Alishan Forest Railway Locomotive Depot Park

The Chiayi Locomotive Depot Park, originally known as 'Beimen Repair Shop' during the Japanese colonial period, was first established in October 1910 as the Beimen Engine Shed when the flatland section of the railway opened. Following continuous expansion during railway construction, it officially commenced operations in 1912 (Taisho Year 1). Its primary function was to build and repair various types of locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cars for the Alishan Railway, a legacy that now spans over a century. Since the Alishan Railway began operations, the repair shop has served as the main hub for maintenance. Although the trains were initially imported from the United States, the Beimen Repair Shop, with its staff of one to two hundred people, demonstrated high proficiency in maintenance, modification, and manufacturing. They handcrafted damaged parts, and could even produce external boilers and steam engines. The Alishan cypress carriages are also considered one of the repair shop's classic masterpieces. Many valuable retired Alishan trains are currently preserved at the Beimen Repair Shop. On August 23, 1993 (Republic of China Year 82), a major fire at the Beimen Repair Shop destroyed its wooden factory buildings, and some old trains were also lost. Today, parts of the repair shop buildings have been renovated, and a few more valuable vehicles are stored and preserved in the garages. To allow the public to visit this historically significant site, it was renamed 'Chiayi Locomotive Depot Park' in 2005 (Republic of China Year 94). The Chiayi Locomotive Depot Park serves as the parking base for Alishan Forest Railway trains and is also a large train ecology museum park, a pilgrimage site for train enthusiasts visiting Chiayi. Here, visitors can get up close and touch various retired Alishan Forest Railway trains, including steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, powered passenger cars, passenger and freight carriages, as well as the cypress carriage ridden by the Japanese Crown Prince during the Japanese colonial period when he visited Alishan, offering a glimpse into a century of Alishan Railway history.