January–June 2000 • $10.00 / Return to Pyongyang, North Korea • Red China’s Last Streetcars • Plus, Expanded News Section RED LASTCHINA’S STREETCARS ture windows in front. They belong to the 8000 series; most have bow collectors, DALIAN but some have pantographs. The line is mostly, but not all, catenary. These brightly- Last word. (above) Dalian 8007 arrives painted cars, red and yellow or bright blue, are the newest on the system, recent at Black Stone Reef terminus. products of the local factory. The carbarn for lines 201 and 203 is at Jiefang (Liberation) Square, north of the bridge. Here, too, bemused attendants let me walk in and photograph the variety etter to ride the of equipment stored here. This barn also has a workshop, where the 2000s and 8000s cars sooner than are maintained. Its storage tracks contained a few of the old but beautifully main- Blater, since the tained 3000s, a couple of the 1000-type cars from the 1950s, and a few of the artic- future of Changchun ulated cars of the 621 series. Altogether, Dalian has about 100 cars, most of them the looks dark, lack old 3000s and the modern 2000s and 8000s (I have not been able to get up-to-date and the figures). Except for the 7000s of 1983, the other series have definitely been phased of modernization at out and most of them apparently been scrapped. This is a living, modern system Anshan does not seem which looks as if it is here to stay. an optimistic sign. Conclusion China’s streetcars are well worth the visit, but they are generally poorly known. Tourists flock to Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and the famous scenic won- ders, but few make the trip to Manchuria. During my visit, I saw other westerners only in Dalian, which is a big center for business and commerce. Changchun, though, has attractions of real interest, as do Shenyang and Harbin (even though their streetcars are long gone). Accommodation and food are no problem, but don’t expect many people to speak English. Maps which show the transit lines (in Chinese only) are usually on sale at railway stations and hotels. I found a map a necessity in Changchun, where the streetcar line is far from the center. Better to ride the cars sooner than later, since the future of Changchun looks dark, and the lack of mod- ernization at Anshan does not seem an optimistic sign. Each system is very different and has attractions of its own. In addition, Hong Kong (which is not included here since it was not part of China until 1997) has its old system with double-deck trams, as well as a new metro and light rail (see Headlights, October–December 1997, p.19–20). All in all, the streetcars can add an interesting dimension to a trip to China. | 36 headlights | january–june 2000 Table of Contents January June 2000 The Magazine of Electric Railways Published since 1939 by the Electric Railroaders’ Association, Inc. Volume 62, Number 1–6 January–June, 2000 Staff COLUMNS editor and art director Sandy Campbell News contributing authors Light rail developments from around the world highlight Headlight’s 3 NEW ORLEANS Russ Davies, Peter W. Duckett, Clive Foss, newly expanded news section. Malcolm R. Gaddis, Harold W. Geissenheimer, James N. J. Henwood, George K. Isaacs, Frank S. Miklos, Bruce Russell Book Reviews New Cars for Rebuilt and J. William Vigrass By James N. J. Henwood. Reviews of Pueblo’s Steel Town Trolleys and 14 South Shore: The Last Interurban, Revised Second Edition. Electric Railroaders’ Riverfront Line Association, Inc. FEATURES | Return to Pyongyang Officers & Directors By Clive Foss. Public transportation has made steady improvements in 16 president Frank S. Miklos the last two years, writer/photographer Clive Foss discovers on his second first vice president visit to the secretive North Korean capital. Arthur J. Lonto second vice president; corresponding secretary Red China’s Last Streetcars Neil Wotherspoon By Clive Foss. The once extensive systems of Beijing and Shanghai are 24 third vice president; recording secretary long gone. Only in Manchuria, where Soviet influence has always been William K. Guild strongest, can China’s three surviving systems be found. director Edward Crew, Jr. treasurer; trip & conv. chairman; librarian ON THE COVER Richard C. Evans Pyongyang, North Korea. Narrow gauge ex-Zurich cars 111/211 entering Jonsung station on membership secretary the line built to serve the Great Leader’s mausoleum. clive foss Lewis Hitch Anshan, China. (below) Anshan 1012, one of the fleet’s workhorses, running at speed in the National Headquarters Grand Central Terminal, New York City right-of-way next to the steel mill. clive foss Mailing Address P.O. Box 3323, Grand Central Station jack may New York, NY 10163-3323 New Orleans’ venerable Perley By Frank Miklos incorporate windows that closely resemble E-Mail Thomas-built streetcars still pro- [email protected] the other side windows in the car to protect vide dependable electric service ew cars patterned after the ones