LM-49

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Museum LM-49 tramcar in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

The LM-49 (Russian ЛМ-49) is the Soviet motor four-axle tramcar. First prototype of this vehicle was built in 1949 (hence the 49 in the name) at the Leningrad Wagon Repair Plant (VARZ, ВАРЗ, Ленинградский Вагоноремонтный Завод - Russian abbreviature and full name). "LM" means Leningrad Motor tramcar. These tramcars were utilized in Leningrad itself and some other Soviet cities such as Minsk, Gorky (now Nizhniy Novgorod), Novokuznetsk and Magnitogorsk. VARZ produced in total 287 LM-49s for Leningrad and 113 for other cities.

Inhabitants of Leningrad nicknamed LM-49 as "Elephant". Usually LM-49 worked in pair with unmotored trailed wagon LP-49 (ЛП-49). The mass production of LM-49 ceased in 1960 when they were replaced by next model of VARZ, LM-57. The last LM-49s were withdrawn from city service in 1982-83. In general, Soviet tram drivers and repairmen regarded the LM-49 as a very durable and reliable tramcar. The withdrawal was carried out due to centralized pressure to renew Soviet trams rather than failures from old age. Many LM-49s were still operable when scrapped.

Museum Nizhny Novgorod LM-49 tramcar interior

Museum Nizhny Novgorod LM-49 controller unit

Museum Nizhny Novgorod LM-49 driver's cabin

1 Technical Details
2 Survivors
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Technical Details

The LM-49 is a broad gauge (1524 mm or 60 inch) high-floor, four-axle tramcar. It's full-metal hull is mounted on a massive steel carriage with two double-axle boggies. The hull has three wide doors, which have pneumatic gears for opening and closing. The main brake system is also pneumatic. The LM-49 is equipped with four 55 kW electric motors and is able to reach a top speed of 55 km/h. It utilizes a direct, mechanical control of electric current to motors. Initially LM-49s did not have a low-voltage subsystem, but this was added later for external brakes and turn light signals. The vehicle has 35 seats and is able to transport nearly 200 passengers at full capacity. The three main dimensions of LM-49 is 15000 mm length, 2550 mm width and 3085 mm height, overall weight without passengers is 19.5 metric tons.

[edit] Survivors

Three LM-49 survived to this day. One LM-49 train and LP-49 trailer is an operational piece of St Petersburg tram collection. The Nizhny Novgorod tram & trolley Museum has another single operational LM-49. These LM-49 tramcars can be hired by foreign tourists for city excursion. A group of tramway enthusiasts from many cities in Russia, with guests from Estonia and United States, hired the Nizhny Novgorod Museum LM-49 for their meeting in 2004. The third non-operable LM-49 is kept in Minsk, Belarus as a memorial for city tramworkers.