Visited with a non-member
This has been a long time coming. As I say, Taiwan has an absolute abundance of sugar factories and this is a prime example, although unlike most others this is fully derelict and rotting. Outside there are a couple of locos on display in the public area as seen in the first two photos in addition to a steam locomotive on display, but more surprises were yet to come...
This is Diema 161, now on static display outside the derelict factory.
There was one guard at the front gate, but he barely left his cabin all day except to drive a few metres round on a scooter and back. So that made access easy. However, unbeknownst to us initially there were CCTV cameras pinned to the derelict buildings around the site, but after our initial cautions we were sure they were no longer in use.
This first building was completely falling apart under its own rust and weight, but we still had to find a way into the main building which from what we saw was heavily overgrown and hard to access. But we found a way in eventually, and then it was free roam for us.
The building was dangerously rotten from pillar to post, but what's not to love about that?
Seeing a vast cavern of rusting machinery like this is truly majestic, and can hardly be appreciated in picture form through a phone screen.
Surprises around every corner!
Safety first
The control room for the giant steam boilers
By the way, if you want an idea of how long this has been abandoned, don't use the calendar (which was dated 2000), date it by the shell of a Nokia 3310!
After descending down some stairs and making a hell of a noise by stepping on a rotten step (no injuries, it was the lowest one) we headed out towards the power sheds which were all locked. The very back of the site is now a coach park, but in front of that is something special... check this out!
5 immaculate Diemas, all left behind inside (and one outside) the rotting workshops!
Quite amazing, how these locos haven't been trashed after effectively being left to rot in this space.
The last port of call as we walked out was the packing plant. Initially not finding a way in, we saw a tiny door which finally granted us access. Despite a presumed 20+ year period of dereliction, the place was absolutely immaculate and beautifully untouched, save for dropped litter.
Quite amazing really, isn't it? It's nice to be back.
On a final note, parenting obviously is the priority but I will still endeavor to see some more sites like the abandoned ship west of Taizhong. So, all in good time, I will reveal some more from this splendid island.
Stay safe and happy exploring,
TBM
This has been a long time coming. As I say, Taiwan has an absolute abundance of sugar factories and this is a prime example, although unlike most others this is fully derelict and rotting. Outside there are a couple of locos on display in the public area as seen in the first two photos in addition to a steam locomotive on display, but more surprises were yet to come...
This is Diema 161, now on static display outside the derelict factory.
There was one guard at the front gate, but he barely left his cabin all day except to drive a few metres round on a scooter and back. So that made access easy. However, unbeknownst to us initially there were CCTV cameras pinned to the derelict buildings around the site, but after our initial cautions we were sure they were no longer in use.
This first building was completely falling apart under its own rust and weight, but we still had to find a way into the main building which from what we saw was heavily overgrown and hard to access. But we found a way in eventually, and then it was free roam for us.
The building was dangerously rotten from pillar to post, but what's not to love about that?
Seeing a vast cavern of rusting machinery like this is truly majestic, and can hardly be appreciated in picture form through a phone screen.
Surprises around every corner!
Safety first
The control room for the giant steam boilers
By the way, if you want an idea of how long this has been abandoned, don't use the calendar (which was dated 2000), date it by the shell of a Nokia 3310!
After descending down some stairs and making a hell of a noise by stepping on a rotten step (no injuries, it was the lowest one) we headed out towards the power sheds which were all locked. The very back of the site is now a coach park, but in front of that is something special... check this out!
5 immaculate Diemas, all left behind inside (and one outside) the rotting workshops!
Quite amazing, how these locos haven't been trashed after effectively being left to rot in this space.
The last port of call as we walked out was the packing plant. Initially not finding a way in, we saw a tiny door which finally granted us access. Despite a presumed 20+ year period of dereliction, the place was absolutely immaculate and beautifully untouched, save for dropped litter.
Quite amazing really, isn't it? It's nice to be back.
On a final note, parenting obviously is the priority but I will still endeavor to see some more sites like the abandoned ship west of Taizhong. So, all in good time, I will reveal some more from this splendid island.
Stay safe and happy exploring,
TBM
