The line was put into service on 1 April 1906, well before the official opening date of 28 April.
This short 2,200 m (110-chain) route, opened solely for passenger traffic, traced a rectangle between the Trianon roundabout and the racecourse, the 600 mm (1 ft 11 ⁵⁄₈ in) narrow gauge rails being established beside the Rue d’Elbeuf between the trees lining the road and the fences separating adjacent land (much of which was owned by Hulin).
Service was provided by two 24 hp (18 kW) diesel-electric locomotives, built by the Turgan workshops, each with room for 16 people, and the fuel depot was  sited near to the racecourse.
The service was particularly frequent: thirty journeys each way per day.
The entire line took 10 minutes to traverse at a maximum speed of 25 km/h (16 mph).

The first months' service did not meet Hulin's expectations; passenger numbers were much lower than expected, the coefficient of use was catastrophic: 0.39.
In 1906 a law was passed instituting a weekly day of rest, so it was decided, from 12 January 1907, to extend the line 800 m (40 chains) to the Madrillet roundabout at the edge of the Rouvray Forest, which was popular for Sunday walks.
This 3,000 m (150-chain) double-track extension was inaugurated on 27 August 1907.
The same year, diesel-electric locomotives (whose "terrible noise" frightened the horses, to the chagrin of their owners) were replaced by electromotive traction.
Two Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0T steam locomotives headed two open carriages each taking 16 passengers.
Their chimneys were fitted with spark arresters to prevent forest fires around Rouvray.
The line was put into service on 1 April 1906, well before the official opening date of 28 April. This short 2,200 m (110-chain) route, opened solely for passenger traffic, traced a rectangle between the Trianon roundabout and the racecourse, the 600 mm (1 ft 11 ⁵⁄₈ in) narrow gauge rails being established beside the Rue d’Elbeuf between the trees lining the road and the fences separating adjacent land (much of which was owned by Hulin). Service was provided by two 24 hp (18 kW) diesel-electric locomotives, built by the Turgan workshops, each with room for 16 people, and the fuel depot was  sited near to the racecourse. The service was particularly frequent: thirty journeys each way per day. The entire line took 10 minutes to traverse at a maximum speed of 25 km/h (16 mph).
The first months' service did not meet Hulin's expectations; passenger numbers were much lower than expected, the coefficient of use was catastrophic: 0.39. In 1906 a law was passed instituting a weekly day of rest, so it was decided, from 12 January 1907, to extend the line 800 m (40 chains) to the Madrillet roundabout at the edge of the Rouvray Forest, which was popular for Sunday walks. This 3,000 m (150-chain) double-track extension was inaugurated on 27 August 1907. The same year, diesel-electric locomotives (whose "terrible noise" frightened the horses, to the chagrin of their owners) were replaced by electromotive traction. Two Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0T steam locomotives headed two open carriages each taking 16 passengers. Their chimneys were fitted with spark arresters to prevent forest fires around Rouvray.
Trams in Rouen