Dai Hua Station, Ping Si Branch

若要說平溪線最美的一段，莫過於三貂嶺至大華站了。這短短的3.6公里，卻行經了五個隧道，火車穿梭其中，忽明忽暗，時而緊挨著岩壁，時而穿過高懸的鐵橋，讓人讚嘆連連、驚豔萬分。

註：美麗的沿線風景，得親自坐上火車才能一探究竟哦！

The most beautiful scenery of Ping Si Line is from San Diao Ling to Dai Hua Station. Within less than 3.6 Kilometers, the train passes through five tunnels. From the brightness to the darkness and from the cliff to the iron bridge, passengers are impressed by the stunning scenery.

PS: The best is to get on board to experience the stunning scenery yourself.

初抵大華站的旅客，肯定會一臉驚訝，看起來十戶不到的地區，怎麼會需要設立一個停靠站呢？原來，這裡的上方是昔日的煤礦採集區，為了運煤的需要，而設立了大華站。煤礦停產後，人們逐漸搬離這裡，目前僅存十戶不到的人口。

Passengers may wonder why Dai Hua station is situated in an area with less than 10 residences. This place was in a coal mining area. Dai Hua station was set up for transporting the coal. Mining was halted and people gradually moved out leaving behind only less than 10 residences now.

民國三十八年設立的大華站，在不敷成本的情況下，於民國八十三年改成無站務員的招呼站。原本月台兩側都設有火車軌道，以供列車交會使用，在大華站降為招呼站後而拆除，僅留一條軌道通行。

Dai Hua Station was built in 1949. Due to the budget deficit, this station was changed to a non-host station in 1994. Originally this station has rail tracks on both sides of the platform to let the trains intersect. Since it has become a non- host station, only one track is left.

廢棄的大華車站

The abandoned Dai Hua Station.

在大華站停留的旅客，大多是為了造訪大華壺穴而來。據大華站步行約二十分鐘的大華壺穴自然保護區，是基隆河段最知名、也是規模最大的壺穴景觀。

Visitors come here are to visit Dai Hua Pothole. About 20 minutes walk from the station; Dai Hua Pothole Nature Reserve is the most famous and largest pothole landscapes along the Keelung River.

沿著指標抵達第一個隧道口時，旁邊有條石階小徑可下行至基隆河谷，那裡就是著名的大華壺穴景觀。

Follow the sign; a small stone path next to the first tunnel could lead you to the Keelung River Valley and arrive at the famous Dai Hua Pothole Landscape.

石階中途有一個小平台，平台上建有兩座半身紀念銅像，基座上刻著「捨生取義、義行可風」的字樣。當年有三位高中生在此戲水，其中一位不小心溺水，而另外兩位奮勇下水救人，卻不幸同遭滅頂。這個紀念銅像就是為了感念這兩位高中生的義行而設立的。

註：這裡的溪流湍急，水深不見底，為了安全，千萬不要在此戲水。

Half way on the steps, a statue monument was built on a small platform. It has engraved words of “Sacrifice for justice, righteous behavior to lead”. This monument was built to memorize two high school students who sacrificed their lives to save their friend. Three of them were playing in the water, one was drowned by accident, two of them tried to save their friend; unfortunately they also drowned in the water.

PS: Due to the rapid water, water playing is not allowed here.

壺穴是指岩層在急流的沖擊、漩流及侵蝕下，所形成的圓形凹洞。壺穴形成的原因是由於地質岩層結構硬度不同，經夾帶石礫的河水沖刷、轉動及長期的鑽蝕下，較脆弱的岩層被侵蝕而產生大大小小的坑洞。

Because the rapid and swirling water which have eroded stones, potholes were formed. The hardness of the stratum structure varied. After a long time river washing of gravel, rotating and eroding of the drill, the stratum has been eroded and become large and small holes.

壺穴的形狀除了正圓形外，尚有橢圓形、葫蘆形及卵形等等，而且有的洞中有洞，甚至洞洞相連形成凹槽。藉由這些不同的形狀，可以推斷壺穴形成的年齡，從單純凹洞，到相連成為聯合壺穴，再貫穿成一道凹槽，最後形成島狀岩塊。

There are different shapes of potholes, such as round shape, oval shape, bottle gourd shape, and egg shape. There are also holes inside the holes which have formed a groove. The age can also be recognized through the different shapes. From a single hole to holes that are connected and continuing to a groove, they finally become a rock block.

河的對面，有條沿著岩壁修築的步道，這裡連接著數條古道，可以通往猴硐或三貂嶺。

Across the river, a trail by the cliff could take you to Hou Dong or San Diao Ling.

欣賞完壺穴，再沿著鐵路步行返回車站。 大華車站的腹地小，居民很少，遊客更是不多，在這裡停留，可以享受一段很舒服安靜的時光。

After seeing the potholes, return to the station along the railway. Dai Hua station is small with very few residents and visitors. Come here and you may enjoy a quiet day.

台鐵有提供一日票，可無限次數搭乘平溪支線，只要查好火車班次，就可以好好的走訪各站囉！

Day passes are provided by the Taiwan Railway Administration for the Ping Si branch. Passengers can ride the train unlimited within a day. Just check the train schedule; you can visit all the stations.

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