Inside The Insane 1960s Nuclear Overland Vehicle - LeTourneau TC-497

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  • čas přidán 16. 05. 2024
  • Thanks to Warthunder! Come join me on the battlefield: playwt.link/Calum
    Get Mark's book! 👇
    US- amzn.to/3mBIPsI
    UK - amzn.to/3L54CD2
    Some extra behind the scenes footage on my Patreon! / calumraasay
    The LeTourneau Overland Train (TC-497) was one of the longest, largest vehicles ever made. For years I've been obsessed with this strange machine, now sitting abandoned in the middle of the American desert and so, in the midst of my honeymoon, I set out to track it down.
    Twitter......................► / calumraasay
    Instagram................► / calumraasay
    Discord.....................► / discord
    Website....................►calumgillies.com
    0:00 - Introduction
    02:24 - Origins of the 'Trackless Train'
    07:00 - Could I visit the TC497 in Person?
    08:02 - Seeing the TC497 For the First Time!
    09:41 - The Innovative 'Electric Drive' Wheels
    11:09 - The Huge Loading Crane
    11:46 - A Unique Suspension System
    12:38 - The TC-497 Compared to the Largest Tank?
    14:30 - Climbing Inside the TC497!
    15:30 - The Galley/Mess Room
    17:50 - Sleeping Quarters
    18:38 - The Engine Room
    20:08 - The Toilet
    22:11 - The Bridge of the TC-497
    27:18 - Nuclear Power?
    29:13 - What Happened to the Rest of the TC-497?
    30:42 - Restoring the TC-497
    33:24 - Waffling on a Bit
  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 2K

  • @CalumRaasay
    @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +114

    Thanks again to my friends at Warthunder! playwt.link/Calum
    You can Mark's book here! 👇
    US- amzn.to/3mBIPsI
    UK - amzn.to/3L54CD2

    • @eurotrash5610
      @eurotrash5610 Před rokem +2

      DAMN HARKONNENS!

    • @eurotrash5610
      @eurotrash5610 Před rokem +3

      PS. please excuse my manners, I just noticed: all the best to you and your wife!

    • @aserta
      @aserta Před rokem +1

      Congratulations on getting married! :)

    • @hayleyxyz
      @hayleyxyz Před rokem +3

      Congrats on getting married x wish the best for both of you
      I’ve loved your enthusiasm for esoteric topics ever since I watched your video nerding out over the Jerry Can

    • @Archangelm127
      @Archangelm127 Před rokem +4

      See if they're willing to model this beautiful monster into Warthunder. :D

  • @MrDDiRusso
    @MrDDiRusso Před rokem +1675

    I'm surprised Hollywood never showed anything like this. This would have made an epic sci-fi movie prop.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +241

      I know right? Maybe the mothership for the armoured personnel carrier in Aliens haha

    • @tomcardale5596
      @tomcardale5596 Před rokem +99

      There are things like this in the Thunderbirds series.
      Slough rather than Hollywood but near enough I suppose?

    • @Janzcu
      @Janzcu Před rokem +45

      When I was young '85 i saw a movie of a land train, they had a race race, land train lost because it was made of pure smuggled gold..

    • @ErikOrdway1984
      @ErikOrdway1984 Před rokem +25

      The sort of did with the movie 'The Big Bus.'

    • @aserta
      @aserta Před rokem +20

      I think there's at least two black and white movies from back in the day that have if not the same concept, then exploration by large vehicles. I wish i could remember the name of the big vehicle one - movie.
      In modern stuff, there's the spice gatherers of Dune, but they're only snippets.
      That said, they do exist in games. The Homeworld saga. They had lots of big land stuff.

  • @DavidBGleason
    @DavidBGleason Před rokem +342

    For us old-timers who remember mechanical odometers, the mileage at 25:26 is 889.4 miles, not 8,894. The white number wheel represents tenths of a mile.

