Nanjing Train Station

Nanjing Train Station was established on April 20, 1901, at Shuijetou, Shuishang Township (now Shuishang Station). In 1910, to support the operation of the Nanjing Sugar Factory and its sugar transportation business, the station was relocated to its current site. In 1920, it was renamed Shuishang Station. The station building collapsed during a major earthquake in December 1941. Reconstruction was completed in 1943, and the station was renamed Nanjing Station. Nanjing Train Station was constructed with cement in 1942, featuring a recessed main entrance and an interestingly designed toilet on the right that matches the station building. The waiting rooms inside the station are all made of wood. Wooden products such as the ticket booth, seats, and even the windows, having withstood the test of time, exude an antique charm. The expansive station yard further tells of a glorious history from the past. Within the station yard, there was a railway siding leading to the Nanjing Sugar Factory. However, the Taiwan Sugar Railway had a narrow gauge of 76.2 cm, while Taiwan Railways (TRA) used a wider gauge of 106.7 cm. Using two different gauges was truly inconvenient, thus leading to the design of a three-rail track. This meant the wider outer gauge was suitable for TRA freight trains, and the narrower inner gauge was suitable for the sugar factory's small trains. Many train stations in southern Taiwan that were not far from a sugar factory had this three-rail design, such as Dounan, Dalin, and Sinying. But today, the golden age of the sugar industry is over; the sugar factory's small trains have long ceased operation, and transportation is now done by car. The prosperity of Shuishang Township back then can be understood from the fact that “one township had three train stations.” Due to the booming business of the Nanjing Sugar Factory, Shuishang Station became strained, leading to the construction of Nanjing Train Station to alleviate the issues at Shuishang Station. Subsequently, with the excavation of the Beihui Mine, Beihui Station was further built to meet transportation demands, making its prosperous scene not hard to imagine. No wonder it remains a topic of delight for local elders to this day. This old station, which witnessed the rise and fall of the sugar industry, is also the only station along the Chiayi County Longitudinal Railway that still preserves its original appearance, boasting a charming nostalgic appeal worth exploring.