For more than two decades, a remarkable model crafted by Moscow designers sat in the Vologda Oblast, its age unnoticed until staff at the Moscow Museum of Transport uncovered it. The discovery shed light on a forgotten era of municipal ingenuity and winter resilience that shaped everyday life on Russia’s streets.
The TUM-195 is a compact, nimble device born in 1975 and produced at the Krasny Put Moscow Mechanical Plant during the 1960s through the 1980s. This vehicle was designed to clear snow and debris from sidewalks, courtyards, and railway platforms, and in the warmer months it operated with the efficiency of a vacuum cleaner, keeping public spaces cleaner and safer for residents and travelers. The last example of this lineage served in St. Petersburg at the Kirovets plant until the mid-1990s, a closing chapter in a long factory life that bridged two generations of city maintenance.
Preservation efforts have restored the machine to its original look and fully functional state. In the USSR, a total of only 750 units were produced, making each surviving sample a rare artifact of Soviet industrial design. Its engine took inspiration from Moskvich cars of the era and was fitted with a 407 or 408 model powertrain. The cabin included heating for operators, and a tricycle undercarriage allowed it to turn on the spot, a practical feature for navigating tight urban layouts.
Today, the TUM-195 is slated to join the Moscow Transport Museum’s exhibit roster, with plans for a late-2024 opening in the historic garage of Konstantin Melnikov, located at Novoryazanskaya Street 27. The move promises to bring a tangible piece of municipal life back into public view, illustrating how small vehicles once kept city life moving through harsh winters and busy seasons alike.
- Drive can be read in Telegram.
A citation: Moss.ru
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