    • @C0ttageChees
      @C0ttageChees Před 11 měsíci +4

      I learned something. Thank you, sincerely :)

    • @GlutenEruption
      @GlutenEruption Před 11 měsíci +13

      Was looking for this comment. Lol. Also noticed that gauge says the outside scale = RPM and the inside scale is MPH. We can see all of the labels above but someone used a label maker to print out “? miles = REV. X 1.?” So I’m guessing those are tire revolutions per minute. So that definitely seems like a Speedo/odometer so I’m guessing that’s 889.4 miles total

    • @ThePaulv12
      @ThePaulv12 Před 11 měsíci +8

      I thought it was an hour meter.

    • @DavidBGleason
      @DavidBGleason Před 11 měsíci +14

      @@ThePaulv12 It might be. But because it's integrated into the speedo, I'd assume miles. I'd expect to see an hour meter separate from a speedo.

    • @bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24
      @bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 Před 11 měsíci +14

      My first and second cars had mechanical odometers. I'm 34. Its crazy there's people now who don't know how to read such "old" technology.

  • @Harv72b
    @Harv72b Před rokem +109

    Where did you go on your honeymoons?
    Couple 1: We spent a lovely two weeks in the Bahamas, soaking up the sun.
    Couple 2: We spent an exquisite week in Paris, soaking up the culture.
    Couple 3: We went on a romantic Mediterranean cruise, soaking up everything the region had to offer.
    Calum: We went to the Arizona desert so I could crawl around inside a decommissioned overland train from the 1960s.
    😂😂😂
    (The odometer was reading 889.4 miles. You've probably been told that four dozen times already but I didn't see those comments.)

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +18

      Hahaha I’ll take our honeymoon anyday!

    • @Melody_Raventress
      @Melody_Raventress Před 8 měsíci +4

      Not to mention tracking all those arrows across the barren American southwest. It's an amazingly beautiful area, but not for everyone. Because fantastic desolation.

    • @jugo1944
      @jugo1944 Před 7 měsíci +1

      ​@@CalumRaasaythe galley is actually gorgeous, I wouldn't mind at all

  • @icoopify
    @icoopify Před rokem +107

    As a graduate of LeTourneau University and a former employee of LeTourneau Inc (now part of Komatsu), it's always really cool to see the legacy of R.G. LeTourneau in the wild.

    • @bensendthompson2296
      @bensendthompson2296 Před rokem +4

      Yeah, as an alumni, it is always fun coming across these videos

    • @natewiebe7815
      @natewiebe7815 Před 9 měsíci +1

      Another alum, same here!

    • @michaelgmyers
      @michaelgmyers Před 8 měsíci +1

      Grew up in Longview
      Back in the 80s there was an old machine shop. In the yard we're these very large metal wheels. I was told there were part of a machine use help build interstate 20.

    • @bigglilwayne7050
      @bigglilwayne7050 Před 8 měsíci +1

      His concrete houses were awesome as the whole thing(floors, walls, and roof) was done in one continuous pour

    • @bigglilwayne7050
      @bigglilwayne7050 Před 8 měsíci

      ​@@michaelgmyers
      The Sabine River bottoms was the most difficult part of construction for the entire project and he did it for free to test his equipment

  • @roypennock8046
    @roypennock8046 Před rokem +128

    You might be interested to know that after changing hands many times over the years, LeTourneau is now part of Komatsu Corp. and produce hybrid diesel-electric drive surface and underground mining equipment including the L2350, which is the largest rubber-tired front-end loader in the world. It still has in-wheel traction motors with forced air cooling, dynamic braking and enormous Firestone tires (but "only" 4...) just like the overland train.

    • @josephpadula2283
      @josephpadula2283 Před rokem +5

      Thank you! Good the know the corporate memory was not dumped like many old projects!
      Perhaps you can ask an Old engineer if they kept the prints when the company was bought out?
      If so ask them to donate to a museum or library if they are ever to discard And scan them first .,..

    • @To-mos
      @To-mos Před 9 měsíci

      Komatsu makes some massively massive huge equipment next to Liebherr, love watching both companies contraptions crawl around.

