A Julong buson Line 85, which ran from Dongchang Road to Jinqiao Road in the Pudong New Area, retires from service on Monday morning.

The city’s last articulated diesel bus took its final trip inLujiazuion Monday morning.

ThreeJulongbuses on Line 85, which ran fromDongchangRoad to Jinqiao Road in the Pudong New Area, were the last batch of diesel-powered articulated buses.

Julong (giant dragon) buses first appeared in 1970s Shanghai. At their peak, nearly half of the buses in the city popular with commuters were the articulated type.

In 2008,YanggaoBus Group introduced 10new Julong models to meet the demand inLujiazuiandJinqiaoand prepare for the 2010 World Expo.

The 18-meter-long vehicle could take more than 200 passengers and travel its 13-kilometer route in 40 minutes.

The final days ofthe Julongbus were the result of several factors that included age, a preference for smaller models and the trend fornew-energy vehicles.

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE

A boy takes a selfie inside the Julong bus.

According to a Pudong Bus Group blueprint, it is estimated that by the end of the year, buses of 10 to 14 meters in length will make up more than 70 percent of the total number.

The Julongbuses on Line 85 will be replaced by electric vehicles. Currently, an electric bus on Route 71 is the only articulated bus in the city.

TangFulin, who has driven a Line 85Julongbus for 12 years, recalled the first time he put his hands on the steering wheel on April 28 in 2008.

“It is one of the most meaningful days in my life. I still remember how proud I was to be able to drive the newest type of bus with leading equipment. We drivers also tried our best to do the daily maintenance and cleaning.”

A residentsurnamedLiao, who was one of the passengers on aJulongbus on its debut, said: “We were so thrilled on that day and took a lot of photos. Those were our younger days. How time flies!”

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE

A conductor on the lastJulong bus

Many people felt attached toabus which had accompanied them for years.

Quan, an 18-year-old student, remembered the days he took the bus with his grandmother.

“My grandma used to work for the tramcar factory. She has a deep affection for buses. We started to takeJulongbuses very often when I was 6.

Another passenger recalled: “I remembered always wanting to sit in the middle of the bus, so I could see the ground through the gap between the compartments. It was so much fun for a child but my mum always detested that for safety concerns.”

Auto fan Niu said: “This is the end of an era for articulated buses in Shanghai, as they have all evolved intoNEVs. Today is a huge day.”

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE

A passenger takes a photo of his ticket in front of the Julong bus.