Zhudong Railway Station Introduction
Historical Development: Due to the rich agricultural, forestry, and mineral resources in the vicinity of Zhudong, a series of large-scale factories (such as cement and glass) were established. In line with the development of industrial utilization of these resources in the mountainous areas, the Zhudong-Neiwan branch railway was constructed. The Zhudong-Neiwan line is the first railway completed entirely by Taiwanese after the Japanese left; the section from Hsinchu to Zhudong opened in 1947 (the 36th year of the Republic of China), and the section from Zhudong to Neiwan was completed in 1951 (the 40th year of the Republic of China), thus making the entire line operational. As economic patterns shifted, by the 1980s, due to the depletion of minerals and timber, along with the rapid development of road transportation, Zhudong Station gradually declined from its former bustling state to its current quiet appearance. Currently, it serves only for commuter transport in the surrounding areas on weekdays, while on weekends it becomes a popular transport line due to the recreational area at Neiwan. Zhudong Station was built during the transitional period of post-war governance, and based on its architectural style, it is inferred that it was constructed by locals referencing the design drawings from the Japanese colonial period’s Railway Bureau, thus holding significant historical and commemorative value. Architectural Features: Due to the rich agricultural, forestry, and mineral resources in the vicinity of Zhudong, a series of large-scale factories (such as cement and glass) were established. In line with the development of industrial utilization of these resources in the mountainous areas, the Zhudong-Neiwan branch railway was constructed. The Zhudong-Neiwan line is the first railway completed entirely by Taiwanese after the Japanese left; the section from Hsinchu to Zhudong opened in 1947 (the 36th year of the Republic of China), and the section from Zhudong to Neiwan was completed in 1951 (the 40th year of the Republic of China), thus making the entire line operational. As economic patterns shifted, by the 1980s, due to the depletion of minerals and timber, along with the rapid development of road transportation, Zhudong Station gradually declined from its former bustling state to its current quiet appearance. Currently, it serves only for commuter transport in the surrounding areas on weekdays, while on weekends it becomes a popular transport line due to the recreational area at Neiwan. Zhudong Station was built during the transitional period of post-war governance, and based on its architectural style, it is inferred that it was constructed by locals referencing the design drawings from the Japanese colonial period’s Railway Bureau, thus holding significant historical and commemorative value.