「牽手762的約定」阿里山林鐵DL-34機關車台英交流大使 A story that passes through 9971KM

From 762mm to 9971 km
DL-34 Setting off to Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Press Conference

帶著滿滿的祝福，臺灣的老火車頭即將航向國際。阿里山林業鐵路於2017年9月27日與英國威爾普蘭菲爾鐵路（Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway）締結姊妹鐵路後，在其代表、也是前英國在台辦事處處長麥瑞禮（Michael Reilly）牽線下，展開一系列交流；並在籌備多時之後，今（23）日歡送DL-34機關車飛越9,971公里赴英，化身交流大使，傳遞百年林鐵職人的守護精神，讓姊妹鐵路友誼繼續邁進。

阿里山林鐵DL-34柴油機關車將擔任臺灣文化觀光親善大使，在英國「出訪」三年後回家，期間也將宣傳阿里山林鐵之美，備受兩國鐵道迷社群矚目。本次國際合作起源於2018年由英國威爾普蘭菲爾鐵路向阿里山林業鐵路提出借用我方柴油機車交流構想，歷經林務局赴英國參訪考察，洽談臺英雙邊未來進一步交流之可能性，並於2019年7月5日在林務局國際鐵路交流會議上，確認推展臺英DL-34柴油機車互惠合作之租借構想。

威爾普蘭菲爾鐵路和阿里山林業鐵路皆採用762 mm的窄軌軌距，同樣有急彎與陡坡，在運輸歷史上，則分別從農產品運輸與木材運送轉為觀光旅遊運輸。相距千里，卻猶如雙胞胎般擁有諸多共通點，促成本次DL-34柴油機車出借計畫的開端。自阿里山林業鐵路與英國威爾普蘭菲爾鐵路締結為姊妹鐵路以來，基於雙邊互惠原則，持續推展以資訊網頁互聯、旅遊文宣互通、旅客憑票互惠及營運技術互助等面向交流，並藉由雙方互訪、網路行銷及資訊共享等維繫情誼。

林務局林華慶局長表示，本次擔任臺灣「國際交流大使」的是阿里山林業鐵路「DL-34」柴油機關車，該機關車為1972年由日本新三菱重工製造，重達25噸；最大馬力523匹，因性能可靠，客貨運貢獻良多，服役期間經引擎換裝，至今仍擔負阿里山林業鐵路貨運及場站調車任務，老當益壯。在漫長的歲月當中，阿里山林業鐵路從作為開發阿里山林場之主要運輸工具，活化轉型以觀光鐵路及重要文化景觀的身分持續前行，穿梭於嘉義縣市沿線豐富的自然與人文遺跡。

DL-34典雅的紅色塗裝將乘載來自臺灣阿里山林業鐵路的林鐵精神與熱情，「外派」到威爾普蘭菲爾鐵路。阿里山林鐵與威爾普蘭菲爾鐵路約定成真，創造窄軌鐵路文化及技術交流機會，也開啟阿里山林業鐵路下一個百年篇章，除了期盼這趟深度交流帶來的嶄新視野，更深化臺英之間的情感連結，也讓世界看見臺灣。

From 762mm to 9971 km
DL-34 Setting off to Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Press Conference

The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway shares the same track gauge(762 mm) with the Alishan Forestry Railway. In common, we also have sharp curves and steep slopes along the line. In terms of operation, they transformed from agricultural products and timber-carrying to tourism transportation. These similarities lead to the connection of the Alishan Forestry Railway and the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway as sister railways on September 27, 2017.

The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway proposed to borrow the diesel locomotives from Alishan Forestry Railway in 2018. After the visit of Forestry Bureau to the UK, the possibility of further bilateral exchanges between Taiwan and the UK has been discussed. The idea of promoting Taiwan-UK reciprocal cooperation in leasing DL-34 diesel locomotives has further been confirmed at the Forestry Bureau International Railway Exchange Conference on July 5, 2019.

DL-34 locomotive lending program based on the principle of bilateral reciprocity. It enhanced the promotion of in-depth exchanges such as webpage interconnection, tourism literature exchange, passenger ticket reciprocity and operational technology mutual assistance. It shows the deep sisterly railway friendship between both sides.

After a series of maintenance and inspection by the Forestry Bureau and Ailshan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, DL-34, as the diplomatic ambassador, will bring the spirit and enthusiasm of the forestry railway onto the international stage. The agreement eventually comes true, and we precious this remarkable moment with the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway.

The locomotive exchange overcome numerous of difficulties, epidemic issues and loads of barriers. Finally, technical checks have been completed on 22 Nov. The Press Conference for setting off DL-34 to Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway took place on 23 Nov. DL-34 will depart Taiwan on 30 Nov and expected to arrive at the Port of Liverpool on the first day of 2023.

After arriving the UK, DL-34 will conduct a three-month running test and the development of tourism marketing plan for DL-34. We are expecting the commercial run in spring 2023.

出品單位 l
行政院農業委員會林務局、林務局阿里山林業鐵路及文化資產管理處

特別感謝 l
嘉義林區管處、威爾普蘭菲爾鐵路（Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway）、麥瑞禮先生（Michael Reilly）

製作單位 l
逢甲大學地理資訊研究中心

製作公司 l
英傑哆創意

影片字幕審稿主編 l
Hugo ven den Berghe