Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: CER bụ ọrụ China na Russia jikọtara ọnụ, na mgbe agha Russia na Japan gasịrị, ndị Japan weghaara akụkụ ndịda nke CER, na-akpụzi ụzọ ụgbọ okporo ígwè South Manchuria, ebe akụkụ ndịda ka nọ n'okpuru nchịkwa Sino-Russian. Mgbe mgbanwe nke Ọktoba gasịrị, ndị ọcha Russia na-achịkwa ụgbọ okporo ígwè ahụ ruo oge ụfọdụ n'oge Agha Obodo Russia, mana site na 1917 gọọmentị nke Republic of China malitere ịchịkwa ụgbọ okporo ígwè ahụ n'onwe ya, ruo mgbe 1922 ka e mere ka CER bụrụ ụlọ ọrụ gọọmentị China-Soviet. Otú ọ dị, na 1929, ndị China weghaara ikike zuru ezu nke CER, na-awakpo ndị nnọchianya nke Soviet na Harbin ma jide ndị isi nke CER. Nke a dugara na
Esemokwu Sino-Soviet nke 1929, nke ndị Soviet meriri ndị agha China ngwa ngwa ma manye ndị China ịnakwere njikwa nke okporo ụzọ ọzọ. Mgbe ihe mere na Mukden, ndị Soviet nọgidere na-achịkwa okporo ụzọ ahụ n'agbanyeghị na ndị Japan na-arụ ọrụ n'ebe ugwu ọwụwa anyanwụ China; mgbe e guzobere Manchukuo na 1932, CER ghọrọ ụlọ ọrụ Soviet-Manchukuo jikọtara ọnụ nke a na-akpọ "North Manchuria Railway". Na Machị 1935, gọọmentị Manchukuo zụtara òkè Soviet nke NMR maka 140 nde yen, na netwọkụ niile nke Manchukuo National Railway weghaara.