Due to excessive size, the original list has been divided into separate articles, based on geographical locations.
By this standard, virtually all Japanese examples of "steam tramways" would be classified as "light railways," because none (based on the photographic record) used European-type enclosed locomotives.
In some such cases, closure was not made permanent for some time following the actual last day of public service.
Operation of some systems was interrupted for prolonged periods (one year or longer) for various reasons, including natural- or man-made catastrophe, financial difficulty or conflict between tramway undertakings and local authorities.
Goods service over town tramway systems is a potential category for a separate list.
"Suburban" municipalities have, in general, not been tabulated separately except in cases of dedicated "local" or "town" services.
A general exception to this principle is the UK, where tramways operated as separate municipal undertakings by adjacent towns are tabulated (and grouped by region).
Many suburban, rural and intercity (interurban) light railway services carried "local" passengers within various towns.
Specific to the US, it is not unknown to find examples of tramways, listed in historic documents among operating systems, that did not in fact exist.
It is also not uncommon to find picture postcards, dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, showing tramcars operating in towns where tramways did not exist.
It is believed to be unlikely, but possible, that the historic record does not include all electric town tramways that ever existed.