Taiwan Sugar Railways

History:
– Constructed by Meiji Sugar Co., Ltd. during Japanese rule
– Operated into the 1990s under Taiwan Sugar Corporation
– Peak network of over 3000km, reduced to 240km by 2003
– Passenger service discontinued in 1982
– Remaining lines operated mainly during sugarcane harvest season

Operations:
– Lines centered around sugar mills in southern and central Taiwan
– Radiated through sugarcane fields and small towns
– Linked with main railway stations for passenger transfers
– Trains ran at speeds of 10-30km/h
– Transitioned from steam to diesel locomotives by the late 1970s

See also:
– Rail transport in Taiwan
– Transportation in Taiwan

References:
– https://www.tmitrail.org.tw/work-content/1458
– https://www.taisugar.com.tw/Monthly/CPN.aspx?ms=1385&p=13384998&s=13385007
– Taiwan Sugar Corporation source
– Liberty Times article
– https://hiking.biji.co/index.php?=info&review_id=9447

External links:
– Wikimedia Commons related to Sugar railways in Taiwan

Taiwan Sugar Railways (Wikipedia)

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The Taiwan Sugar Railways is a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) industrial railway operated by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation. The railway was primarily used in the production of sugar by transporting sugarcane to mills, but 41 lines also provided passenger service.

A Sugar Railway DIEMA diesel locomotive on the Magongcuo Line
Overview
Main region(s)	Taiwan
Parent company	Taiwan Sugar Corporation
Dates of operation	1907 (1907)–present
Technical
Track gauge	762 mm (2 ft 6 in)

Taiwan Sugar Railways
Traditional Chinese	臺灣糖業鐵路
Simplified Chinese	台湾糖业铁路
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Táiwān Tángyè Tiělù Wade–Giles T'ai2-wan1 T'ang2-yeh4 T'ieh3-lu4 Tongyong Pinyin Táiwan Tángyè Tiělù Southern Min Hokkien POJ Tâi-oân Thn̂g-gia̍p Thih-lō͘

After the Second World War the network raeched its peak, : 3000 kilometer, of which 675 for passengers.

From 1950 approximately 275 kilometer were added: "The North-South Parallel Preparatory Line". This connected all sugar factories. However, this was quickly shortened after a natural disaster, and increasingly after each disaster. The last part closed in 1998. The only line still used to carry sugarcane today is the Magongcuo Line in Huwei, Yunlin, though five other lines are partly preserved as heritage railways.