A group of railway enthusiasts from Australia, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, the Philippines, Spain and the U.K. will journey into yesteryear when they take a vintage steam locomotive on the historic Jiji Line Sept. 16 in central Taiwan.
The 51-strong contingent’s trip is part of a 14-day visit to Taiwan organized by Australia’s St James Rail, U.K.-based PTG Tours and local outfit Golden Foundation Tours in conjunction with the Tourism Bureau and the Taipei Representative Office in the U.K.
Owen Johnstone-Donnet, head of the SJR contingent, said his group is champing at the bit to ride the 29.7-kilometer line, one of Taiwan’s heritage railway routes, in a restored Taiwan Railways Administration CK124 steam train.
“There is no question that this is an exciting opportunity for international rail enthusiasts,” he said. “Taiwan is a stunning country and rail travel is one of the best ways to experience the island’s abundance of charms.”
SJR-PTG rail tour leaders Owen Johnstone-Donnett (left) and Stephen Martin are looking forward to bringing more groups from Australia and the U.K. to Taiwan. Built during the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945), the line was used for transporting materials needed to construct the power plant at Sun Moon Lake. Commencing at Ershuei Station in Changhua County, the line passes through seven tunnels before terminating at Checheng Station in Nantou County.
Suggested by Lord Faulkner, long-time Taiwan supporter and chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary British-Taiwanese Group, the trip is significant as it represents the first time organizations from Australia and the U.K. have teamed up to run a railway tour of Taiwan. It is also the first time that one group has travelled using services including the Taipei and Kaohsiung metro systems, various scenic TRA lines and the Taiwan High Speed Rail.
“This is an exciting development that holds enormous promise for developing Taiwan tourism and bolstering the country’s international standing,” a bureau spokesman said. “We look forward to hosting more groups down the track.”
Stephen Martin, PTG tour leader, said he is impressed by the beauty of Taiwan and delighted with the efficiency and cleanliness of its rail system in comparison to the U.K.
“The punctuality and efficiency of Taiwan’s railways have been a real surprise,” he said. “Add the friendliness of the local people and their genuine willingness to help into the mix and you have a recipe for rail tourism success.”
Although Martin is eager to bring further PTG groups to Taiwan, he would first need to know that the 71.4-kilometer Alishan Forest Railway was fully operational.
“Alishan is one of the best narrow gauge railways in the world,” he said. “I believe train enthusiasts everywhere would flock to Taiwan if they knew this line was up and running in all its glory.”
Suspended following a derailment April. 27 in which five passengers were killed and 113 injured, the service is one of the most popular in Taiwan and renowned world over for its Z-shaped switchbacks through stunning mountain vistas.
Alison Shillington is all smiles after experiencing the beauty of Taiwan and discovering her father's name on a prisoner-of-war memorial at Jinguashi in New Taipei City.For Australian Alison Shillington, 75, missing out on riding the train at Alishan was not too much of a disappointment given the deeply emotional moment she experienced on Day Two of the trip.
While visiting Jinguashi in New Taipei City, Shillington discovered her father’s name on a memorial commemorating the 1,100 Allied servicemen interned at the Kinkaseki Japanese prisoner-of-war-camp during World War II.
Kinkaseki was notorious for its inhuman conditions under which POWs worked in darkness at a nearby copper mine, enduring searing heat, humidity and backbreaking labor on par with the worst camps anywhere in Asia.
“My father, Maj. Walter R. Locke, was at Jinguashi from 1942 to 1945,” Shillington said. “Although he never spoke much about his times as a prisoner after returning home, he stated on many occasions that Formosa was a beautiful country.”
Shillington and her husband David, 85, said the deeply moving experience was made all the more special by the kindness of tour guide Chang Ming-shih, an ROC navy veteran, who led a traditional Chinese three-bow ceremony to honor the POWS on behalf of all visiting rail enthusiasts.
“Alison was at a loss for words and close to tears when she saw her father’s name on the honor,” Chang said. “It was my duty to lead the ceremony and the highlight of my trip.”
The SJR-PTG Taiwan by Rail tour wraps up Sept. 17 in Taipei. (JSM)
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