Long before modern highways crossed Taiwan’s rugged landscape, Chiayi’s Alishan Forest Railway pioneered the way through the mountains. Its tracks wound through a large forest of tall trees, offering stunning views of the region’s natural beauty. Let’s get aboard now and let the train carry us back to the early days of the railway, when the tracks were first laid through this wooded forest.
After Japan took control of Taiwan in 1895, the government recognized the value of Alishan’s wood, but transporting timber from such rough terrain was no easy task. The railway skillfully dealt with the steep slopes of the mountains using horseshoe curves, a spiral route, and “Z-shaped” switchbacks. Horseshoe curves were employed to ensure a gradual rise or fall for the trains by incorporating a nearly 180-degree bend. Winding around the mountain, the spiral route allowed the trains to climb gradually through gentle curves. In places where space for a spiral route was limited, Z-shaped switchbacks were adopted. These involved a series of back-and-forth turns, where the trains repeatedly moved in one direction and then switched to the opposite direction.
With the challenges of transporting logs down the mountains finally overcome, the railway began operations in 1912. It drove economic growth in Chiayi as the timber industry blossomed. However, competition from road transport led to its decline. It has now been transformed into a tourist attraction, giving passengers the chance to admire the railway’s unique engineering and the grand trees, including the Taiwan red cypress. As the seasons change, the railway offers a variety of scenery like cherry blossoms in spring, summer greenery, autumn’s red and gold leaves, and even a snowy winter wonderland.
Photo: AdobeStock 照片：AdobeStock
早在現代公路跨越臺灣崎嶇的地勢之前，嘉義的阿里山森林鐵路就開闢了穿越山區的道路。阿里山森林鐵路的軌道蜿蜒穿過一片高聳樹木的巨大森林，提供該地區自然之美的迷人景色。現在讓我們上車吧，讓火車帶我們回到這條鐵路的古早時代，當鐵軌首次鋪設在這片鬱鬱蔥蔥的樹林之時。
1895 年日本掌管臺灣後，政府發現阿里山木材的價值，但要從如此崎嶇的地形運輸木材並非易事。阿里山森林鐵路利用馬蹄彎、螺旋線和「之字形 」路線巧妙地應對陡峭的山坡。透過納入近 180 度的彎道，使用馬蹄彎確保火車可緩緩爬坡或下坡。螺旋線沿著山路蜿蜒而行，讓火車可透過平緩的彎道逐漸爬升。在空間有限而無法使用螺旋線的地方，就會採用之字形路線。這些路線包含一連串來來回回的轉向，火車多次朝一個方向移動、再轉向相反的方向。
運輸木材下山的難題最終被克服了，阿里山森林鐵路於 1912 年開始營運。木業的蓬勃發展隨之帶動了嘉義的經濟成長。然而，來自道路運輸的競爭導致阿里山森林鐵路衰退。該鐵路現今已變成一個旅遊景點，讓乘客有機會欣賞阿里山森林鐵路獨特的工程設計和包括臺灣紅檜在內的參天大樹。隨著季節的變化，該段鐵路會呈現出春天的櫻花、夏天的綠意、秋天的紅黃樹葉、甚至是冬天的雪域仙境等多種景色。
Photo: AdobeStock 照片：AdobeStock
Words in Use
1. sip vt. 啜飲
Kayla sipped her coffee slowly, enjoying the warmth it provided on a cold morning.
Photo: AdobeStock 照片：AdobeStock
凱拉緩緩啜飲著咖啡，在寒冷早晨中享受咖啡帶來的溫暖。
2. pioneer vt. 開闢，開創
The scientist helped pioneer new treatments for diseases that were previously uncurable. 這位科學家幫助開創了新療法，為以前無法治癒的疾病提供解方。
3. wind vi. （道路、河流等）蜿蜒
三態為：wind, wound , wound。
The river wound through a valley and joined a larger river below. 這條河蜿蜒穿過山谷，與底下更大的河流匯合。
4. rough a. 崎嶇不平的
The rough road caused the car to bounce up and down.
路面崎嶇不平，導致汽車上下顛簸。
5. skillfully adv. 巧妙地，有技巧地
The sailor skillfully guided the boat through the narrow, rocky waters. 那名水手巧妙地引導船穿過狹窄、布滿岩石的水域。
Practical Phrases
1. take control of. . . 掌控∕控制……
The army took control of the region after the collapse of the central government.
中央政府垮臺後，軍隊控制了該地區。
2. a series of. . . 一連串的……
series n. 連串∕續（單複數同形）
The book describes a series of adventures in a faraway land. 這本書描述了在遙遠國度的一連串冒險。
3. transform A into B 把 A 變成 B
The project aimed to transform urban spaces into sustainable living environments.
該計畫的目的是將城市空間轉變成綠色生活環境。
4. a variety of. . . 各式各樣的……
The store offers a variety of shoes, from sneakers to more formal shoes.
這家商店供應各種鞋，從運動鞋到較正式的鞋子都有。
To be continued tomorrow（明日待續）
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本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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