MTV-82 (russian: МТВ-82, with russian: МТВ, label=none standing for russian: Московский ТрамВай, Moskovskij TramVaj, Moscow Tram, label=none) is a Soviet four-axle tramcar. The first prototype of the MTV-82 tramcar was built at Military Factory No. 82 (from which the 82 in the model name is derived) in 1946. Mass production started in 1947 in Factory No. 82, and it was transferred to

Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca (RVR) was a Latvian rail and tram vehicle manufacturer, most notable for its multiple unit trains and tram vehicles used throughout the Soviet Union and its successor states. It has been insolvent and non-operat ...

(RVR; russian: Рижский Вагонный Завод, РВЗ) in 1949. In 1961 mass production of MTV-82 in Riga ceased, with production switching to its direct successor, the RVZ-6 tramcar. In total, Factory No. 82 and RVR produced 453 and 1707 MTV-82s respectively. These tramcars worked until 1983 in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...

, Kiev, Gorky, Sverdlovsk,

Vladivostok Vladivostok ( rus, Владивосто́к, a=Владивосток.ogg, p=vɫədʲɪvɐˈstok) is the largest city and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai, Russia. The city is located around the Golden Horn Bay on the Sea of Japan, c ...

and many other Soviet cities and towns. The Soviet tram drivers and repairmen liked the MTV-82 very much for its simplicity, reliability and durability. Most MTV-82s were in operable state before scrapping, but renovation of Soviet trams was fatal for many types of "old-fashioned" Soviet tramcars (see also

LM-49 The LM-49 (Russian ''ЛМ-49'') is the Soviet motor four-axle tramcar. 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 Вагонор ...

Technical details

MTV-82 is a gauge high-floor four-axle tram. It has a full metal body which is mounted on a massive steel carriage with two double-axle bogies. The car has two double doors at each end, which have pneumatic gear for opening and closing. The main brake system is also pneumatic. MTV-82 is equipped with four 55 kW electric motors and is capable of a maximum speed of 55 km/h. The controller for motors uses direct current. Initially the MTV-82 did not have a low-voltage system, but this was added later for external braking and turn light signalization. The vehicle has 40 seats and is able to transport nearly 120 passengers with a full load. The MTV-82 is 13611 mm in length, 2550 mm in width, and nearly 3000 mm in height. The overall weight without passengers is 17.5 metric tons.

History

Shortly after the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

a strong need in new trolleybuses became apparent. This was due to a massive conversion from trams to trolley buses in many cities in the USSR. Due to this issue, the Motor and Automobile Research Institute developed a unified vehicle bodies for buses and trolleybuses, which was a copy of the ones produced by General Motors. *The production of such trolleybuses started in 1946. While the plant produced only 70 complete trolleybuses, the number of produced bodies was much higher. The plant did not have a sufficient number of motor and traction parts to use these bodies for trolleybuses. These trolleybus bodies simply were stored in plant warehouses. *In order to get out of this situation, Anton Ivanovich Livinenko, chief engineer of the Moscow Tram Council, suggested to use these bodies in tram production. These bodies were converted into the trams very with help from the Transportation Overhaul Plant in Sokolniki. This re-engineering found to be very successful. In comparison with MTB-82 Trolleybus, the capacity was increased to 120, 55 of which were seated. *In early 1947 similarly with MTB-82 trolleybus, this model of tram became the MTV-82 tram.

MTV-82 in Non-Revenue Service

The legendary endurance and reliability of MTV-82 trams makes them ideal for use in non-revenue service. After being retired or removed from passenger service, many MTV-82 trams were converted into service trams. They could be used for towing other trams, as hoppers, freight trams, etc. In the cities of Odessa, and Zaparozh'je a couple of MTV-82 trams were rebuilt into unique double ended (2 cab) version. In Odessa, such 2-cab trams were in use on the picturesque single track route #19. In Zaparozh'e they were used on route #5.

Survivors

Three MTV-82s survive.

and Ekaterinburg have two operable MTV-82 in their tramway systems.

Nizhny Novgorod Nizhny Novgorod ( ; rus, links=no, Нижний Новгород, a=Ru-Nizhny Novgorod.ogg, p=ˈnʲiʐnʲɪj ˈnovɡərət ), colloquially shortened to Nizhny, from the 13th to the 17th century Novgorod of the Lower Land, formerly known as Gork ...

tram & trolley museum has a third operable MTV-82 in its tramcar collection. These MTV-82s do not serve as usual tramcars, but can be hired for city excursions (but this is quite a long, formal and bureaucratic procedure in today's Russia). A group of tramway enthusiasts from many cities of

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

with guests from

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and

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

hired Nizhny Novgorod Museum MTV-82 for their meeting in 2004. Odessa Transport Authority found unique solutions to existing MTV tramcars in their possession. One of them is car #914, which was converted into an open "retro-style" excursion tram. Its design was modified to commemorate Pullmans of the early 20th century, along with historical dark-red livery. Car #914 can be seen running both along the "excursion routes" and Route 5, the most picturesque tram route in Odessa.

References

External links