  • @TesserId
    @TesserId Před rokem +378

    I love that this wasn't destroyed. Too many important creations in history where allowed to slip into the void, leaving us wonder what such things were really about. Getting to see the inside of this beast was a big thrill, having thought from other videos that this was destroyed. Thank you so much for this video.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +28

      Right? I guess it many ways it was just SO big that it was difficult to move or scrap! The crazy size of it probably helped save it, in many ways.

    • @tomfxstc4833
      @tomfxstc4833 Před rokem

      Thanks to my Brother

    • @smugly6793
      @smugly6793 Před rokem +3

      Absolutely true. So many amazing machines and vehicles were scrapped the second they became obsolete with nothing being preserved for the future to learn from. It’s incredibly sad to see

    • @jlo13800
      @jlo13800 Před rokem

      Its got a nuclear 2 stroke engine.

    • @Tigershark_3082
      @Tigershark_3082 Před rokem

      Makes me think of a lot of the forgotten aircraft.
      Stuff like the Martin P6M SeaMaster, or XF10F Jaguar

  • @chadhughes8151
    @chadhughes8151 Před 11 měsíci +30

    When I was a kid the first 10’ tire overland train was abandoned in a junkyard near FT WW. We use to sneak into it to play on all the old military equipment include the control car. We’d climb up into the cab and pretend we were driving it. After about 20 years or more of sitting there, the ground in the junkyard was found to be highest toxic due to its owner purchasing and burying old transformers full of PCB’s. That’s when the overland equipment was moved to a museum.

  • @daniellebcooper7160
    @daniellebcooper7160 Před 11 měsíci +20

    @2:12 Youre new wife looks absolutely thrilled to bits. I'm glad you found someone that obviously shares your enthusiasm for looking over old machinery on their honeymoon.
    In all seriousness, good luck to the both of you.

  • @charliestevenson3500
    @charliestevenson3500 Před rokem +359

    I grew up in Yuma and remember seeing the control unit in the surplus dealer’s yard for the first time in 1967 when I was a child. It was very large and imposing. I’m glad it got restored and is no longer forgotten. Great job and I’m glad that you enjoyed your trip to my hometown . Congratulations to Mrs. Calum and you on your wedding.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +44

      Yeah I have a cool article from the 1970s when it was being moved. how cool that you saw it when it was almost new!

    • @Mis73rRand0m
      @Mis73rRand0m Před rokem +9

      Awesome to see someone flying out to my home town for this! AZ is an amazing boneyard for these types of hulks; very little corrosion, worst you'll get is some dust.

    • @ghomerhust
      @ghomerhust Před rokem +7

      @@Mis73rRand0m my brother was stationed at Davis Monthon up the road from Yuma, playing with aircraft. he said it was really incredible how well the climate there preserves all those old airframes simply because of how dry it is.

    • @johnserrano9689
      @johnserrano9689 Před rokem

      He is definitely a secret spy, a foreign agent. He is definitely spying for Greenland....

  • @CalumRaasay
    @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +227

    Visiting this crazy machine was the absolute honour of a lifetime and it's you guys, my viewers, that have helped make it possible! Thank you again. I'll be doing a giveaway this month on my patreon for a couple copies of Mark's book for anyone interested - patreon.com/calumraasay
    Discord: discord.gg/BPahz6vHJd

    • @keab42
      @keab42 Před rokem +3

      I'm so glad you actually got to visit it! I loved your documentary on it.

    • @nefariousyawn
      @nefariousyawn Před rokem +10

      And you did it on your honeymoon? Let's call it the second absolute honor of your lifetime, for the sake of your marriage 😉

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +6

      @@nefariousyawn haha good point, nice save 😂

    • @bigbossimmotal
      @bigbossimmotal Před rokem +1

      @@CalumRaasay Hey honey, where do you want to go for our anniversary? ALASKA!

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +1

      @@bigbossimmotal Haha luckily I have an understanding wife!

