Java Special Selection Sragi

Описание: Sragi Mill, near Pekalongan, West Java
Around 10 working locos on this 600mm mill system and a good selection of non-standard types. Final footage on this section is from Video Hi8.

The Sragi list is too long to include in this insert but wheel arrangements range from 0-4-2T, through 0-6-0T to 0-8-0T and 0-10-0. Builders include Decauville (No. 1), O&K (Nos. 2, 3, 8, 14, 19, 20), D&B (No. 4), BMAG (Nos. 5-7), Hanomag (No. 9), Henschel (Nos. 10-11), Hartmann (12-13, 16, 18), Krauss (15) and Jung (17). The Hartmanns were originally locos for the State Railway of Java.

These days this collection of locos mainly shunt the mill truck yard or trip-work from there to the mill but several of the locos (around 4 a day) are used for field trains which is both difficult to find and liable to be nocturnal. Rail and road are rarely together, the system crosses many canals and the main Perumka state line also jams up road traffic at level crossings. A great system but frustrating. The closed mill of Comal nearby serves as a subshed for Sragi and both active and dumped steam locos can be found here. Definitely one of the top three remaining mills for variety alone but nowhere near as much day-time line work as Trangkil or Olean.

Update: All field working ceased in 2003. In 2004 diesels handled most shunting at the mill.

Updating the update: this mill is closed for refurbishment. All steam rail operations finished in 2014. One loco is still available to charter. It's not clear if the renewed mill will use railways when it restarts (in 2017?).