Traditional steam locomotive restorer Cheng Wan-ching (鄭萬經) passed away on Mar. 25 at the age of 98. Culture Minister Shih Che expressed his sincerest condolences upon hearing this news. He praised Cheng as a living encyclopedia in his field, highlighting his relentless dedication to the restoration of steam locomotives, even after retirement.
Born in Miaoli County in 1927, Cheng began his career in locomotive maintenance at the Taipei Railway Workshop in 1944. With training across various departments, he developed a solid expertise, eventually rising to the position of vice director before retiring in 1992.
Cheng returned to the workshop in 1997 at the age of 73 to advise on the CK101 steam locomotive restoration project. Upon its completion seven months later, he continued to impart his experience as an educator.
The Ministry of Culture has announced plans to honor Cheng’s legacy by transforming his former office within the Preparatory Office of the National Railway Museum into an exhibition space to showcase his invaluable collections. Additionally, the ministry will launch a publication project to make the oral history materials that Cheng collected during his tenure in the workshop available to the public.