  • @bugman72
    @bugman72 Před rokem +7

    Don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but the tires on Bob Chandler's Bigfoot #5 are off of one of these. Not sure if they originated from the TC-497, but they are the same wheel/tire combo. In fact, at some point, Bigfoot #5 ran 8 of these tires at once.

  • @TriGogglin
    @TriGogglin Před rokem +14

    Calum, I remember seeing some of the old footage you shown in this video as a kid, and always thought this had to be extremely awesome to see. You were the right person for this video. Thank you for the time, effort and knowledge you put into this.. it was worth it.. excellent presentation. thank you, best regards, Pappy

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před 8 měsíci +3

      Thank you pappy! Apologies I seemed to miss your message, but your support really means a lot!

    • @TriGogglin
      @TriGogglin Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@CalumRaasay no worries, i totally understand, it's hard to keep up sometimes. Be safe out there on your travels

  • @MccoppingSalvage
    @MccoppingSalvage Před rokem +253

    Please travel to Alaska and visit the other two pieces of this history. It would be amazing to see the rest of story that still exists.
    Very interesting and entertaining video.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +64

      That's the plan! Haha I’ll start booking flights 😂

    • @oswurth8774
      @oswurth8774 Před rokem +10

      @@CalumRaasay Expanding the Calumverse

    • @berryreading4809
      @berryreading4809 Před rokem +4

      I hope so too! Although Nome Alaska is certainly not the world's best tourist attraction 😄 Or very easy to even get to... However with the abandoned snow train atleast the surrounding areas would be enjoyable during the trip up 😉👍

    • @herzogsbuick
      @herzogsbuick Před rokem +7

      @@CalumRaasay I have some friends from Nome that I'm sure could act as fixers. I live in Anchorage -- about a 7 1/2 hour drive south of the sno-freighter in Fairbanks. It would then be a 13-odd hour drive from Fairbanks to Whitehorse, plus however long the border takes (I unfortunately missed the Yukon Transportation Museum last time I passed through, not again!)
      Just throwing myself in the ring here in case you want to do this, I've been watching your videos around 3 years now, stop what I'm doing every time I see a new one come out. Cheers!

    • @canonicaltom
      @canonicaltom Před rokem +1

      @@CalumRaasay I used to live in Fairbanks, definitely recommend going in the summer :D

  • @jason0870
    @jason0870 Před rokem +54

    It's cool to see how when vandalism is kept at bay and im sure minimal maintenance, the machine stays in relatively stock condition. I enjoyed your original video and this video very much. Thank you

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +6

      Thanks Jason! Yeah even BEFORE the restoration she was in amazing condition, I can't believe how much was left behind.

    • @davidkaufman1
      @davidkaufman1 Před 7 měsíci +3

      I saw a video on the Russian Buran space shuttles on military bases that were vandalized. When all ladders were removed vandals brought ropes

    • @JoshuaTootell
      @JoshuaTootell Před 4 měsíci +2

      What's funny is when you hear people talk about people being disrespectful these days, but the Battleship Texas had to close up sections of the ship because of vandalism...in the 1950's.

  • @rockymountainlifeprospecti4423

    Very well done! Glad you actually got to visit what you had put so much work into researching, how cool!

  • @StephenGillie
    @StephenGillie Před 11 měsíci +12

    This thing looks oddly like the Antarctic Cruiser we made in the 1940s, and abandoned in Antarctica to fight WW2.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před 11 měsíci +5

      Funnily enough I made a video on the Antarctic Cruiser!

    • @silontninja6947
      @silontninja6947 Před 4 měsíci

      Yes it does remind me of that and it seems to have the same objective as well

  • @jp-um2fr
    @jp-um2fr Před rokem +38

    Congratulations Calum and wife - what have you let yourself into young lady. All the best for the future and thanks again for yet another excellent video.

  • @mr.squarebody5554
    @mr.squarebody5554 Před rokem +17

    Sometimes I worry calum left his channel then he comes back swinging

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +8

      Haha just a Wedding, Christmas & Honeymoon break!

