Lesson I
Beginning with the visit of the Roundhouse, we learned history and features of it.
Visiting information on the main gate
and logo stamp placed at security room.【14:50－15:00】
Assembling
We gathered at the front gate of the Roundhouse.
Mr. Lai told us the story of
the
ninety-year-old CRH.【15:00－15:20】
Beginning
Standing under the shade of a banyan tree, we had the first lesson, the history of Railways.
After the renovation, CRH
still remains its original appearance.【15:20－15:40】
Characteristics
The Roundhouse is an important monument nowadays but not convenient for locomotive maintenance. Because the fan-shaped building, the high voltage wires could not be set at inner. Consequently, the electric and diesel locomotives should be moved out from the stall and tested the electronic function.
The turntable affords a load of weight over 100 tons.【15:40－16:00】
Operation
The steel-made turntable is the soul of the Roundhouse by switching locomotives to different tracks fast and efficiently.
The electric and diesel locomotives R20 and
three steam locomotives are “Must-Knows”.【16:00－16:20】
Locomotives
The steam locomotives stored at the Roundhouse are national treasures. Most visitors were interested in its background, fuels and the symbols on the train from the introduction.
We gave a hand-made thank you card to Mr. Lai.【16:20－16:30】
Gains from the visit
Mr. Lai gave us the basic understanding of the Roundhouse. We need to organize what we’ve learned today and discuss the distribution of narration.
Words from Cool-Bow
I visited the Roundhouse with teammates and teachers. I had visited here once before, but I learned a lot this time. Mr. told us about the history of CRH thoroughly that made me a better understanding of it.
Mr. Lai introduced CRH and took us to approach the main building with 12 tracks today. We asked him some questions about being a good narrator and any difficulties at the narration he had met with. Some children’s weird questions just beat him. If I were him, I would not know the answers, either.
I visited the steam locomotive, CK124, and paid attention to the narration that Mr. Lai gave. I was so touched and admired all the repairpersons who worked hard in a hot day. They were heroes in deed.
The turntable is able to move with 360° to dispatch and turn around locomotives efficiently. If you pay attention to the turntable, you would notice a white line on the side for keeping the balance of the turntable and turning easily after parking the locomotive at the center of it.
Source: Changhua Cool-Bow
