Entering South Yuanlin Station with an Old Couple                                                                              Photo and text /Jingsiou Vanguard Team 2014.12.10


      In April 2014 when I entered the railway community for survey, with the book Crossing Nanping Village written by Mei-tui Chiu, I searched for “Taiwan Sugar South Yuanlin Station” described in the book and got acquainted with an old couple. Several days later, I led the students for visiting, and saw several old photos. On December 10, I visited here for the third time to experience the memory of the couple of 76-year-old Tsai-hsing Liao in the barbershop.


Memorizing train of Yuanlin Sugar Railways

图片 Reflection
      Tsai-hsing Liao recalled that the cargo transportation service of sugar railway in the 1950s was prosperous, at 7:15 every morning, the first train came to the station with a group of students. 50 years ago, it was a foggy day one day, a bus full of students collided with a cargo train and the train was derailed, causing more than 40 deaths. Although he was not the witness, this accident became a horrible memory of many people.

Entering the idle South Yuanlin Station

      The old couple led everyone to enter Taiwan Sugar South Yuanlin Station, and there were many sundries piled in and out of the station, the platform became a place for the residents to dry clothes and plant flowers. Recently, there have been tramps usually staying or temporarily living in South Yuanlin Station, making the residents worried, so they might as well lock the station. Everyone entered the office with good lighting condition, and saw the broken bed, old cabinet and large office desk. The documents in the closet at the corner of the wall were the train schedule, cargo acceptance certificate and employee absence record in the 1970s, which were shot by Jingsiou Vanguard Team for recording.


      Recently, in order to make it convenient for the residents to go in and out, the three co-constructed railways have been leveled by cement. Ah, it seemed that South Yuanlin Station and the rail area belong to an area without management, and they can be activated only when a warm team acts.  

Expecting South Yuanlin Station to Revive
      Mrs. Liao said there were stranger or young people usually coming here for shooting or to search the railway, the old couple hope to reserve the sugar rail and the cultural relics of Taiwan railway, and they hope that every one can make efforts to do this work!