    • @Edward-pw6zz
      @Edward-pw6zz Před rokem

      @@CalumRaasay well deserved!

  • @billyhess5263
    @billyhess5263 Před rokem +14

    I’m not even 10 minutes in so I’m not sure if you mentioned it but, back when I was 7 years old (1986) a new Bigfoot monster truck was revealed, it would be the tallest monster truck ever made (I think even still today), Bigfoot 5. Bigfoot 5 used those very tires from that very vehicle (well, from one of its trailers anyway). That truck made an entire generation aware of the Alaskan land train. Such cool history!

    • @1978garfield
      @1978garfield Před rokem +3

      Yup that truck (Bigfoot 5) is on display in Pacific MO.

    • @kevineckelkamp
      @kevineckelkamp Před rokem +2

      @1978garfield pacific has an earlier Bigfoot, the taller one is also right off the interstate, but much closer to st louis

    • @JMRCDesigns
      @JMRCDesigns Před 11 měsíci +2

      I was gonna say if no one had already posted, about looking into Bob Chandler's BIGFOOT 5. I'm not sure if it's ever mentioned which land train they got the tires from, but Bob stated that he found them at an army surplus store. Two very cool pieces of history in both this video and the history of BIGFOOT 5. 👍

    • @kevineckelkamp
      @kevineckelkamp Před 10 měsíci +1

      @1978garfield u were right, they moved it to pacific

  • @linksbro1
    @linksbro1 Před 11 měsíci +1

    The choice of Clair De Lune for when you first saw it in person speaks volumes to how important that moment was to you.

  • @ivanekprochazka
    @ivanekprochazka Před rokem +52

    I love the educational value of your videos and their unceasingly improving production quality. I'm glad you've been able to turn your passion into your career. I always had crossed fingers for you. Greetings from Prague!

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +10

      Thank you Ivánek, that means a lot. They take a while to make, but I love being able to go into such detail and have such a receptive audience!

  • @olliedean3454
    @olliedean3454 Před rokem +12

    I remember watching your original video on this last year. Amazing that you've been able to now see this in person! what a brilliant piece of engineering and a great video! Well done man :)

  • @petermower5708
    @petermower5708 Před rokem +1

    Amazing! Thanks for taking the trip out there, Calum! I’d love to see you visit the other overland train remnants that still exist.

  • @adammillwardart7831
    @adammillwardart7831 Před rokem +1

    Your videos about these old crazy arctic vehicles are super interesting and well done. Thoroughly enjoy them. Thanks for putting them together.

  • @SM-rn3xy
    @SM-rn3xy Před rokem +28

    Thanks for another great video! 25:29 Fairly sure that is 889.4 not 8 thousand. The note 'Total Miles Rev x 1.2' might indicate its something similar to a Hobbs meter which would be close to hours plus a bit and would make sense for a turbine engine that would have to be serviced according to hours.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +9

      Yeah someone pointed out that the counter looks lifted from a cummins setup, which makes sense as thats what most letourneau products used. So maybe they adapted the cummins counter then added that note to account for the turbine?

  • @gafrers
    @gafrers Před rokem +11

    I bought the book in November because of your first video. Read it all in a weekend and was amazing.
    This video feels like the culmination of this fantastic topic but not the end.
    Thanks Calum and Miss

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +3

      So glad to hear you got the book! Mark's work is fantastic.

  • @borisattva
    @borisattva Před rokem

    fantastic stuff. thank you and all the marks that have contributed directly/indirectly to this production.

  • @erinschlameus3628
    @erinschlameus3628 Před 11 měsíci

    Thanks for making and posting.

  • @rustythrombosis5417
    @rustythrombosis5417 Před rokem +33

    My favorite part was how at the 8:06 mark you had to hold up a photo of the TC497 next to the real TC497 to make sure you had the right TC497.
    Of course all of that was said in jest and I love your videos. Thanks for the time and effort to make great and interesting content.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +5

      Haha reminded me of when a detective is trying to match a photo to a face!

