In 1934, Mantetsu developed streamline-shaped steam locomotives (for express passenger cars for South Manchuria Railways) based on its own design, meeting the trends in Europe and the United States, and for 701 km between Dalian City and Shinkyo (Xingjing) (present Changchun City), started operating the limited-express 'Asia' train, which combined a locomotive with an organization of newly-developed streamline-shaped passenger train-cars (with all of the cars air-conditioned).
1934年、満鉄は自社設計によって当時の欧米の潮流に互した流線形蒸気機関車「南満州鉄道の車両急行旅客用」を開発、これに新開発の流線形客車編成（全車冷暖房完備）を組み合わせ、大連市-新京（現・長春市）間701kmに特急「あじあ号」号を運転開始した。