on the basic Perley Thomas design. The interior Subscriptions on the oldest continuously- the St. Charles line have replaced seating arrangement is modified to accom- Headlights is sent free to members of the ERA. operated rail transit line in the the original rolling stock on the Applications for ERA membership N modate wheelchairs. All seats are of tradi- are supplied upon request. United States. No. 969, rebuilt Riverfront line. When the line was first tional wooden slat construction. Changes of Address several times since being con- opened, a makeshift fleet was assembled. It Send address changes to the ERA along with structed in 1927, is shown in the included some Perley Thomas cars built for Riverfront Line Rebuilt in 1998 an old address label from a recent issue. city’s Garden District, operating New Orleans that were reacquired from The Riverfront line was built for standard Correspondence inbound on St. Charles Avenue. museums, along with some W-2 cars from All inquiries regarding the activities of the ERA should gauge service on industrial trackage along be directed to our New York headquarters. This once lush carpet of green Melbourne, Australia. the Mississippi and was rushed to comple- grass on the center reservation tion in time for the 1988 Republican Contributions of St. Charles and Carrollton The new Riverfront streetcars were con- Send all items for publication in Headlights Convention. The single track operation to the editor. Manuscripts should be submitted Avenues is now shared with structed at the Carrollton shops and are proved so popular that passing sidings on diskette, e-mailed to [email protected], joggers, who dodge the frequent equipped with PCC trucks and controls from were replaced with double track along its or typewritten. Photos, illustrations streetcars and tear up the lawn CKD-Tatra (originally, rebuilt trucks and con- and maps are needed as well. Please send original entire length. The line was completely shut negatives or slides when possible and with their running shoes. trols from SEPTA PCCs were to be used). The down in the fall of 1998 and was rebuilt include descriptions for each image along cars sport the red paint scheme that was with broad gauge track to be compatible with your name and address. applied to the standard gauge cars they dis- with the St. Charles line. Tracks were rein- © 2000 electric railroaders’ assoc., inc. placed. Extra doors for wheelchair lifts were stalled on Canal Street to provide a con- all rights reserved. 2/5/01 installed in place of the third and fourth win- nection to the Carrollton depot. dows on each side of the car. These doors 2 headlights | january–june 2000 headlights | january–june 2000 3 Table of Contents January June 2000 The Magazine of Electric Railways Published since 1939 by the Electric Railroaders’ Association, Inc. Volume 62, Number 1–6 January–June, 2000 Staff COLUMNS editor and art director Sandy Campbell News contributing authors Light rail developments from around the world highlight Headlight’s 3 NEW ORLEANS Russ Davies, Peter W. Duckett, Clive Foss, newly expanded news section. Malcolm R. Gaddis, Harold W. Geissenheimer, James N. J. Henwood, George K. Isaacs, Frank S. Miklos, Bruce Russell Book Reviews New Cars for Rebuilt and J. William Vigrass By James N. J. Henwood. Reviews of Pueblo’s Steel Town Trolleys and 14 South Shore: The Last Interurban, Revised Second Edition. Electric Railroaders’ Riverfront Line Association, Inc. FEATURES | Return to Pyongyang Officers & Directors By Clive Foss. Public transportation has made steady improvements in 16 president Frank S. Miklos the last two years, writer/photographer Clive Foss discovers on his second first vice president visit to the secretive North Korean capital. Arthur J. Lonto second vice president; corresponding secretary Red China’s Last Streetcars Neil Wotherspoon By Clive Foss. The once extensive systems of Beijing and Shanghai are 24 third vice president; recording secretary long gone. Only in Manchuria, where Soviet influence has always been William K. Guild strongest, can China’s three surviving systems be found. director Edward Crew, Jr. treasurer; trip & conv. chairman; librarian ON THE COVER Richard C. Evans Pyongyang, North Korea. Narrow gauge ex-Zurich cars 111/211 entering Jonsung station on membership secretary the line built to serve the Great Leader’s mausoleum. clive foss Lewis Hitch Anshan, China. (below) Anshan 1012, one of the fleet’s workhorses, running at speed in the National Headquarters Grand Central Terminal, New York City right-of-way next to the steel mill. clive foss Mailing Address P.O. Box 3323, Grand Central Station jack may New York, NY 10163-3323 New Orleans’ venerable Perley By Frank Miklos incorporate windows that closely resemble E-Mail Thomas-built streetcars still pro- [email protected] the other side windows in the car to protect vide dependable electric service ew cars patterned after the ones on the basic Perley Thomas design.