The trains of the Alishan Forest Railway are steam powered. Before each train leaves the station, the braking system, located between the engine and each of the carriages, must be connected by opening valves. This allows pressure to build, which supplies power to the braking system of each carriage.
原來，阿里山森林火車頭為蒸汽式，每次發車前，都必須把車頭和車廂間的軔汽缸接上、再打開角旋塞，讓氣壓在軔汽管內貫通，如此才能驅動各節車廂的煞車系統。