Binlang Old Railway Station Introduction
Binglang Station in Taitung was established in 1922 during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan as a train stop. At that time, narrow-gauge trains traveled along the old Beinan River, passing through Binglang, Dongcheng, Chulu, Jiafeng, Zhongxing, and reached Lukang Station. In 1943, Binglang Station was upgraded to a train station and was renamed Binglang Station after the end of Japanese rule. With the completion of the expansion of the Eastern Line railway, Binglang Station was announced to be closed along with Jiafeng, Dongcheng, and Chulu stations in 1982. Binglang Station is a miniature train station, yet it serves as a significant junction for north-south train traffic. The station features a Japanese-style wooden station building, designed with two levels due to the terrain slope, with the upper level serving as the ticket office, station building, and waiting room, while the lower level was for station staff quarters, boasting a rich history. Binglang Station is located between Luye and Taitung Station, with its most distinctive feature being that, like Jiafeng Station, due to a slope exceeding 2.1%, it employs a rare turning-back station design. Scheduled trains often stop here to wait for incoming trains on the opposite single line to enter the station before they can proceed to the next segment of their journey. Binglang Station is one of the few remaining Japanese wooden train stations along the Eastern Railway line that has been closed. The basic structure of the wooden station building remains sturdy, and the adjacent cement ticket office, wooden toilet, and water tower for steam locomotives are well-preserved. However, the main building of the station has gradually become dilapidated, while the surrounding old trees provide ample shade, allowing the old Binglang Station to be hidden away, creating a dreamy setting for those chasing past memories.
