"The TRA has continuously cut back its parts manufacturing and maintenance. Now, most parts are imported. The youngsters don't understand the steam locomotives well enough, so the department had no choice but to rely on us old men." But Cheng says that if Taiwan is to continue to preserve these old engines, their knowledge must be passed on.
「鐵路局的機械製造與維修一直在縮編，目前維修零件多仰賴進口，年輕一輩對蒸氣火車機械構造也不夠瞭解，所以部門要維修蒸氣機車就非靠我們這些老頭子不可了」，他說，但想要長久保存過去的老舊火車機械，技術非得薪傳不可。