Taiwan Steam Locomotives Nos. 3–8

Locomotives Nos. 3–8 were steam locomotives built by Hawthorn Leslie of Britain in 1889 (Meiji 22 / Qing Guangxu 15) and 1893 (Meiji 26 / Qing Guangxu 19). The names of Nos. 3–5 have not been handed down, but No. 6 was named “Che-dian” (掣電), No. 7 “Chao-chen” (超塵), and No. 8 “She-jing” (攝景). After the cession of Taiwan in 1895 (Meiji 28 / Qing Guangxu 21), the Japanese army landed at Keelung (基隆) and advanced toward Taipei (台北) along the railway, taking over the locomotives that had been used during the Qing period. According to Taiwan Railway History, eight locomotives, numbered 1 through 8, were confirmed at that time. Only three of them were judged to be immediately usable, while the remaining five required repair and maintenance. Nos. 3–8 were used on lines in both northern and southern Taiwan during the early years of Japanese rule. Later, with the construction of the Yilan Line (宜蘭線), they were also used as construction locomotives. Because of aging, one locomotive was withdrawn in 1926 (Taisho 15), and the remaining five were taken out of service in 1929 (Showa 4). All were officially scrapped in 1931 (Showa 6). Detailed records of their fate after withdrawal are scarce, but No. 8 “She-jing” is said to have been used by Dai-Nippon Sugar at the Huwei Sugar Factory (later Huwei Sugar Refinery / 虎尾糖廠) on the 1,067 mm-gauge section between Douliu (斗六) and Huwei (虎尾). The 1932 (Showa 7) annual report of the Railway Department lists two 2-6-2 locomotives weighing 25 tons on Dai-Nippon Sugar’s routes from Dounan (斗南) to Beigang (北港), Wukuaicuo (五塊厝), Shalun (沙崙), Shicuo (施厝), and Xiluo (西螺). Since no other locomotives with this wheel arrangement are known there, it is possible that two locomotives of this class were transferred to the sugar company. The later histories of the other locomotives remain unknown, and no preserved examples survive.