Binh Lang Old Railway Station Introduction
Taitung Bintu Station was established in 1922 during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan, known as a train greeting station. The narrow-gauge train traveled along the Old Beinan River, passing through Bintu, Dongcheng, Chulu, Jiafeng, Zhongxing, and reaching Luye Station. In 1943, Bintu was upgraded to a train station, and after the restoration of Taiwan, it was renamed Bintu Station. With the completion of the Eastern Line railway expansion project, Bintu Station, along with Jiafeng, Dongcheng, Chulu, and three other stations, was simultaneously declared closed in 1982. Bintu Station is a mini train station but plays an important role in the north-south train exchanges. The station features a traditional Japanese wooden station building, designed in two levels due to the terrain. The upper level houses the ticket office, waiting area, and station building, while the lower level accommodates the station staff quarters, boasting a rich history. Bintu Station is located between Luye and Taitung Station, and its most distinctive feature, like Jiafeng Station, is its unique return station design due to a gradient exceeding 2.1%. Scheduled trains often need to wait here for passing trains on the single track to enter the station before they can proceed. Bintu Station is one of the few remaining traditional Japanese wooden train stations along the abandoned sections of the eastern railway, with its wooden station building's basic structure still solid. The cement ticket office, wooden restroom, and water tower needed for the steam locomotives are all well-preserved, but the main building of the station has gradually fallen into disrepair. Conversely, the surrounding old trees provide shade, causing the old Bintu Station to blend into its environment, creating a dreamy atmosphere that evokes past sentiments.
