A reader has expressed interest in seeing pictures of Guan-du Station and Tunnel. Railroad enthusiasts in Taiwan noting the passing of an era, i.e., the end of the Tamsui Line, have actually recorded the last scheduled train ride from Tamsui [July 15, 1988]. And the photos can be seen here. A couple of them are re-posted below:
This was the Guan-du Station and the Tunnel immediately beyond it. The slope into the Tunnel was real, not an optical illusion.
Guan-du Tunnel with Diesel Engine No R123 emerging from it. This diesel model replaced the original steam engine, the BK24.
Guan-du Tunnel with Diesel Engine No R123 emerging from it. This diesel model replaced the original steam engine, the BK24.
Great shots, eyedoc.
回覆刪除I am still looking for photos of earlier than 1988. Let me know if you come across any. I seem to remember the diesel engine was painted blue, it might have been either re-painted into orange or simply replaced by another. There were also gasoline-powered trains running between Beitou/Hsin Beitou and Taipei. These and the original steam engine BK24 all had their own distinct train horn sounds. Without any railroad crossings, Taipei MRT trains now run in the silent mode. The old click-clack railroad sounds are gone, too.
回覆刪除Thanks for these - I only have one more picture of Guandu station but it's taken from the opposite angle (perhaps from on top of the hill?) so it's a nice counterpoint to these shots. It is not from much earlier though, judging by the buildings in the background.
回覆刪除http://i.imgur.com/EwfDL.jpg
That was indeed taken on top of the Tunnel. It shows very nicely the slope, going downhill from the Station. The photo looks 1988ish. Let's just say it is timeless.
回覆刪除Thanks.
Here is an early photo of BK24 getting a re-supply of coal and water at Tamsui Station:
回覆刪除http://www.shipboard.info/blog2/archives/2012/05/post_540.html
Is the tunnel still there? I don't remember one on the modern MRT line.
回覆刪除Thanks for the BK24 pictures. It's very hard to find pictures of the Tamsui Station yard. I scanned this diagram of the old station building from a Master's thesis in Taiwan: http://i.imgur.com/fLGkM.png
The tunnel is kind of still there, now more like two holes under a highway bridge.
回覆刪除The BK24 photo was shot in the 1950s. There are a dozen or so old photos of Tamsui Station on the net - try "淡水火車站" under Google-images. I also have one from around 1968. If you want it, email me at hmcheng542@msn.com, I'll be very happy to send it to you.
Sudasana:
回覆刪除Don't forget to add several steps of stairs, not sure either 8 or 10, all around the front of the station.
ChoSan
From the photo that I have, 3.5 steps on the Chung Cheng Road (front) side. Although I seem to remember more steps on the bus station side.
回覆刪除Also, the diesel model that had replaced BK24 was indeed painted blue, the US-made model R20 with an engine made by GM.