Train enthusiasts, rejoice！ The “Home of Trains”—Taipei Railway Workshop—opens to the public starting July 19

▲ The passenger car factory is the “home of trains.” (Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture)

Travel Center / Compiled Report

A must-visit for train buffs and machinery lovers！ With over 80 years of history, Taipei Railway Workshop will hold its first-ever guided tours on July 19！ Pick a sunny, comfortable day, grab your camera, gather a few friends, and get ready to flood Facebook and Instagram with a series of track and train photos！

▲ The first-generation self-propelled express train EMU-100 seems to still be speeding along the tracks. (Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture)

The Ministry of Culture announced its first wave of “guided tour menu” items on the 16th, including the “Legacy Lives On—Taipei Railway Workshop Vision Exhibition,” the modernist-style “Assembly Shop,” the hidden gem in the “Forge Shop”—an 1889 steam hammer that’s the museum’s treasure—as well as the crowd-favorite “Employees’ Bathhouse,” a photo hotspot reminiscent of “Roman Baths,” and the first-generation self-propelled express train EMU-100 “British Lady” in the “Passenger Car Shop.” The Ministry has also brought back retired employees who once spent 34 years at the workshop to serve as on-site guides, sharing personal stories about cultural heritage preservation.

▲ “Legacy Lives On—Taipei Railway Workshop Vision Exhibition.” (Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture)

The Ministry of Culture took over the management of the Taipei Railway Workshop site in January 2017 and is currently working on revitalization and reuse. On February 14, it held a “Taipei Railway Workshop Railway Museum Cooperation Signing Ceremony” with the Taiwan Railways Administration under the Ministry of Transportation. The approach of “whole-area preparation, zoned restoration, and zoned opening” will soon allow timed guided tours every Wednesday and Saturday starting July 19.

The Ministry of Culture noted that the first “appetizer” of the Taipei Railway Workshop tour is walking past three old pepper trees to the small auditorium for the “Legacy Lives On—Taipei Railway Workshop Vision Exhibition.” This not only gives first-time visitors a quick overview of the historical evolution and cultural value but also showcases inspirations from national railway museums in Prague (Czech Republic), York (UK), Queensland (Australia), and Berlin (Germany). Next is the visit to the “Assembly Shop,” the largest structure on-site with the most distinct modernist architecture. Then comes the “Diesel Shop,” which witnessed the milestone of transitioning to diesel-powered trains. Visitors can even walk the path where trains once entered the North Plant from Songshan Station (now Songshan Cultural and Creative Park), searching for special “reversed spikes” hidden between tracks and sleepers, experiencing the enduring connection of the “iron rails.”

▲ The most modernist-style “Assembly Shop.” (Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture)

▲ The “Diesel Shop,” a milestone in the shift to diesel-powered trains. (Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture)

The Ministry pointed out that the most famous highlight in the tour menu is the hidden gem in the “Forge Shop”—the 1889 steam hammer, whose deafening first strike each day marked the start of work. Meanwhile, the first-generation self-propelled express train EMU-100 “British Lady” in the “Passenger Car Shop” still holds a special place in the hearts of many “train fans” as an irreplaceable emblem of nostalgia and emotion.

▲ The treasure—1889 steam hammer. (Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture)

In addition, the Ministry said that the crane platform and transfer table facilities on the east side of Taipei Railway Workshop were ingeniously designed to address space and depth limitations. Finally, visitors will follow the daily routine of former employees to the once most Instagrammed “Employees’ Bathhouse,” where you can see the legendary “dormer windows” and Roman-style baths.

▲ The crowd-favorite photo spot—the “Employees’ Bathhouse.” (Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture)

The “Taipei Railway Workshop” was originally known as the “Taipei Railway Workshop” and was established in 1930, officially opening in 1935. It played a vital role in Taiwan’s railway operations, handling maintenance, assembly, servicing, and repair of trains. It remains the largest and oldest surviving railway vehicle repair facility in Taiwan. On March 15, 2015, the Ministry of Culture’s Council for Cultural Heritage and Historic Buildings unanimously approved the designation of the entire Taipei Railway Workshop site as a National Historic Site.

Starting July 19, the Ministry of Culture opens timed public reservations for visits, allowing the public to experience the restoration process of cultural assets and to catch a glimpse of the vision and future of the National Railway Museum Park. Starting June 20, reservations are accepted for groups (including academic and general groups) of 10 to 40 people. Related details will be simultaneously announced on the official website and Facebook page of the Bureau of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture.

Taipei Railway Workshop
Bureau of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture Official Website│Facebook
Address: No. 48, Section 5, Civic Boulevard, Xinyi District, Taipei City
Reservation Hotline: 02-8787-8850