Located in Changhua City, the Fan-shaped Roundhouse is not only a precious asset for preserving Taiwan's railway culture, but also the only surviving fan-shaped roundhouse building in Taiwan. Its unique title of "Locomotive Hotel" not only describes its function but also carries over half a century of memories and railway stories.
Entering the Changhua Fan-shaped Roundhouse for a journey through time is an important itinerary for many railway enthusiasts and history buffs. The visiting process is quite visitor-friendly. At the entrance, visitors need to scan a QR Code for simple registration to facilitate park management. If the group has more than two people, only one person needs to complete the registration.
Before officially entering the main structure of the Changhua Fan-shaped Roundhouse, a striking exhibition area comes into view, featuring three notable Taiwan Railways R200 diesel-electric locomotives, numbered R216, R220, and R223. These diesel-electric locomotives manufactured by Stadler Rail AG of Switzerland represent Taiwan Railways' first procurement of European high-performance models, marking an important advancement in the modernization of the locomotive fleet and environmental standards.
The R200 locomotives feature a powerful 2,700-horsepower engine. Their design is not only refined but also meets strict Stage V environmental standards, demonstrating a perfect balance between power performance and environmental friendliness. Designed to accommodate the special climatic conditions of tropical and subtropical regions, they can reliably withstand 100% humidity and extreme high temperatures up to 45°C, ensuring stable operation in various harsh environments. Their introduction not only helps replace aging locomotives inside and outside the park, further enhancing operational safety and efficiency, but also represents Taiwan's railways moving toward a more environmentally friendly and efficient future. Amid the historical atmosphere of the roundhouse, the presence of the R200 locomotives creates a special landscape blending old and new, offering a glimpse into the past and future of Taiwan's railways.
1887: Taiwan's railway history officially began, opening a new chapter in transportation for this land.
1922: As operations expanded, the fan-shaped roundhouse of the Changhua Locomotive Depot was completed and put into service. At that time, it had 6 maintenance tracks, providing daily servicing and maintenance for steam locomotives.
1933: To meet the growing number of trains and more complex maintenance needs, the roundhouse was expanded. Six additional maintenance tracks were added to the original foundation, bringing the roundhouse to its current scale of 12 tracks, with a more complete fan-shaped structure.
1998: Taiwan's first successfully restored steam locomotive, CK101, was selected as a representative after completing its nostalgic island tour and stationed in this roundhouse. Its presence added a strong nostalgic atmosphere to the roundhouse and symbolized the inheritance of the steam locomotive era.
2000: Recognizing the historical value and cultural significance of the roundhouse, the Changhua County Government designated it as a "County-level Historic Site," laying the foundation for its initial legal protection and ensuring its unique architecture could be preserved without damage.
2001: Another important steam locomotive, CK124, after meticulous restoration and return to service, also became part of the roundhouse, joining CK101 in preserving this railway memory.
2005: To better protect this historic building, the Changhua County Government launched the "County-level Historic Site Fan-shaped Roundhouse Restoration Project," which was successfully completed. This restoration not only restored the structural safety of the building but also preserved its original historical appearance.
2022: The historical and cultural value of the roundhouse received national-level recognition. The Ministry of Culture designated it as a "National Historic Site." This is not only a great honor for Taiwan's railway culture but also means that the Changhua Fan-shaped Roundhouse occupies an even more important position in the national cultural heritage system, with its preservation and revitalization receiving more comprehensive support and attention.
The core of the roundhouse is the massive turntable. In the steam locomotive era, because the locomotive was long and visibility was limited, reversing or precise turning was relatively difficult. The appearance of the turntable completely solved this problem. It can rotate 360 degrees in all directions, like a giant disc. When a locomotive needs to enter or exit a specific maintenance track or complete a turnaround, the crew would drive the locomotive onto the turntable, rotate it to precisely align with the desired track, and then push the locomotive out. In the past, this work relied on manual pushing, which was a massive undertaking. Today, the turntable has been switched to electric motor drive, greatly improving efficiency and convenience, but its core function and historical significance remain undiminished.
In addition to experiencing the grandeur and historical atmosphere of the roundhouse up close on the ground, the park also features a viewing platform. When you ascend the viewing platform, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire roundhouse from a new height and an excellent angle. From above, the unique structure of the roundhouse is fully visible: 12 tracks spread out like fan blades around the central turntable, telling the story of railway scheduling wisdom; the various locomotives stationed there, now still and resting, form a vivid railway painting. This elevated viewing experience not only allows you to more comprehensively understand the layout and design of the roundhouse but also enables you to deeply appreciate the historical depth and cultural value represented by this century-old building—an unmissable visual feast.
The Changhua Fan-shaped Roundhouse is not just a static historic building; it embodies the wisdom of railway development, the ingenuity of industrial design, and countless steam and diesel-electric locomotives that have stopped and rested here. It is a living museum, inviting everyone passionate about Taiwan's history and railway culture to come savor and explore in depth.
Changhua Fan-shaped Roundhouse
No. 1, Section 1, Changmei Road, Changhua City ( Map )
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