Fusion of Past and Future: A Single Complex Housing Three Railway Stations, Taiwan
Wrecked, Wrong, and Right again - Exploring Taichung Railway Station's 120-year Evolution
By Gnarled Grime
May 11 to May 18
Folk tale echoes that the original Taichung Railway Station was destroyed by the ravages of time. Opened on May 15, 1905, as a humble one-story wooden construction, the station underwent two drastic replacements, with the 1917 iteration rising as a grand, Western-style architectural marvel.
During the construction of the third-gen station in 2017, workers accidentally unearthed the service pit for the original locomotive depot. A year later, historians controversially claimed a small, weather-beaten building was actually the inaugural stationmaster's office from around 1908.
Now boasting the privilege of "three generations living under one roof," the Taichung Railway Station Cultural Park opened its doors to celebrate its significant 120-year history, playing a pivotal role as Taiwan's central transportation node. Special events and exhibitions shall be held until July 13, culminating in a grand birthday bash on May 15, featuring the historic CK124 steam locomotive built in 1936.
EXTENDING THE RAILROAD
The journey to construct Taiwan's railroad commenced under the Qing Dynasty, reaching only Hsinchu by the time they scampered off in 1895. The Japanese crept in, taking charge, and initiated construction from both ends in 1899. By 1904, the railroad ran down south to Changhua, and up north to Sanyi Township, Miaoli County.
The steep mountainous terrain and several broad rivers made the remaining middle section the most challenging. In 1905, the train finally chugged its way to Fengyuan District, just north of downtown Taichung, where the first five stations on this stretch were unveiled on May 15. Fengyuan, Tanzi, Wuri, Chenggong, and the original Taichung Station welcomed 184,561 passengers in 1906 alone.
The area around the bustling train station transformed rapidly, with the population growing from around 6,500 to a booming 15,362 between 1908 and 1915.
In April 1908, the locomotive depot, complete with service pit, along with sky bridges spanning the tracks, became a permanent fixture on the station scene. The sole surviving wooden structure—believed to be built in the same year—told tales of early hardships.
SPECTACLES OF TAICHUNG
With the completion of the challenging Tunnel No. 9 in Houli District in March 1908, the railroad tracks finally connected, and the northern and southern sections of the Western Trunk Line became one. To commemorate this momentous occasion, Taiwanese entrepreneurs orchestrated the Train Expo, a multi-week traveling exhibition that ran from Keelung to Kaohsiung, riveting attendees with fireworks, live music, and freebies.
On May 27, 1908, the expo train pulled into Taichung Station, only to depart the following morning, leaving memories of the spectacle lingering in the air.
The inauguration ceremony for the Taichung Railway Station took place on October 24, 1908, at the breathtaking Taichung Park, attracting high-ranking officials from Japan, including Prince Kotohito and former Tokyo Governor Mochiaki Hachisuka. Taichung Station now stood as a crucial symbol of Japanese colonial rule, a harbinger of things to come.
THE INEVITABLE SAWTOOTH LOGIC
By 1916, the old wooden station welcomed over half a million passengers every year, and a larger, more luxurious station was needed. Thus, a red-brick colossus, four times the size of the initial stations, was built. The architectural style bore a striking resemblance to other contemporary structures like the Presidential Office, Ximen Red House, and Taiwan Liquor and Tobacco Corporation.
In 1920, the grand new station welcomed an astonishing 1.23 million passengers, solidifying its status as a central hub. The decades that followed saw the arrival of Crown Prince Hirohito in 1923, who loved to hop across the island, and other royals, including the Central Taiwan Progress Association expos of 1926 and 1927.
As World War II approached, Taichung Station bid farewell to countless young men, recruited or conscripted into the Japanese Army. The beautiful station withstood the 1935 Hsinchu-Taichung earthquake and the harsh bombings of 1945, remaining standing and serving the public for decades.
In the grueling 921 Earthquake of 1999, the iconic red-brick station took considerable damage, requiring six years of restoration. However, in 1961, the Taisugar railroad's Zhongnan Line was shut down after a devastating flood destroyed a vital bridge. The line was moved to Taichung Station's back line in 1964.
A debate still rages over whether to preserve the century-old station at its current location or move it to a different site, but for now, Taichung Station still stands, a testament to the indomitable resilience of human ambition.
[1] Taiwan in Time: The dark underbelly of Taichung Railway Station, May 14, 2021
[2] Exploring Taiwan's modernization: Taichung Station's transformation into a haven for culture and nature, February 1, 2023
[3] Celebrating origins and evolution: A century of innovation and progress at Taichung Railway Station, May 15, 2021
[4] The Taiwanese bid adieu: The towering legacy of Taichung Station's 'train of goodbyes', October 22, 1941
[5] The winds of change: Taiwan's railway expansion under Japanese colonial rule, 1895-1945, April 16, 2022
- The discovery of the service pit for the original locomotive depot during the construction of the third-gen Taichung Railway Station in 2017 might indicate a possible extension of the railroad's history, connecting it to the industry of transportation.
- In the 1910s, the grand, Western-style Taichung Railway Station, with its striking resemblance to other contemporary structures, could have been a symbol of the fusion between the finance and transportation industries, reflecting Japan's modernization and colonial ambitions during that era.