  • @paulgoz7281
    @paulgoz7281 Před rokem +16

    It's so much like a real life prop from an episode of Jerry Anderson's Thunderbirds. Especially with the possibility of being nuclear powered. Many thanks to your bride for allowing you to take a sizeable detour on your honeymoon and make this fantastic follow-up video on an imagination stirring topic.

    • @YellowRambler
      @YellowRambler Před 11 měsíci

      Probably a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor? It would have been a less heavier.

  • @bobuncle8704
    @bobuncle8704 Před rokem

    What a stunning piece of equipment. Thanks for taking us along.

  • @markdc1145
    @markdc1145 Před rokem

    Thanks to Calum and all the Marks!👏

  • @BatCaveOz
    @BatCaveOz Před rokem +7

    Just when I thought that Calum had already taught me all there is to know about land trains, he releases yet another amazing video.
    Thank you for continuing to publish such engaging and high quality content.

  • @TheUncleRuckus
    @TheUncleRuckus Před rokem +8

    Calum, I just wanted to say thank you for making yet another great video and for continually making some of the best content on CZcams!! Each video on your channel shows all the time, effort and passion you pour into them and we truly appreciate it my friend! Keep up the good work. 👍👍
    Idk about anyone else but I would definitely be interested in a video on the other land trains in the future.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +1

      Thank you so much! Really appreciate such a lovely comment, it's so great being able to have an audience to share these adventures and niche pieces of history with!

  • @hvonwolfenstein2638
    @hvonwolfenstein2638 Před 11 měsíci +8

    We have an LCC-1 Sno-Train by LaTourneau Inc. at the transportation museum up here in Whitehorse, Yukon. It's super cool and really fun to go see! My favourite part is the bubble dome on the top which allows for navigation by stars! Very cool.👍

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před 11 měsíci +3

      The bubble dome is so cool! Similar to the Soviet Kharkovchanka actually!

  • @beb38138
    @beb38138 Před rokem +2

    @25:44 It looks like each train car has the ability to steer individualy and follow the footsteps of the control car. That is amazing right there, and the fact that they did it in the '50s and '60s even more mesmerizing. 👏

  • @pendantblade6361
    @pendantblade6361 Před rokem +5

    Aaaaah, another day another video of Calum filming a Jawa sandcrawler. Thanks to all the Marks that helped with the restoration and research of this wonderful machine.

  • @SVanHutten
    @SVanHutten Před rokem +8

    Not even in his wildest dreams could Mr LeTourneau have imagined that his innovative vehicles would be given such deserved attention that many years into the future. Great video and a big thank you for taking your time to get there and sharing your unique experience with us. From a long time admirer of these contraptions.

  • @ccerwin
    @ccerwin Před rokem

    I appreciate your passion for this, ThankYou for the video!

  • @grantlee5393
    @grantlee5393 Před rokem +1

    Graduated from the Engineering Program at Letourneau Uni last year and now work as a design engineer at Peterbilt. Great video and so cool learning about this history

  • @krissfemmpaws1029
    @krissfemmpaws1029 Před rokem +5

    Dad being an Alaskan bush pilot saw the Snow Freighter in use at the time. He flew the Dew Line before there was a Dew Line...
    Back in the 60s till the mid 90s parts of the Snow Freighter were in a Seattle scrap yard on East Marginal Way in South Seattle. This is the place Bob Chandler of Bigfoot monster truck fame found the tires that went onto one of the Bigfoot trucks.
    Another overland machine you may was to look at is the Rollagon, I think I have the spelling right.

    • @TheOtherBill
      @TheOtherBill Před rokem +4

      Kriss, you made me look it up! I couldn't resist. Interesting little article at amusingplanet for anyone else interested. It would make a great video for Calum on his future trip to Alaska since there's supposed to be some still (as of 2018) operating near Prudhoe Bay. BTW, it's spelled Rollligon but either spelling will find it.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +3

      Wow, that's amazing! Those bush pilots were some pioneering guys, and it was their scouting and survey work that really what made the Alaska Freight Lines convoys viable.
      Yeah the story from Bigfoot IIRC is that the wheels were found from the earlier slo-train, though I think looking closely they are from the TC497 (something to do with the wheel lugs). Mark Moore knows more about it I believe.

