Historic steam locomotive at NCKU given a facelift
Tainan, Taiwan, Nov. 29, 2012
A Japanese-made first generation BK24 steam locomotive sitting behind National Cheng Kung University’s College of Management at the Kuangfu campus has undergone a facelift thanks to the joint effort of the NCKU Department of Transportation and Communication Management (TCM) and NCKU Museum, and is now welcoming visitors with a brand new look.
Some visitors, including NCKU students and teaching staff, experts in the railway industry and NCKU TCM almuni, attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition Nov. 23 and witnessed the revival of this old locomotive.
NCKU President Hwung-Hweng Hwung said, “ The BK24 steam locomotive has silently accompanied NCKU teaching staff and students for 56 years. "
He said that this event of introducing BK24 to the public represented a new era of initiating Taiwan campus cultural heritage by NCKU.
Invented in 1904, BK24 steam Locomotive was a modification of the British Class A8 steam locomotive manufactured by Osaka-based locomotive manufacturer Kisha Seizo. As Japan’s first generation self-produced steam locomotive, it was seen as the concrete proof of the history of East Asian transportation development, according to Ching-Hwei Chue, director of NCKU Museum.
He pointed out that this locomotive is currently the third oldest steam locomotive with national treasure status, the first in the nation and the only steam locomotive teaching aid in Taiwan.
Through the effort of the first NCKU TCM Director Ting-Shin Liu, the BK24 steam locomotive came to NCKU in 1954 as a vital teaching aid. From Cheng-Kung campus to Kuangfu campus, it helped NCKU nurture generations of talents in the field of traffic and transportation management.
After the establishment of NCKU Museum, NCKU listed the BK24 steam locomotive as a campus cultural heritage.
The university then sent a research team to Japan with the task of tracing its historical origins, researching on its structure and working principles and analyzing its brake system.
The team continued to make a collection of large transportation tools and equipment, demonstrated related research and obtained more complete historical data. Using these brand new information and data, they outlined the historical origins, structure and the brake system of the BK24 Steam Locomotive.
At the same time, NCKU has set up a special website for this locomotive and a Facebook fan page for educational purposes.
In the future, NCKU would collaborate with Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA), Railway Cultural Association, Takao Railway Museum and senior TRA technicians to actively protect the BK24 Steam Locomotive and come up with a series of plans to shape an example of campus cultural heritage which is uniquely NCKU, according to Chue.
A Japanese-made first generation BK24 steam locomotive sitting behind National Cheng Kung University’s College of Management at the Kuangfu campus has undergone a facelift thanks to the joint effort of the NCKU Department of Transportation and Communication Management (TCM) and NCKU Museum, and is now welcoming visitors with a brand new look.
Some visitors, including NCKU students and teaching staff, experts in the railway industry and NCKU TCM almuni, attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition Nov. 23 and witnessed the revival of this old locomotive.
NCKU President Hwung-Hweng Hwung said, “ The BK24 steam locomotive has silently accompanied NCKU teaching staff and students for 56 years. "
He said that this event of introducing BK24 to the public represented a new era of initiating Taiwan campus cultural heritage by NCKU.
Invented in 1904, BK24 steam Locomotive was a modification of the British Class A8 steam locomotive manufactured by Osaka-based locomotive manufacturer Kisha Seizo. As Japan’s first generation self-produced steam locomotive, it was seen as the concrete proof of the history of East Asian transportation development, according to Ching-Hwei Chue, director of NCKU Museum.
He pointed out that this locomotive is currently the third oldest steam locomotive with national treasure status, the first in the nation and the only steam locomotive teaching aid in Taiwan.
Through the effort of the first NCKU TCM Director Ting-Shin Liu, the BK24 steam locomotive came to NCKU in 1954 as a vital teaching aid. From Cheng-Kung campus to Kuangfu campus, it helped NCKU nurture generations of talents in the field of traffic and transportation management.
After the establishment of NCKU Museum, NCKU listed the BK24 steam locomotive as a campus cultural heritage.
The university then sent a research team to Japan with the task of tracing its historical origins, researching on its structure and working principles and analyzing its brake system.
The team continued to make a collection of large transportation tools and equipment, demonstrated related research and obtained more complete historical data. Using these brand new information and data, they outlined the historical origins, structure and the brake system of the BK24 Steam Locomotive.
At the same time, NCKU has set up a special website for this locomotive and a Facebook fan page for educational purposes.
In the future, NCKU would collaborate with Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA), Railway Cultural Association, Takao Railway Museum and senior TRA technicians to actively protect the BK24 Steam Locomotive and come up with a series of plans to shape an example of campus cultural heritage which is uniquely NCKU, according to Chue.
Provider:
新聞中心
Date:
2012-11-23
