Beimen Station Introduction
Beimen Station is the former starting point of the Forest Railway steam train and a key hub for cargo distribution on the Alishan Railway, where all daily necessities transported up the mountain pass through. The Alishan Forest Railway is one of the world's renowned mountain railways, possessing a unique charm. Beimen Station, constructed with Taiwan's red cypress wood, was completed before the full opening of the Alishan Railway in 1912. After the new station was built twenty years ago, the old Beimen Station was converted into an office for rolling stock maintenance staff. The station covers an area of approximately 93 square meters and is mainly divided into an office, ticket counter, and waiting room. The Alishan Forest Railway is known internationally for its rare features, such as "spiral railways," "Z-shaped climbs," and a gradient of 62.5 per thousand. Beimen Station serves as the starting point of the Alishan Railway, with the entire station building made of high-grade red cypress from Alishan, exhibiting a classic and simple design. During the Japanese colonial period, forestry development was the most crucial economic source, and various forestry-related facilities were established near Beimen Station, including the Forestry Office, log depots, sawmills, train repair shops, and forestry clubs. The timber industry was fully functional here, making Beimen Station the distribution center for timber logging in Alishan, highlighting its significance. Before the war, it was operated by the Taiwan Colonial Development Company and later came under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service after the war. In October of the 62nd year of the Republic (1973), the new Beimen Station was completed and opened, marking the retirement of the original Beimen Station. The timber transported down by the Alishan Forest Railway gathered near Beimen Station, leading to the establishment of lumber yards, timber businesses, sawmills, and processing factories, stimulating opportunities for hotels, restaurants, theaters, and thereby rapidly increasing the population and boosting various industries. The Alishan Forest Railway is one of only three remaining mountain railways in the world, possessing its unique charm. Although the old station lost its function in March of the 63rd year of the Republic (1974) due to the construction of the new station, its simple appearance and facilities have significant cultural heritage value, and the Chiayi City Government has designated it as a city historic site. Beimen Station, designed in a Japanese-style wooden architecture, covers an area of 95.15 square meters, mainly divided into a ticket counter, waiting room, and office. It is currently planned to be a railway heritage museum, with the plaza in front and surrounding areas featuring public art installations such as "Calling Landmarks," "Time and Space Corridors," and "Eco-Art Walls," aiming to unify the collective consciousness of railway culture.