The Taiwan Railway Administration’s (TRA) CK124 steam train and Japan’s C11 171 steam train, also known as the Winter Wetland, have officially become sister trains. The relationship was made official after the nation’s largest rail service provider exchanged contracts with Hokkaido Railway Co (JR Hokkaido) in Japan yesterday
To celebrate its first sisterhood relationship with a train in a foreign country, the TRA arranged for its CK124 and CK101 steam trains to run on its Neiwan branch line yesterday morning. JR Hokkaido had the Winter Wetland and its C11 207 leave from Hokkaido station.
About 20 Taiwanese railway fans also boarded the Winter Wetland yesterday to witness the historic moment.
Photo: Hung Mei-hsiu, Taipei Times
Meanwhile, souvenirs related to the special occasion, including limited-edition T-shirts, key chains and caps, were launched for sale at Taipei Railway Station and Neiwan Station.
TRA Director-General Frank Fan (范植谷) said the CK124 and C11 trains look similar in that both have smoke deflectors attached to front of the steam locomotive, which are designed to push smoke away to improve visibility for the driver.
Fan said the TRA plans to work with airlines to arrange steam train tours for Japanese tourists, which would be available in February, March and June each year.
Starting on June 9, Fan said that the CK124 steam train would operate on the Neiwan, Jiji (集集) and Pingsi (平溪) branch lines, as well as on the Old Mountain Line and the railway line between Hualien and Taitung.
Wang Chuan-hsin (王傳馨), a section chief at the TRA, said railway enthusiasts in Taiwan and Japan have been trying to forge a partnership for many years, but the railway authorities on both sides did not start discussing details until December last year.
In related news, 450 members of the Junior Chamber International Japan are scheduled to arrive in Taiwan on a cruise ship in June to challenge the Guinness World Record for the biggest three-legged race.
The Japanese public service group said that it plans to travel to Taiwan this year because it wants to thank Taiwan for its generous donations to the Japanese people following the earthquake and tsunami that struck the northeast of the country in March last year.
Members will be joined by 150 Taiwanese, aged between 20 and 30, the organizer said, adding that the event would be held at the Guanshan (觀山) Riverside Park in Taipei on June 5.
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