The steam locomotive Queen CT273 stationed in Hualien has been tested again after half a year, attracting a large number of railway fans to watch.

(Photo by reporter Hua Mengjing)

[Reporter Hua Mengjing/Hualien Report] CT273, known as the "Queen of Steam Locomotives", is 80 years old this year and has been stationed in Hualien Locomotive Depot for a long time. Every summer, the cruise train "Zhongxia Baodao" departs from Hualien.

In order to prepare for this year's event, the Hualien steam train working group launched a 2-day trial run yesterday and today to let the old train go out for "exercise".

"We have some food for you, darling, I wish you a smooth trip today, darling!" The Hualien steam train working group took out the whole package of green and obediently opened it like coaxing a girlfriend before departure on CT273 this morning, and poured it in Inside the red-hot steam boiler, pray for a smooth trip!

The Hualien Steam Train Working Group released this video (https://fb.watch/iMcnDW49P1/) in the afternoon, which made railway fans laugh, "It's really good to eat well", "The smoke from the fire will smell good "?

Please read on...

Nicknamed the "Queen of Steam Locomotives", Taiwan Railway CT273 was manufactured in 1943. It was once the speed king of the western main line. Taiwan Railway was restored in 2014. In recent years, the "Zhongxia Baodao" runs cruise trains on the Taitung Railway every summer vacation. Every year Attracts a large number of railway fans and tourists to book tickets; last year due to the epidemic, the Zhongxia Baodao was postponed to September 24, but due to the damage to the tracks and bridges of the Taitung Line due to the earthquake on September 18 the previous week, all trips were cancelled. .

After half a year of repairs, the CT273 steam engine queen was carefully maintained by the staff at the Hualien Locomotive Depot. On the 17th and 18th, a total of 2 days of test run and personnel training were arranged. Since the CT273 has not been seen for half a year since the test run in early September last year, these 2 days have attracted railway fans from all over the country. When I came to Hualien to catch the train, not only the kindergarten teacher brought the children to Ji’an Station to watch the train, but also Hualien Station, urban level crossing, Papaya Creek Bridge, Shoufeng Road Bridge, Fenglin Linrong, and Nanping Station, there were railway fans waiting to take pictures with cannons At one point, the police ran out to direct the traffic.

Huang Zongxian, director of Taiwan Railway Hualien Locomotive Section, said that the test run on yesterday (17) and this morning was scheduled to depart from Hualien Station at 10:40, pass through Shoufeng Station to Nanping Station, and then return to Shoufeng for the second trip to Nanping , and then returned to Hualien Station for driver and maintenance personnel training. However, the first trip yesterday was due to a problem with parts. Last night, it was checked and sorted out overnight. This morning, it departed from Hualien Station at about 10:25. , everything went well today."

"On the office desk of Taiwan Railway Hualien Locomotive Depot, there is also a green obedient"!

Huang Zongxian said that since the steamer queen is already 80 years old, it is really difficult to control when there will be parts problems in the old car. In addition, the previous day was not smooth, and the colleagues specially prepared a pack of green obediently to treat the old baby to eat, and obediently biscuits Going into the boiler is also carbonized, which will not affect driving.

Huang Zongxian also said that colleagues in the Hualien Locomotive Depot are full of enthusiasm for steam trains, and also regularly release information on the Hualien Steam Train Working Group on Facebook. At present, there are more than 10 qualified steam locomotive drivers. "I have confidence in the operation, and I will definitely work hard to achieve the assigned mission and promote railway tourism.

This morning, before the Hualien service section of the Taiwan Railway started the test run of the CT273 steam engine Queen, I specially prepared the green obedient.

(Provided by Hualien Transportation Section)

The personnel of the Hualien transportation section of the Taiwan Railway will obediently pour it into the boiler, hoping that the test run will go smoothly.

(Provided by Hualien Transportation Section)