Binglang Old Railway Station Introduction
Binglang Station, established in 1922 during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan, was initially a flag stop for trains. The narrow-gauge trains operated along the old Beinan River, passing through Binglang, Dongcheng, Chuluk, Jiafeng, Zhongxing to Lukou Station. In 1943, Binglang was upgraded to a train station and was renamed Binglang Station after Taiwan's retrocession. With the completion of the expansion project of the East Line Railway, Binglang Station, along with Jiafeng, Dongcheng, Chuluk, and three other stations, was declared closed in the 71st year of the Republic of China. Binglang Station is a mini station but plays an important role in the north-south traffic exchanges. The station features a Japanese-style wooden structure, built into two levels according to the terrain, with the upper level serving as the ticket office, station house, and waiting area, while the lower level houses the station staff's quarters. It has a rich history. Located between Lukou and Taitung Station, Binglang Station's most distinctive feature, similar to Jiafeng Station, is its rare reverse station design due to a slope exceeding 2.1%. Scheduled trains often need to wait at this station to allow the trains from the opposite single line to enter before they can proceed on their journey. Binglang Station is one of the few remaining Japanese wooden train stations among those abolished along the eastern railway line. The basic structure of the wooden station building remains robust, and the adjacent cement ticket booth, wooden restroom, and water tower for steam locomotives are well-preserved. However, the main building of the station is gradually deteriorating, while the surrounding old trees provide shade, making the old Binglang Station unexpectedly blend into the environment, creating a dreamlike scene that evokes nostalgia for the past.
