LM-49

The 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).

These tramcars were utilized in Leningrad itself and some other Soviet cities such as Minsk, Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod), Novokuznetsk and Magnitogorsk.

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 risk failures from old age.

Initially LM-49s did not have a low-voltage subsystem, but one was added later for external brakes and turn light signals.

The management of the Minsk Residential community of the USSR insisted on rolling stock upgrades to more modern units.

According to the memories of Gorsky Tram-Trolleybus property leaders this was done in order to allow more Czech-made Tatra T3 trams in the city.

The longest passenger service of LM/LP-49 работали wasin Magnitogorsk — the last couple of this brand left the tram lines in 1987.

However, in Leningrad, Minsk and Gorky one LM/LP-49 train was left in each city for museum purposes.

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.