  • @bartfoster1311
    @bartfoster1311 Před rokem +11

    Amazing to see it still stocked inside like it is!

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +1

      Same here! I couldn't believe it!

    • @TheOtherBill
      @TheOtherBill Před rokem +2

      It seems we have those volunteer restorers to thank for that. If I didn't live 3,000 miles away I'd love to volunteer for a week.

    • @dersaegefisch
      @dersaegefisch Před rokem +1

      Right? The thing looks like it's in better shape than some of the older tractors on my uncles farm. ...And those still run. I mean it is obviously missing th motor, but still. You can really imagine how the crew must have felt when they first saw this monster. And what their reaction probably was when they did:
      "I CALL DIPS ON THE MIDDLE BUNK BED!!" (everybody screaming at once)

  • @absolutemattlad2701
    @absolutemattlad2701 Před rokem

    Love seeing you talk about these awesome adventure machines and living your best life

  • @MarkBarnett
    @MarkBarnett Před rokem

    Super stuff Calum, really enjoyed that.

  • @bigratkiller1
    @bigratkiller1 Před rokem +15

    Dude, on your Honeymoon!!! Congratulations to you both and that's a super understanding wife you got there 😁

  • @Never_heart
    @Never_heart Před rokem +5

    Every time I see these vehicles my imagine runs wild. They are so evocative in their scale and design

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +3

      Right? It takes me to some crazy post-apocalypse, mad max story!

    • @Never_heart
      @Never_heart Před rokem +1

      @@CalumRaasay Yes so much that natural evolution of the Mad Max world and aesthetic. But also I can't help but ask myself where is point of intersection between these land trains and extreme artic exploration vehicles? And then that snowballs into imagining running various essential supplies between disparate deep cold based across a near frozen planet.

    • @VLGCombat
      @VLGCombat Před rokem

      ​@@CalumRaasay I like to imagine an alternate timeline where these things came to fruition... it reeks of 1950s futurism, especially with the plans for an nuclear reactor car. Would fit so well in something like the Fallout universe.

  • @anthonysmalawipredators8794

    I can't get enough of these amazing old machines so please keep moving forward with your passion =) The interior is what blew me away the most, I would have expected much more rugged living conditions but that cab looks like a 5 star hotel room! I couldn't even imagine what life aboard would have been like. I hope your trip to America was everything you were hoping for and that you make many more great American road trips in the future !

  • @warrentobey5237
    @warrentobey5237 Před 9 měsíci +1

    I worked on letourneau log unloaders in the Pacific Northwest. Letourneau also made tanks in ww2. The drive motors on all 4 wheels were DC motors. The lifting, steering, log clamps were AC motors. The turning was controlled by a left/right toggle switch and the drive motors were controlled by a rheostat. They had a 2 part generator driven by a diesel engine. The engine ran at 2000 rpm which made the ac generator run at 73 hz at 500 vac. The dc generator also produces 500 vdc. Nice video😊

  • @zimtt1276
    @zimtt1276 Před rokem +4

    Thank you! You have such an amazing talent/skill of presentation. The floor plan insert was brilliant! You have grabbed me and drawn me into a subject matter I had no idea of my interest. I was riveted to for 35 minutes.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +1

      Wow, thank you! Really appreciate that.

  • @Ayeskint
    @Ayeskint Před rokem +33

    Honeymoon? Congratulations to you both! May health and happiness be your companions in life.🤘

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +5

      Thank you! It's been a great start to the year and our life together!

    • @Ayeskint
      @Ayeskint Před rokem +1

      @@CalumRaasay Start as you mean to go on! Have fun, guys.

  • @mayeskyj
    @mayeskyj Před rokem

    Hey man, I really like your videos. Great work!

