space enables visitors to visualise first-hand the appearance and technical design of steam locomotives from the late 19th century.
Origin and uses
The locomotive was manufactured in 1882 by the Munich-based locomotive manufacturer Krauss & Comp. under serial number 1082 and type designation XXXIIb. It is a two-axle locomotive that was originally intended for the Veľkošarišský mill, referred to in contemporary documents as the Nagy Saroser Künstmühle.
Its main role was to carry out shunting operations on the mill siding. It remained in service there until the 1960s. After the Second World War, it also operated for a short time on the railway line between Prešov and Lipany.
Technical specifications
The locomotive was manufactured in 1882 by Krauss-Maffei in Munich. Its type designation is XXXIIb and its serial number is 1082. The locomotive is approximately 655 cm long, 240 cm wide and 300 cm high. Its weight is currently estimated at approximately 16 tonnes.
„The “Mlinská džurka’ is therefore an important piece of industrial heritage in Veľký Šariš and also serves as a reminder of the town’s historical links with the railway, the milling industry and the development of steam engines in the late 19th and first half of the 20th centuries.
Source: OOCR RŠ
Source of photographs: OOCR RŠ
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Information
The „Mlinská džurka“ steam locomotive is situated on the premises of the railway station in Veľký Šariš. It is an important technical monument of the town and a testament to its industrial and railway heritage.
The locomotive was manufactured in 1882 by Krauss & Comp. in Munich under serial number 1082. It was originally used at the Veľkošarišský mill, where it carried out shunting work on the mill’s sidings. After the Second World War, it also operated briefly on the Prešov–Lipany line.
The historic locomotive is on display as a freely accessible monument on the railway station premises. It measures approximately 6.55 metres in length, 2.4 metres in width and 3 metres in height.
