Travel Date: 2018/08/25
This day didn't start well. We went back to my husband's parents' place to pick something up, but they weren't home... It was quite disappointing since it was a 2-hour drive for nothing. And it was raining the entire time. Due to the lack of parking, we couldn't even have lunch there, so we just drove back home.
As we were passing through Changhua, we had initially planned to stop by Tianwei Highway Garden, but since we had been there a few times already, we decided to change our plans. And that's how we ended up at the Changhua Roundhouse.
Changhua Roundhouse (扇形車庫)
The Changhua Fan-shaped Garage is located in the northern part of Changhua Station. It is a part of the Changhua Locomotive Depot and was built in 1922. The warehouse building is centered around the railway turntable, forming a semi-arc-shaped garage with twelve lanes in a radial pattern. It is one of the legacies of Taiwan's Japanese rule. Initially, the roundhouse had only six stalls, but more stalls were added in 1933.
Currently, the only preserved fan-shaped garage in Taiwan is the county-level monument in Changhua County. In the world, there are only three roundhouses still in use, with the other two located in Mexico.
The purpose of this roundhouse was to maintain and repair locomotives and provide parking space for long-distance trains. For this reason, the place was also called the "locomotive hotel."
Today, it's used as a maintenance depot for diesel and electric trains and is also home to old steam engines. It is the only place in Taiwan where all types of locomotives are serviced.
The garage building is divided into twelve stalls, each with its own rail spur, large enough for one locomotive. It is centered around the turntable and spread out at a 99-degree angle towards the garage. Since steam locomotives can only drive forward, unlike electric or diesel locomotives that have front and rear cockpits for two-way driving, steam locomotives need to be turned around on the transfer platform to change their direction. The locomotives stop on this bridge-like structure and wait for it to turn them in the right position to take their space.
In addition to the Changhua fan-shaped garage, six roundhouses were built in different cities between 1895 and 1945, including Taipei, Hsinchu, Chiayi, and two in Kaohsiung. The first roundhouse was built in Taipei in 1901.
As cities grew and steam locomotives were phased out of service, roundhouses became obsolete. In the 1970s, the roundhouse in Kaohsiung was the first one to be demolished. After the demolition of the other five roundhouses, people realized that if the last one in Changhua was not preserved, the memory of steam locomotives in Taiwan would fade away.
The Taiwan Railway had plans to build a central electric train maintenance base, and the last remaining garage was meant to be dismantled. However, it was saved by local residents and railway enthusiasts. The electric vehicle maintenance base was relocated to the south of Changhua Station. In January 2001, the Changhua County Government designated the roundhouse as a county historic site.
See also: Tianwei Highway Gardens
The fan-shaped garage in the Changhua Locomotive Depot is still actively involved in vehicle maintenance. Visitors can observe the operation of vehicles entering the transfer platform. It is the only living history of the six fan-shaped garages. The garage also houses three steam locomotives (CK101, CK124, and DT668), a steam crane, an electric locomotive (E101), a diesel electric car (R50), and a truck-moving machine (DL1001). However, some exhibits, such as the steam cranes, E101, R50, and DL1001, have been moved to other garages within the Changhua locomotive section and are not currently visible in the fan-shaped garage.
Although the fan-shaped garage has become a permanent monument in Changhua County, if the elevated project is implemented, all the dynamically stored locomotives will no longer be able to enter or exit the fan-shaped garage, turning it into a static museum. Currently, the "Half-line Railway History Studio" is working hard to build a connection line to maintain the normal operation of the fan-shaped garage.
To enter the Changhua Roundhouse, visitors only need to register at the entrance guard room, and group tours can be arranged for more than ten people. The garage is still in service, retaining its maintenance function. Visitors have the opportunity to witness on-site maintenance and observe locomotives departing from the warehouse, experiencing the actual operation of the fan-shaped garage. In addition to the main building and random dynamic displays, there are two robot sculptures in the factory made from discarded parts of the Taichai diesel engine. Construction observation decks, rows of chairs under trees, and open toilets are also available.
It's strictly forbidden to use aerial cameras and self-timers in the plant area, as there are high-voltage electrical equipment and the facility is adjacent to the western trunk line, ensuring safety. Wearing slippers is also strictly prohibited to prevent accidents. If the Changhua County Government issues a natural disaster warning, visits to the roundhouse are immediately halted.
The entry to the Changhua Roundhouse is free of charge, and the opening hours are Tuesday to Friday from 13:00 to 16:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00 to 16:00.
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