Volunteer Fu-Chin Lai
Roundhouse professional No. 4 --- Fu-Chin Lai
Organization: Changhua Rolling Stock Branch of Taiwan
Railways Administration
Position: Train Inspector
Experience:
- Nangang Switch Yard
- Kaohsiung Rolling Stock Branch of Taiwan Railways Administration
Event
He had been a lifeguard coach for over twenty years and became a narrator of the Roundhouse in 2006.
Lesson from Mr. Lai
The reason of fan-shaped design
The first reason is that fan-shaped design offers a beautiful look. The second, fanwise building uses the space sufficiently to maximize the bulk ratio. The third, it is efficient and easy by operating turntable to switch locomotives to different tracks.
The construction process in the reign of Japanese
It took Japanese ten years to build the Roundhouse. At the first phase, tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were built. Then they continuously finished tracks 1 and 2. At the last phase, tracks 9, 10, 11 and 12 were done. Japanese were so attentive while building the Roundhouse that they would wash all the sands first and then mixed into concrete for making a durable construction.
The cause of being replaced of steam locomotives
The Roundhouse was built for steam locomotives so it had blind vents into the dome to exhaust the smoke. However, the smoke exhausted from steam locomotives producing air pollution problem and lower load and speed of the steam locomotives were defects led to elimination of it.
The function of pebbles below the sleepers
Those pebbles are placed between and under the ties of a railroad to give stability, provide drainage, and distribute loads. If sleepers is the pillows to rails, pebbles is the ones to sleepers.
The width of railway gauge in Taiwan
Railway gauges with 1.067m in width are narrow gauge in Taiwian. Taiwan High Speed Rail, Taipei Metro and Kaohsiung Metro adopt world standard gauges of 1.435m in width. Russia, Spain, India and Argentina use broad gauges, greater than the standard gauge of 1.435m in width. But Taiwan Sugar Cooperation’s Railway and Alishan Forest Railway use gauges of only 0.762m in width.
The terms considered of building a railway
First of all, it has to be a straight road. Second, it has to be easily constructed as possible. Third, the cost should be affordable. Forth, the ramps should be avoided if possible. The railways in Taiwan are laid out within a 15‰ slope due to lacking in the capability of ascent over 25‰ slope. The railway with the steepest gradients of a 25‰ slope is connected to Shenghsin Station in Miaoli County.
Safety of railway
The high-voltage electricity used in TRA railways is 25,000v that you would get electrocuted without touching. Owing to safe distance is greater than 50cm, 150cm was required by Taiwan Railways Administration. Pedestrian with an umbrella on a rainy day must be very careful while walking through the level crossing. Moreover, fishing nearby the railways is absolutely prohibited. Especially a rainy day, It might be very dangerous if the fish twine got snagged by the electric traction lines.
Mr. Lai and Changhua Cool-Bow
By doing this project, we took field visit twice and attended the interpretation lectures instructed by senior employee, Mr. Lai. He taught us generously a lot about the Roundhouse and answered to our questions very patiently.
When did you start working at railway station?
I got the job at TRA in 1984 and now I am the inspector of trains.
Mr. Lai is very professional at interpretation.
Why did you want to be a narrator?
I was one of the first incumbent narrators recruited by Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau. I thought I was good at oral expression and fond of the Roundhouse. So I decided to took part in the training.
Mr. Lai started his narration from the story of antique locomotive.
Did you learn something special at the training?
In addition to the improvement of my eloquence, I had learned a lot relevant knowledge. I searched relevant information on my own to enrich my interpretation.
Everyone works hard at the Roundhouse.
How many sessions of narration did you serve?
I started the first narration in 2006 and have served numerous sessions of narration till now.
We had to get permission before entering inside the roundhouse.
What had impressed you the most?
Sometimes children asked some weird questions such as “the gender of the train”. It was really hard to give a right answer.
Even the train was taken apart, the gender of it remained untold.
How many locomotives would come and go in CRH per day?
Electric Multiple Units and there might be one or two locomotives come for maintenance. Tracks 3 and 4 are in charge of examining the returning locomotives.
Inside the tracks 1 and 2 in the Roundhouse.
How many hours do you work every day?
I work eight hours a day.
Repairmen work in the three-shift system and everyone is on duty all year.
Is there any female mechanist working at the rolling stock of TRA?
No, but two female drivers got admitted by TRA recently and they were reported on the news.
Those materials are too heavy for females to apply a job in CRH.
Do you wear any special clothes for the work?
We only wear uniforms or clothes which are dirt-resistant and oil resistant.
Repairmen at work.
What kinds of equipment do you need at work?
We must wear helmets and shoes to protect ourselves. The warning bell would ring to draw attention while the train is running.
Safety is important at work.
Have the Roundhouse ever been damaged or stolen?
Yes, once the metal pipes were stolen and sold for money.
Let us protect the beautiful Roundhouse together.
Did any accident happen in operating the turntable?
Never, we are not allowed to make any mistake and must ensure zero flaw.
The locomotive is ready for it next run!
Are you satisfied with your work?
Yes, I love my job very much.
Mr. Lai pruned the tree at his leisure.
Some words from Cool-Bow
Mr. Lai, the senior employee of TRA, knows much about the Roundhouse. He is humorous and knowledgeable and quoted many golden sayings in the narration. Once he compared people to the steam locomotives that if people are not self-motive or flexible then they might be eliminated one day, like steam locomotives. For that reason, he encouraged us to study more and enrich ourselves to cope with the change of time. We did learn a lot from him!
Mr. Lai is a professional, considerate and patient narrator. We are lucky to receive his remarkable narration.
Words adopted from Fu-Chin Lai
Pictures taken by Changhua Cool-Bow
