Sunday, July 29, 2007

2006-11-05 Taipei TPO

Taipei Temporary Post Office (TPO)
Name: Alishan Forest Railway Story
TPO Open Date: 2006 November 5th (95.11.5)
Cancellation Design: Alishan Mountain, Steam Locomotive

The Alishan Forest Railway is an 86 km network of narrow gauge (2 ft 6 in (762 mm)) railways running up to and throughout the popular mountain resort of Alishan in Chiayi County, Taiwan. The narrow gauge lines were originally constructed by the Japanese Colonial Government in 1912 to facilitate the logging of cypress and Taiwania wood, however today the line caters mostly to tourists.

Unlike the national rail system administered by the Taiwan Railway Administration, the Alishan railway is managed by the Forestry Bureau. The system is currently operated using diesel locomotives, though some reports have indicated that plans to restore the old steam powered Shay locomotives are underway.

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