The LeTourneau TC-497, a 1960s time capsule, was designed to pull 170-foot long road trains (the total length of the road train was 572 feet or 174.35 meters).
The height of the tractor cabin is 9 meters! At the same time, the road train had 54 wheels with a diameter of 3.5 meters.
Each wheel had its own electric motor and all these electric motors were powered by a generator set consisting of four gas turbine engines with a total output of 5000 hp.
The mass of the road train reached 450 tons, and it could carry up to 150 tons of cargo. But why was this built?
The tractor’s customer was the United States Department of Defense, which feared during the Cold War that the USSR could destroy all American railroads with intercontinental missiles. Then the LeTourneau TC-497 would take over the transport.
LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Mark 2, which looks like a post-apocalyptic car from a sci-fi movie, has become just a fantastic off-road camper these days.
It features air conditioning and a fully equipped 1960s-style kitchen. The General Chief’s kitchen has a sink, stove top, oven and refrigerator. Nearby is a table with stools, where two people can sit.
In the back of the kitchen are six bunk beds, just like on a ship or submarine. Like the kitchen, sleeping area — it’s a time capsule, right down to the then-popular light green color of the walls and furniture in the US.
The toilet at the road train is indigenous. He does not wash away or pack waste, but burns it. Next to it is a folding sink with hot and cold water.
This TS-497, when taken for rework, had no engines. But the rest of the equipment was fine. Three Solar 10MC turbines regularly generated power and were in separate cars.
The speedometer is only marked up to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h). But more often the road train moved at the speed of a pedestrian or a jogging person.
- This is how cars drive on the other side of the world: you only need 3-metre wheels and a crane that carefully puts the car in the right place.
- “Drive” can also be read on Viber.
Photo, video: YouTube
Source: Z R
Anika Rood is an author at “Social Bites”. She is an automobile enthusiast who writes about the latest developments and news in the automobile industry. With a deep understanding of the latest technologies and a passion for writing, Anika provides insightful and engaging articles that keep her readers informed and up-to-date on the latest happenings in the world of automobiles.