Ref.

Limited edition of

16

1968/75 Leningrad LM-68 "Aquarium" PCC (6000-series) - original livery.

In 1966-68 four articulated PCC cars called LVS-66 were built in Leningrad (St.-Petersburg) (numbered 1001-1004). They had a new very striking styling which was also adopted for new range of the single PCC cars called LM-68. First three cars of this new series were built in 1968 and were numbered 6001-6003. First car of this range (6001) had a unique body design close to the experimental LM-67 car built at the previous year, but the remaining two had the attractive styling with large side windows and roof glasses, which gives many light to the saloon, so they were called "Aquarium". The 6000-series cars were wired for multi-unit operation and had the remote controls first adopted for Leningrad trams. As all Leningrad trams started from LM-57 they had a B-3 trucks. In 1969 twenty-four more cars were built, numbered 6004-6027 and until 1975 365 cars of the 6000-series were delivered to five Leningrad's depots. First cars were sent to Depot No.1 and were used on the prestige route 3, working through city centre, and as two-car trains on new route 43 to the Kupchino outskirt. The 3-car MU trains were also introduced soon for use on the very busy route 53 connecting the city centre with north outskirts as well as on route 52 at the south-west of the city. Cars of 6000-series were delivered in new red-orange, white and light gray livery with additional gray stripe just below the windows, but it was omitted started from car 6008 early in 1969. 315 LM-68s were also built for other cities of the former Soviet Union: for Tashkent (70 cars); Magnitogorsk (61 cars); Saratov (57 cars), Gorky (55 cars); Arkhangel'sk (55 cars); Cherepovets (11 cars); Nizhni Tagil (5 cars) and Temirtau (1 car) [information via Aare Olander].
Despite these cars were so popular, more simple LM-68M cars were appeared in 1973 and starting from 1976 they replaced the 6000-series on the production line. The LM-68 cars remained in service until 1988; one car (No. 6249) was preserved.

"Stock" version represents cars 6002 and 6003 (built in 1968), they had side turn light on the under the rain gutter; first six cars (6002-6007) had gray stripe just below the windows. The handrails below the front windshield were added to first LM-68 cars in early 1970s, all remaining cars had them from the start. Cars from 6008 (without gray stipe) are also available on special request.

Scale 1:43
Available Now

Available through SPTC, INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Detail view of the model is here.

25

16-1

1968/75 Leningrad LM-68 "Aquarium" PCC (6000-series) - post'72 white/red/black livery.

Starting from November 1972 two new standard liveries were introduced for LM-68 cars: white/red/black (for cars used by depots 1, 3 and 6) and cream with blue-green striping (for depots 2 and 9).

Scale 1:43
Available Now

Available through SPTC, INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

10

16-2

1968/75 Leningrad LM-68 "Aquarium" PCC (6000-series) - post'72 cream/blue-green livery.

Starting from November 1972 two new standard liveries were introduced for LM-68 cars: white/red/black (for cars used by depots 1, 3 and 6) and cream with blue-green striping (for depots 2 and 9).

Scale 1:43
Available Now

Available through SPTC, INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

10

34

1972 Leningrad LM-68 RSH Rail Grinder Car (RSH 001-003).

The first brand new rail grinder based on LM-68 car was built in Leningrad in December 1972, fitted with modern rail grinding equipment. It was called LM-68RSH and was double-ended and had two semi-pantographs. The LM-68 lettering on the dash was replaced by the RSH (Rail Grinder in Russian) letters. Three cars were built for Leningrad (numbers 001-003), two cars were built for Kiev and Kharkov, Ukraine and one car went to Gorky. The cars were painted in regular LM-68 factory colors, later they were repainted in yellow livery with stripes and the semi-pantographs were replaced by regular Leningrad's type pantrographs. None of these rail grinders were preserved in St.-Petersburg, but RSH 005 survived in Gorky in active service, unfortunately early in 2005 it was damaged in collision with the truck and probably will be scrapped. The Kiev's LM-68 rail grinder is also survive.

Scale 1:43
Available Now

Available through SPTC, INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

This model is not a regular production item and available on Special request only.

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