Old Train Station in Taiwan

Author: Dai Zhenyu
Publisher: Yuan Zhu Culture
Publish Date: 1994-06-01
Features: A bygone era of beauty, the "railway enthusiasts" and "train enthusiasts" in Taiwan suddenly became a prominent group. With the decline of old stations and the abandonment of old tracks, this group of railway and rail enthusiasts gradually bid farewell to their beloved items. When abandoned railways no longer operate, old stations of the past become places for train enthusiasts to mourn and collect memories. Many people's childhood memories are intertwined with trains. It is worth following the map to explore the scenery of the old era, one station at a time. You will discover that every old station has a unique appearance: the ancient Qidu Station, the majestic Hsinchu Station, and the Shengxing Station with the highest altitude on the mountain line. The text and images vividly present the former glory of the old stations, making it feel like reading a storybook, page after page, irresistible. In addition to the mainline railways and branch railways, during the era of agricultural prosperity, there were also logging railways and sugar railways dedicated to transporting timber and sugar, contributing to Taiwan's industry. These railways and stations with special functions are now mostly tourist destinations for railway enthusiasts. If the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) could actively repurpose and utilize these abandoned old stations, perhaps it could create more economic value. However, from the book, we read about how a government agency is poor at management. The TRA declined during the era of motor vehicle transportation, and with the subsequent development of metro and high-speed rail, the TRA's operational capabilities will inevitably face further decline. As a person who truly loves railway culture, how can we leverage the unique characteristics of old railways and old stations to revitalize stations like Shengxing, which are originally old and abandoned, by creating special attractions or topics that bring them back to life? Or perhaps we can promote the use of station names like "Chui Fen Cheng Gong" in sentences, allowing even withered wood to bloom brilliantly.