A collectible 1986 Soviet postcard featuring a two-image collage of Voroshilovgrad (now Luhansk), showcasing a modern high-rise residential building on the 13th Line and the locomotive builders’ monument.
What is shown on the postcard
The top image shows a 14-story residential high-rise building of late Soviet architecture built from light-colored brick with recessed balconies, fronted by a large flowerbed of blooming red roses. The bottom image shows a monument mounted on a concrete overpass—a black Soviet freight steam locomotive, model SO17-1000, with its tender.
Historical note
Voroshilovgrad (historically and currently known as Luhansk) underwent significant urban expansion in the 1980s. The high-rise on the 13th Line (now Demekhina Street) represents late 1970s and early 1980s multi-story residential architecture designed to modernize the city center.
The monument features the SO17-1000 (“Sergo Ordzhonikidze”) steam locomotive, manufactured at the Luhansk Locomotive Works in 1934. This locomotive was the milestone 1,000th unit of this specific series designed and built in Luhansk. The monument was erected in the 1970s on a concrete overpass near the factory entrance to honor the industrial achievements of the city’s locomotive builders.
Present day
Today, the city has reverted to its historical name, Luhansk. The 14-story residential building on Demekhina Street remains in use, though its original aesthetic has been modified by individual balcony glazing and ground-floor commercial shops.
The SO17-1000 locomotive monument stands well-preserved in its original position outside the former Luhanskteplovoz plant, remaining a key landmark of the city’s industrial history.
Location (map)
Address: Luzhnytska (formerly Kominterna) St, Luhansk, Ukraine
Coordinates: 48.579470, 39.317580
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the SO17-1000 locomotive monument near the factory entrance in Luhansk.
Questions and answers
- What monument is shown in the bottom photo of the postcard? It is the monument to the locomotive builders of Voroshilovgrad, featuring the SO17-1000 steam freight locomotive built in 1934 at the local plant.
- Where is the high-rise building from the postcard located? The building is located on the former 13th Line, which is now named Demekhina Street in Luhansk.
- What was the name of Luhansk when this postcard was published? In 1986, the city was named Voroshilovgrad (a name used during the periods of 1935–1958 and 1970–1990).
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Luhansk from 1986.
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