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Western Railroad Discussion > US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train


Date: 01/01/15 20:35
US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: SteamTrainJunkie

No rails needed.





Date: 01/01/15 23:55
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: wa4umr

Is that a "Diesel electric" up front? Kind of looks like an electric motor between the front wheels.

John



Date: 01/02/15 00:15
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: Rabbiteer

Why isn't it OD green?



Date: 01/02/15 03:30
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: BCutter

wa4umr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is that a "Diesel electric" up front? Kind of
> looks like an electric motor between the front
> wheels.
>
> John


Probably -- LeTourneau loved those things!

Bruce



Date: 01/02/15 03:54
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: Labby

Was this for use in northern Canada when they were building the DEW Line?



Date: 01/02/15 06:20
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: ddg

I think when it was dismantled, the tires & wheels were used on one of the original "Big Foot" monster trucks. If I remember, "Modern Marvels" had a short program about it a few years back.



Date: 01/02/15 07:45
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: SanJoaquinEngr

I remember in the early 70's was on the Department of Defense mailing list for surplus auctions of anything that was for sale. Remember one IFB (invitation for bid) that the Army was selling the Overland Train. The property was used on the Yuma Proving Grounds. The IFB had several photos on not only the outside but also the interior of the train. It was quite elaborate. I did not attend the auction was curious what the selling price .. The biggest expense would be the cost of removal to the new home. Plus it would be hard to license the vehicle for highway use due to the length and weight..



Date: 01/02/15 09:30
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: Ray_Murphy

Never really successful in real life, but it may have inspired the vehicles in the science fiction series (wait for it: railroad content!!!) "The Amtrak Wars":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amtrak_Wars

Ray



Date: 01/02/15 10:31
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: trainman630

Maybe Megabus would buy it?



Date: 01/02/15 13:01
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: NSDTK

There was a few of these built, One still is around. Its at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.



Date: 01/02/15 13:54
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: atsfm177

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Z8I4ZZDmM

Greg Ramsey
Las Vegas, NV



Date: 01/02/15 16:12
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: butchc

LeTourneau was a design genious. When he sold out to Caterpillar, he had to agree not to build earthmoving equipment for about 10 years. He then went in to the business of designing off-shore drilling rigs. His rigs were able to screw themselves up out of the water during hurricanes. They are still in use in the Gulf.

Posted from Android



Date: 01/03/15 09:13
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: leonz

That was the first one I believe and it
had hydraulic wheel motors as did
the rest of the overland trains wheel sets.



Date: 01/03/15 11:45
Re: US Army's LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train
Author: greasemonkey

Butchc, just a bit of clarification. It was the Westinghouse Air Brake Company he sold out to, not Caterpillar.



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