日治時期「嘉義驛」相關鐵道遺構的考古發掘與研究

Archaeological Excavation and Research of Remaining Railway Infrastructure of Chiayi Station From the Japanese Colonial Period

嘉義車站因進行「嘉義市區鐵路高架化計畫」興建過程中，陸續出土包括轉車臺、碎磚混凝土軌道、碎磚混凝土與紅磚堆疊等建築遺構。經進行考古發掘與相關歷史文獻分析，認為其中轉車臺為1908年建造之遺構，約當使用至1933年（昭和八年）新式扇形機關車庫完工後即遭廢棄，為目前全臺保留最早的一座縱貫線鐵道轉車臺。而其他二座建築遺構，包括「碎磚混凝土建築遺構」與「紅磚塊堆疊建築遺構」，則可能是1908年前後興建的機關車庫與維修廠，唯其中之「紅磚塊堆疊建築遺構」之建材與形式，均與其他遺構明顯不同，不排除可能是1913–1914年嘉義驛進行改建工程修建的結果；至於「碎磚混凝土軌道遺構」判斷應為同時期興建連通轉車臺至機關車庫一帶的軌道基礎遺構，其建造時間推斷至少在1908年前後，但也不排除可能早至1902年嘉義驛通車時即已存在。而根據以上日治時期鐵道遺構的興建歷程，可以將日治時期嘉義驛的發展區分為以下三個階段：一、縱貫鐵路的通車因應（1902–1908年）；二、糖鐵鐵道的串連因應（1909–1930年）；三、新式機關車引入之因應（1931–1994年）。而其中轉車臺遺構因具重要歷史與文化資產價值，嘉義市政府將其指定為市定古蹟，包含原已指定之車站建築本體與第一月臺，使得嘉義車站因此保留包括1902年嘉義站通車以來至1908年，及1930年代改建之重要建物。

During the execution of the Elevated Railway Project at the Urban Area of Chiayi, elements of historical railway infrastructure were unearthed at Chiayi Station, including the remains of a turntable, a stretch of brickbat concrete track bed, and a spread footing made of brickbat concrete, gravel, and stacked bricks. Archaeological excavation and analysis of relevant historical documents indicated that the turntable was constructed in 1908 and fell into disuse in approximately 1933 following the completion of a new fan-shaped roundhouse. This turntable is the oldest preserved railway turntable situated on the Western Trunk Line in Taiwan. The other two structural remains, namely the brickbat concrete track bed and the spread footing, are believed to be the remains of a locomotive shed and a maintenance workshop constructed around 1908, respectively. However, the materials and construction methods of the spread footing differ considerably from those of the other remains, suggesting that it might have been rebuilt during the renovation of Chiayi Station between 1913 and 1914. The brickbat concrete track bed could be the foundational remains of tracks connecting the turntable to the locomotive shed and was likely constructed around 1908, although it might also date back to the opening of Chiayi Station in 1902. Based on the construction history of these railway remains, the development of Chiayi Station during the Japanese colonial period can be divided into three stages: 1. response to the opening of the Western Trunk Line (1902–1908), 2. response to the need of connecting the Taiwan Sugar Railways (1909–1930), and 3. response to the introduction of new locomotives (1931–1994). The turntable is designated as a municipal monument by Chiayi City Government given its significant historical and cultural heritage value. Together with both the station building and first platform that have already been designated as municipal monuments earlier, this designation ensures the preservation of important structures dating from the opening of Chiayi Station in 1902 as well as those constructed during its renovations in the 1930s.