Interviews
In the process of researching the CRH, we found out that it had once faced the fortune of being demolished. But by the persistent efforts of the former Magistrate of Changhua County, Chin-Chu Wong and some members of Babuza Railway Culture and History Working office, CRH was valued again and kept perfectly. It was assigned as County designated monument and got the chance to be reconstructed.
The government also trained many employees in railways administration to be the best guides to help the public have the deeper understanding of CRH. Until now, those who have devoted themselves still care about CRH. Now, let us meet the Roundhouse professionals!
Promoter Chin-Chu Wong
Roundhouse professional No.1--- Chin-Chu Wong
Organization: Legislative Yuan
Position: Legislator
Experience:
- The 14th Magistrate of Changhua County
- The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th annual legislator
Event
In 1994 CRH was once faced with the fate of being demolished. Legislator Wong and the local well-known persons stood for the last remaining Roundhouse in Taiwan. Finally, they kept the Roundhouse successfully and made it become a designate monument in 2000.
Ms. Wong and Changhua Cool-Bow
Ms. Wong, thanks to your utmost support on CRH. It has been preserved perfectly so that we still have the opportunity to see the only one roundhouse in operating and the national treasure, steam locomotives. There are some questions we would like to ask you:
Why did you want to keep CRH from being demolished?
Before tearing down CRH, a journalist showed me the video of it and told me it would be demolished. I found out it is the last remaining fan-shaped roundhouse in Taiwan. In order to protecting Taiwanese historic heritage and letting our descendants understand more about the history of railway development, CRH must be preserved completely.
Ms. Wong was deeply attracted by the beauty of CRH.
How much effort had you made to let it become a County designate site?
At that time, I held a public hearing and queried Ministry of MOTC and TRA at the Legislative Yuan first. Besides, I also asked County councilors to make the proposal of Chuanghua Roundhouse preservation. On the other hand, we asked our community to stand by us and convinced the members of Railway Union and TRA that it is definitely the right decision to keep the Roundhouse. Fortunately, we got support from all.
Ms. Wong asserts it is the right decision to keep the Roundhouse.
Were there any difficulties while striving for keeping the Roundhouse?
The first problem we had met was that TRA wanted to reuse the place as the repairing station for Electric Multiple Units, instead of keeping this old building. The second, once the Roundhouse was kept, the repairing factory of Electric Multiple Units had to move to another place and it is not quite convenient for the employees. The third, our residents knew little about the value of the Roundhouse.
Ms. Wong made a lot effort to keep the Roundhouse.
Did you ever want to quit in the process of it?
No, the idea of quitting never came to me. I esteemed it would be a success finally if I kept working harder, so I never gave up.
We all highly admire the persistent efforts of her.
What impressed you the most about the Roundhouse?
I was very touched while seeing Roundhouse at the first time. Afterwards, it was also very impressive that we had once invited the senior train driver back to give us some interpretation.
Ms. Wong likes the locomotives in the Roundhouse.
What kinds of plans will you suggest for CRH in the future?
I hope CRH become a dynamic museum to promote the railway culture and in-depth sightseeing in Changhua.
We took pictures with Ms. Wong after the interview.
Some words from Cool-Bow
Ms. Wong told us the values, features and future plans of the Roundhouse and a lot of difficulties she had met when she stood for keeping the Roundhouse and finally made it. What impressed me the most is that she wants to run a café shop decorated with glass walls to lure the visitors to come and have wonderful cups of coffee and a cozy break. That sounds great! I took a great lesson from the interview.
I never knew that Ms. Wong was not only former County Magistrate but also a teacher. At the interview, I realized she made a lot of effort to keep the Roundhouse and other historic heritage made her be a strong driving force for keeping historical monuments in Changhua. She is really amazing that she has convinced those opponents and overcome all the difficulties.
Ms. Wong is a very kind and genial person. What impressed me the most is that she has strong will and does not give up easily. Furthermore, we also learned a lot from the private information provided by her and hardly be found on the Internet.
At the interview, Ms. Wong told us the background and future plans of CRH and the activity “Trains in dance”. Can you imagine a dancing train? They use the turntable to rotate trains and the trains just look like dancers in spinning. It sounds really cool. I received more about the story of Chuanghua Roundhouse than what I had read on paper after the interview. It is really a uncommon experience.
Words adopted from Chin-Chu Wong
Pictures taken by Changhua Cool-Bow
