Nanjing Railway Station Introduction
Nanjing Railway Station was established on April 20, 1901, at Shuijuaikou in Shuishang Township (currently known as Shuishang Station). In 1910, along with the establishment of the Nanjing Sugar Factory for the sugar transportation business, the station was relocated to its current site and was renamed Shuishang Station in 1920. The station building collapsed during a major earthquake in December 1941, and it was rebuilt in 1943, at which point it was renamed Nanjing Station. The Nanjing Railway Station was constructed with cement in 1942, featuring a newly designed entrance that is recessed inward. The restroom on the right side has an interesting design that matches the station building. Inside the station, the waiting room is entirely wooden, with ticket counters, benches, and windows all made from wood, giving it a charming antique quality after years of wear. The vast station yard tells the story of its glorious history. Within the station yard lies a siding that leads to the Nanjing Sugar Factory. However, the Taiwan Sugar Corporation railway uses a narrow gauge of 76.2 cm, while the Taiwan Railway's gauge is 106.7 cm, making the operation of two different track gauges inconvenient. Therefore, a three-track design was implemented, with the outer, wider track suitable for Taiwan Railway freight trains, and the inner, narrower track suitable for the sugar factory's small train operations. Many train stations in southern Taiwan near sugar factories, such as Dou-Nan, Dalin, and Xinying, have adopted this kind of three-track railway design. However, as the sugar industry has declined, the sugar factory's small train service has long ceased, and transportation is now done by truck. The prosperity of Shuishang Township can be gauged by the fact that "one township has three train stations." Due to the booming business of the Nanjing Sugar Factory, the Shuishang Railway Station became overcrowded, prompting the extension of the Nanjing Railway Station to alleviate the issue. Following this, the excavation of the Beihuai Mine required the construction of Beihuai Station to meet transportation demands, painting a picture of a bustling scene. It's no wonder that this history remains a topic of discussion among local elders to this day. The old station, which witnessed the rise and fall of the sugar industry, is the only remaining station along the Chiayi County Main Line that has preserved its original appearance, and its nostalgic charm makes it worth a visit.
