Alishan Forest Railway celebrates its 100th anniversary
One of Taiwan’s top tourist attractions, the Alishan Forest Railway, celebrated its 100th birthday today by running a steam train from its past. The scenic mountain railway was built during the Japanese colonial era as a logging line and climbs to an altitude of over 2,200 meters. It is now recovering from a typhoon that nearly closed it down two years ago.
A horn whistled loudly and white smoke floated in the air, signaling the arrival of the Alishan steam train at Beimen Station in Chiayi. A crowd was on hand to greet the train and mark the forest railway’s 100th anniversary.
Many people, including some of the railway’s retired workers, took advantage of the holiday to celebrate the mountain line’s milestone. One train fan who came from Japan for the occasion had a picture taken 30 years ago of a young girl who sold boxed-lunches on the line, hoping to find her. His quest was successful and ended in a hug.
The wooden carriages full of nostalgia have survived, but the line nearly didn’t make it to its 100th birthday after being badly damaged by Typhoon Morakot in 2009. It’s now on its way to recovery.
Hu Sing-hwa
COA Deputy Minister
Aside from the Shenmu Line, the Jhaoping Line opened again today at 10 a.m. Overall, we expect the complete network to be open in 2013.
The Post Office also decided to celebrate the milestone, issuing a series of commemorative Alishan Railway stamps to capitalize on the line’s popularity. Nearly 1.4 million people have visited the railway line this year, up from just over 700,000 last year, an indication of the train’s staying power even after 100 years.
資料來源: http://englishnews.ftv.com.tw/read.aspx?sno=233FEBCB8935C120A0209C4AFE0F6745
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