嘉義新港地區歷經日治及戰後時期，在近百年的歲月中，先後出現過手 押臺車、糖鐵等不同路線的輕便鐵道，其中最早設立乃是由打北軌道春龍公 司，所成立的打北輕鐵線（打貓――北港），後因北港製糖株式會社糖鐵嘉 義線的開通營運，以致打北輕鐵線的沒落。 其後由新港街軌道公司成立洪炳線手押臺車，藉以聯繫新港車站和奉天 宮媽祖廟之間的進香人潮、貨物運輸。但是此路線亦受新高製糖株式會社糖 鐵新港線，不斷的延伸和調整所影響，以致於曇花一現僅短短數年便戛然而 止。 爾後僅剩的嘉義線、新港線二條糖鐵，乃成了日治時期新港主要的交通 網絡，戰後初期至民國五十年代是糖鐵營運最為風光時刻，尤其是嘉義線所 推出的成功號對號快車，更堪稱是全台首屈一指。此後因臺灣經濟起飛交通 發達加上國際糖價低迷，糖廠營運更加艱辛而停擺，糖業鐵道亦跟隨沉寂於 歷史舞台之中，漸為世人所淡忘，曾經風光的沿線更顯得荒煙蔓蔓。 直至1998 年，新港鄉宮前村村長開始號召村民，共同整理美化新港 車站周遭，隨後在新港文教基金會及政府補助的支援下進行環境改造，於 2001 年成立了全國第一座「鐵道公園」。 適逢「新港鐵道公園」成立二十週年之際，特撰此文緬懷過往鐵道風華 史，相信只要這一代人的記憶不曾消失，馳騁的軌道依然存在，總有一天「火 車會轉來」！

In the Chiayi Xingang area, after the Japanese Occupation and the Republic of China for nearly a hundred years, there have been different routes of light railroads, such as hand trolleys and sugar railways. The routes, the exact locations of the stations, and the specific existing span of them have been dictated over the years, but there is no agreement. According to the field survey, the first light rail line in this area was the Dabei Light Rail Line set up by Chunlong Company. It was founded due to the opening of the Longitudinal Railway to connect the traffic between Damao and Beigang. Later, owing to the operation of Jiabei Line by Beingan Sugar Corporation, some of the two routes overlapped, resulting in a such a competitive situation that the Dabei Light Rail Line declined and was acquired by Xingao Sugar Corporation. After that, in order to connect crowds of the pilgrims and cargo transportation between the Xingang station of Beigang Sugar Corporation and Fengtiangong Mazu Temple, Hong Bing set up the Xingang Street Line, hand trolleys to meet this demand. However, this operating route was also affected by the constant extension and adjustment of the Xingang business line established by the Xingao Sugar Corporation, so that it came to an abrupt end in just a few short years. Later, the only remaining two sugar railways became the main transportation network of Xingang during the Japanese Occupation. From the early days of Taiwan’s recovery to the 1960s, it was the most thriving time for sugar railroads. In particular, the Chenggong Express train launched on the Jiabei Line was said to be second to none in Taiwan. Since then, on account of Taiwan’s economic take-off, developed traffic and low international sugar prices, the operation of sugar factories has become more difficult and closed. Sugar railways have also become the past history, gradually forgotten by the world, and the once prosperous route has turned even more barren. It was not until 1998 that the village head of Gongqian Village, Xingang Township, began to call on the villagers to jointly organize and beautify the surrounding area of Xingang station. Subsequently, with the support of the Xingang Cultural and Educational Foundation and government subsidies, environmental reconstruction could be smoothly carried out. The first "railway park" in the country was set up in 2000.

新港鐵道公園；新港文教基金會；打北輕鐵；東洋製糖嘉義線；新 高製糖新港線

Xingang Railway Park；Xingang Cultural and Educational Foundation；Dabei Light Rail Line；Dongyang Sugar- Chiayi Line；Xingao Sugar-Xingang Line