Taiwan Railways' entire fleet: Royal Family Special Car, Presidential Float

Taiwan Railways' entire fleet: Royal Family Special Car, Presidential Float

Synopsis:
All TRA Rolling Stock — The Royal Special Train and the Presidential Parade Car is a comprehensive monograph that delves into the most symbolically significant special railcars in Taiwan’s railway history. Spanning from the Japanese colonial era to the postwar and contemporary periods, the book offers a detailed analysis of royal coaches and presidential parade trains—their development, operation records, and vehicle specifications. More than a study of railway engineering, this work stands as a valuable archive of Taiwan’s transportation history and a testament to the intersection of politics and culture.
Structured into eight chapters, the book begins with a historical overview.

Chapter 1: “Origins of Parade Cars” traces the beginnings of royal and special trains, from the early rail vehicles of the Qing era, to the imperial coaches and Goshō Trains (御召列車) of the Japanese period, and finally to the postwar transformation of parade cars into presidential trains. It also documents the preservation status of various special vehicles, including forestry railway VIP coaches and narrow-gauge parade cars on the Taitung Line.

Chapter 2: “A History of Japan’s Imperial Trains” examines the evolution of Japan’s Goshō Trains in detail—from the birth of the first imperial carriages to the grand trains used for the Shōwa enthronement ceremonies, and onward to the new generation of imperial vehicles after World War II. Each car’s design philosophy, ceremonial context, and historical background are meticulously recorded, providing an essential comparative foundation for understanding Taiwan’s royal trains.

Chapters 3 and 4 bring the focus back to Taiwan, exploring the actual operations of Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) special passenger cars and Goshō Trains used during visits by members of the Japanese imperial family. Through documentation of grand through-train ceremonies along the north–south mainline, detailed itineraries of imperial journeys in Taiwan, and in-depth coverage of locomotive assignments, car formations, and interior layouts, readers can vividly grasp the sense of ceremony and symbolism embodied by these trains.
In the postwar era, parade cars entered a new political stage.

Chapter 5: “Presidential Trains and Postwar Operations” records the reconstruction of TRA under U.S. aid, the use of the air-conditioned steel-bodied parade car SA32820 by President Chiang Kai-shek, and the story of President Lee Teng-hui’s around-the-island train tour. This section illustrates how the parade car evolved into a symbolic moving space that carried the footsteps of Taiwan’s heads of state.

Chapters 6 and 7 present an in-depth technical and aesthetic analysis of two classic parade cars—SA4102 and SA4101. From engineering drawings and body structures to exterior liveries and intricate interiors, every element—from torpedo ventilators and imperial crests to VIP doors, murals, and stained-glass decorations—is described in detail. These chapters showcase not only craftsmanship and design, but also allow readers to “step inside” the cars, experiencing the spatial planning and ceremonial functions of these exclusive trains.

Chapter 8 centers on the air-conditioned steel parade car SA32820, tracing its historical lineage and recounting the “Journey to Hualien and Taitung with the President.” Accompanied by detailed analyses of interior layouts and spatial configurations, this chapter highlights the car’s enduring vitality and adaptive reuse through different political eras.
Richly interwoven with historical materials, operation records, technical analyses, and rare photographs, this volume serves not only as a reference for the study of Taiwan’s railway and transport culture but also as a vital archival record of royal and presidential vehicles. All TRA Rolling Stock — The Royal Special Train and the Presidential Parade Car combines rigorous historical research with humanistic storytelling, guiding readers across a century of railway history to witness the flowing memories of a nation along its iron tracks.