Changhua Roundhouse: Taiwan's Only Living Railway Heritage and Steam Train Depot

The Changhua Roundhouse is located on Zhangmei Road, Changhua City, Changhua County (north of Changhua Railway Station) and is managed by the Taiwan Railways Administration. After registering at the entrance guardhouse, you can visit for free. Guided tours are available for groups of ten or more, and advance application is required.

History and Features of the Roundhouse

The Changhua Roundhouse was listed as a county-designated historic site in Changhua County in 2001. It is a relic of the Japanese colonial period, built in 1922 (11th year of the Republic of China), and is currently the only preserved roundhouse in Taiwan and the only operating locomotive depot in Southeast Asia.

Before entering the engine maintenance depot gate, you will see robots made by Taiwan Railways personnel from scrap metal, which attracts the attention of many children and is also a popular photo spot.

Operation and Preservation of the Roundhouse

The Changhua Roundhouse engine maintenance depot is still repairing vehicles, and you can see the operation of vehicles entering the turntable. It is the only living history left among the six existing roundhouses. The roundhouse also preserves three steam locomotives, CK101, CK124 and DT668, and a steam crane.

The Changhua Roundhouse is not only a place for repairing train locomotives, but was also called the "Locomotive Depot" during the Japanese colonial period, witnessing the history of Taiwan Railways development from early coal-fired steam trains and diesel cars to electric railcars.

The roundhouse building is centered on a turntable and is distributed at a 99-degree angle toward the roundhouse, with a total of 12 tracks. Since steam locomotives can only travel forward, unlike electric or diesel locomotives that have driver's cabs at both ends and can travel in both directions, steam locomotives need to be rotated on the turntable to turn the locomotive back to the front.

Taiwan originally had five other roundhouses (Taipei, Hsinchu, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Kaohsiung Port), but due to the TRA's plan to build a central electric railcar maintenance base, it was necessary to demolish this last remaining roundhouse. After local residents and railway fans fought for its preservation, the electric railcar maintenance base was moved south of Changhua Station.

The "Taipei Roundhouse" has been rebuilt into the current Taipei Station, which has become an important transportation hub between Taipei citizens and other counties and cities; the "Hsinchu Roundhouse" has been renovated and rebuilt and is the location of the commuter train roundhouse; the "Taichung Roundhouse" has been completely lost and the site of the former roundhouse cannot be found; the "Chiayi Roundhouse" was originally a base for steam locomotives, but was demolished under the engineering plan; the "Kaohsiung Port Roundhouse" was taken back and demolished by the Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau.

Because the Changhua city area will also undergo a railway elevation project in the future, no matter which plan is implemented, it will affect the operation of the existing roundhouse. Although the roundhouse has become a county-designated historic site in Changhua County, if the elevation project is implemented, all dynamically preserved locomotives will not be able to enter or exit, and will be reduced to a static museum. Currently, the "Bansian Railway Culture and History Studio" is working hard to build a connecting line to maintain the normal operation of the roundhouse.

"Changhua Roundhouse"

Address: No. 1, Section 1, Zhangmei Road, Changhua City, Changhua County
Opening hours:
          (1) Closed every Monday.
          (2) Opening hours from Tuesday to Friday: 13:00~16:00.
          (3) Opening hours on holidays: 10:00~16:00.
          (4) If Monday to Friday are national holidays, the opening hours are the same as on holidays
Fee information: Free
※The above fees are for reference only, please refer to the on-site announcement, no further notice!

Regulations for applying for guided tours:
1. Guided tours are limited to groups of 10 or more (including 10 people). Groups or individuals of less than 10 people, please visit freely, no application is required.
2. Please fill out the application form 14 days before the visit date and send the application form to Changhua Engine Division by fax or mail.
3. Guided tours are provided from Tuesday to Friday, and the reservation time is 2:30 pm. If it is a national holiday, guided tours will not be provided. Each guided tour lasts approximately 30 minutes.