  • @benmcreynolds8581
    @benmcreynolds8581 Před rokem

    Ever since watching your first video covering this company and these vehicles.. I have been facinated with them. I really think we need to bring this BACK! They are so well made! It's amazing. Seriously.

  • @Teredifa
    @Teredifa Před rokem +2

    I was trying to remember where i had watched a documentary on these overland trains then I realized that you made it 😄 Thanks for the great content.

  • @willpowerfpv3246
    @willpowerfpv3246 Před rokem +30

    Very cool! I worked at the largest coal strip mine in Canada, and we had a massive La Tourneau front end loader. It's ridiculously large, and was broken down most of time, as parts were difficult to source. 😕

  • @LandyVlad_Rides
    @LandyVlad_Rides Před rokem

    Great video - again - thanks Calum!

  • @hilham89
    @hilham89 Před rokem

    What an amazing peace of history. I love seeing stuff like this. Thank you for making this video. I hope you find the rest of them to visit them and show us.

  • @patchthesinclair5896
    @patchthesinclair5896 Před rokem +10

    A camper to die for except it's a bit big for the roads of the NC 500! Thanks for another great upload.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +4

      Haha I'd love to see this trying to do the turn at Helmsdale!

  • @Thinginator
    @Thinginator Před rokem +6

    I'd definitely love to see a video on that gold dredger in Alaska! I had no idea any of the Overland Train cars had survived in a functional state, let alone being actively used in recent years.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +2

      I know right? Shows how durable they really were!

    • @FFmike790
      @FFmike790 Před 8 měsíci

      @@CalumRaasay Any chance you could give us a link to where you got the video of it that you show the few seconds of it here in yours? Thanks.

  • @matt01506
    @matt01506 Před rokem

    A well made documentary which is very interesting by itself but made all the better by your enthusiasm which gives it a "feel good" vibe !
    Very enjoyable.

  • @FlatlanderGear
    @FlatlanderGear Před rokem

    This was nicely done!

  • @dougtaylor8735
    @dougtaylor8735 Před rokem +9

    My son went to LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. While visiting him one time, we went to the R.G. LeTourneau museum on campus. It is fascinating and I highly recommend checking it out. He was an amazing designer and built many different large pieces of one off equipment. He also built the first off shore oil drilling platform.

  • @nigozeroichi2501
    @nigozeroichi2501 Před rokem +18

    That is really cool, it's a shame they basically wasted all those tax dollars and never really used it for its intended purpose, it's really nice volunteers cleaned it up and made it look like it was just parked with all the stuff in the cupboards which at first I thought there's no way it would look like the crew just stepped out and be right back, thanks to you and all that allowed you make this very interesting look at a nearly forgotten bit of history.

    • @PeterTman
      @PeterTman Před rokem +12

      Many people do look at the tax money put into this and other projects that don't end up in regular operation as "wasted," but the technologies that are developed through them end up impacting so many things outside of the project itself. Our nation would be nowhere near as technologically advanced as it is if not for tax money that is "wasted" on trying new approaches to old (and new) problems.

    • @georgeliakaris53
      @georgeliakaris53 Před rokem

      Maybe radiation levels were not safe?

  • @danwest3825
    @danwest3825 Před rokem +1

    Excellent video and research. Thank you for bringing this unique vehicle to life

  • @Kenny6253
    @Kenny6253 Před 9 měsíci

    What an incredible vehicle! Thanks for the video, I had no knowledge of this creation!

  • @scootpegune609
    @scootpegune609 Před 11 měsíci +5

    So why does the title say it's "Nuclear"? Clearly it used gas turbines. I watched your video for way too long, curious how in the '60s they fit a nuclear reactor on it...apparently they didn't.

    • @dimidimi5537
      @dimidimi5537 Před 5 měsíci +2

      Same here ,I then did some research they meant to fit a nuclear reactor but they gave the whole project up before they could test the nuclear motor.

  • @1224chrisng
    @1224chrisng Před rokem +6

    Great work Mark, Mark, Mark, and --Mark-- