Beimen Station Introduction
Beimen Station is the former starting point of the forest railway steam train and is also a distribution center for freight for the Alishan Railway. All daily necessities along the Alishan Railway were transported from here, making it an important hub. The Alishan Forest Railway is one of the world’s famous mountain railways, possessing unique charm. Beimen Station, constructed from Taiwan's red cypress wood, was completed before the entire Alishan Railway opened in 1912. The old Beimen Station was repurposed into an office for train maintenance staff after the new station was built twenty years ago. The station has an area of approximately 28 ping, divided mainly into an office, ticket counter, and waiting room. The Alishan Forest Railway is internationally renowned for its rare features such as "spiral tracks," "zigzag ascents," and a "62.5 per thousand slope." Beimen Station is the starting station of the Alishan Railway, built entirely with high-quality red cypress materials from Alishan, showcasing a classical and simple design. During the Japanese occupation, forestry development was the most important economic source, with forestry office buildings, lumber pools, sawmills, train repair shops, and forestry clubs established near Beimen Station, making it a hub for timber production and a vital center for logging in Alishan. Before the war, it was operated by the Taiwan Colonial Development Company, and after the war, it was transferred to the Forestry Bureau. In October of the 62nd year of the Republic, the new Beimen Station was completed, and the old Beimen Station became obsolete. The Alishan Forest Railway transported timber downhill, which gathered near Beimen Station and spurred the growth of lumber yards, timber shops, sawmills, and woodworking factories. Timber merchants traveling from north to south contributed to the development of hotels, restaurants, and theaters, leading to a rapid population increase and vibrant freight business, fostering prosperity across various industries. The Alishan Forest Railway is one of only three surviving mountain railways in the world, possessing its unique charm. Although the old station ceased to function in March of the 63rd year of the Republic due to the construction of a new station, its simple exterior and facilities hold significant cultural heritage value, and the Chiayi City Government has designated it as a city monument. Beimen Station is a wooden station designed in a Japanese style, with 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 exhibition hall, with the station square and surrounding areas featuring public art installations such as "The Calling Landmark," "The Time-Space Corridor," and "The Ecological Art Wall" to foster a collective awareness of railway culture.
