Trams in Dalian

Trams in Dalian have been operating continuously since 1909 making them one of the oldest tram systems still in use in China. There were once eleven routes in operation in Dalian in the Northeast China. Only two routes remain in use today. Notably, all of the staff on Dalian's tram system are female, i.e. – driver, conductor, points man — even the depot manager. The tram system was the only rail network in the city, until Dalian Metro opened in 2003; the Metro has a large ridership.

Trams in Dalian have a long history, stretching as far back as the late Qing Dynasty. On 25 September 1909, the South Manchuria Railway opened the first tram line for testing in Dalian. The city at that time was under Japanese occupation. This was the first example of public transportation in the city, making Dalian one of the earliest Chinese cities to have a public transport service. The original tram line ran from the Electrical Garden (present-day Eton Center) to Tai Pier (now known as Harbour Bridge) via Taisho Road (present-day Zhongshan and Renmin Roads). It spanned 2.45 kilometers. There were thirty Type-11 tram cars in service at that time. The body of the Type-11 tram car was manufactured by Preston works in the United States whereas its chassis was manufactured by Montien Gibson Manufacturing in the United Kingdom. Its electrical parts were manufactured in Germany. This type of tram car was built with a wooden body and two motorman's seats. It could carry 72 passengers per car in normal use and up to 145 at maximum capacity. At that time the Type-11 tram car was commonly known as the, "American large wooden cages." Later, new tram lines were added and two tram yards were built next to Minzhu Square and Jiefang Square. By 1945, a total of 11 tram routes, three premises, and two repair workshops were in operation.

In 1945, the Soviet Union Red Army defeated Japanese forces located in Manchuria and occupied Dalian in the last scene of World War II. On 1 April 1946, the Soviet Union Red Army requisitioned the Dalian Trams from the Dalian Urban Transport Co., Ltd., which was a subsidiary of the South Manchuria Railway, taking the responsibility of transport business in the Dalian area, and transformed the Dalian transport service into the Dalian City transport company.

...
Wikipedia