Nanjiint Railway Station Introduction
Nanjing Station was established on April 20, 1901, at Shuijiao head in Shuishang Township (now Shuishang Station). In 1910, it was relocated to its current site to facilitate the sugar transportation business of the Nanjing Sugar Factory. It was renamed Shuishang Station in 1920, and in December 1941, the station building collapsed during a major earthquake. It was rebuilt in 1943 and renamed Nanjing Station. The station was constructed of concrete in 1942, with the main entrance recessed and the right-side restroom matching the station building interestingly. The waiting room inside is entirely wooden, featuring wooden ticket counters, seating, and windows that have aged beautifully over time. The station's expansive yard tells the story of its glorious past. Within the station yard, there is a siding railway leading to the Nanjing Sugar Factory. However, the Taiwan Sugar Corporation's railway has a gauge of 76.2 cm, while the Taiwan Railway's gauge is 106.7 cm, making it inconvenient to use two different gauges. Thus, a tri-track design emerged, where the outer track, wider, was suitable for Taiwan Railway freight cars, while the inner, narrower track was suited for the sugar factory’s small trains. In southern Taiwan, most train stations near sugar factories have this tri-track railway design, such as Dou-Nan, Da-Lin, and Xin-Ying. However, the once-thriving sugar industry has declined, and the sugar factory's small trains have long been stopped, replaced by truck transportation. The prosperity of Shuishang Township can be seen from "one township with three train stations." Due to the booming business of the Nanjing Sugar Factory, Shuishang Station became congested, prompting the construction of Nanjing Station to alleviate the issue. Subsequently, the excavation of the Beihui mine led to the establishment of Beihui Station to meet transportation demands, making the bustling scenes easy to imagine. It is no wonder that this history is still fondly discussed by local elders today. As a testament to the rise and fall of the sugar industry, this old station is the only station along the Chiayi County trunk railway that has retained its original appearance, showcasing a charming nostalgic allure that is well worth visiting.
