BK24蒸汽機關車的歷史及其文化資產價值

The History and Heritage Values of Steam Locomotive BK24

BK24蒸汽機關車曾是國立成功大學交通管理學系的教具之一，既有研究曾說明這輛車是臺灣現存第三老的機關車，自1905年引入臺灣，由日本第一家民營機關車製造公司大阪汽車製造合資會社製造。而同形車（BK10形，戰前稱為B33形及18形）就是臺灣總督府鐵道部（以下簡稱鐵道部）成立之後第一批購車，這輛車是同形車唯一僅存的1輛。不過因既有發表文章相對缺乏說明其論證BK24身世及歷史發展的史料依據，且若如同既有研究所述，BK24的同形車是鐵道部成立之後第一批購入的車輛，究竟該形機關車有何特點，而成為鐵道部之購車首選。又車輛引進臺灣之後，相關歷史發展為何，為本研究主要論述、討論之重點。透過文獻回顧及機關車本體調查，可確認BK24就是那輛1905年引進的鐵道部第32號機關車，但應在1930年代由鐵道部自行改裝過側水箱及砂箱，成為目前所見樣貌。最初由英國生產的同形車因機械構造可相對靈活地通過曲線，1887年左右起曾大量進口至日本，亦成為日本在19世紀末葉發展機關車製造工業之首選範本。由於臺灣地形與日本相近，同形車便成為鐵道部成立以後縱貫鐵路興建期間的主力車輛。是臺灣少數僅存的蒸汽機關車中，相當重要的1輛。

The steam locomotive BK24 was formerly one of the teaching aids used by the Department of Transportation and Communication Management of National Cheng Kung University. It was introduced to Taiwan in 1905, manufactured by the Kisha Seizo Kwaisha, Osaka, is the third oldest locomotive in existence in Taiwan. BK24 is the only remaining locomotive of the Class BK10 design (also known as Class B33 and Class18 before the World War II) which were the first batch of locomotives purchased after the establishment of the Ministry of Railways of the Governor’s Office in Taiwan (hereinafter referred to as the TRA) in 1899. However, this study argues that more evidence should be needed to authenticate the history of BK24. Moreover, if as previous studies described, the class BK10 was the first batch of locomotives purchased in the 1900s, what were the characteristics of the locomotives have that made them became the first choice for TRA? Furthermore, after the introduction of the locomotives into Taiwan, what were the relevant historical developments? Through an investigation of the design of BK24 and a thorough review of relevant documents it can be confirmed that BK24 is the No. 32 locomotive introduced by the Ministry of Railways in 1905, but the side water tank and sand box were refitted by the TRA in the 1930s to give the current appearance. The similar design of locomotive was originally produced by the United Kingdom and had a mechanical structure that allowed them to pass through tight curves relatively easily. After 1887 they were imported into Japan in large quantities and become the preferred model when Japan developed its locomotive manufacturing industry at the end of the 19th century. Because the terrain in Taiwan is similar to that of Japan, these homomorphic locomotives, including BK24, became the main design throughout the railway construction project at the beginning of the Japanese colonial period. Therefore, it can be identified as one of the significant steam locomotives among the few remaining in Taiwan.