Wuppertal Schwebebahn begins public service

On July 31, 1900, the Wuppertal Schwebebahn commenced operations between Oberbarmen and the zoo, introducing the world's first electric suspended monorail system. Designed by Eugen Langen, the 13.3 km line solved steep valley topography by hanging cars from an overhead track. It carried over 20,000 passengers on opening day and has operated continuously since, surviving wars and modernization. The system remains an icon of German engineering, influencing later people-mover designs and serving as a model for urban transit in constrained spaces.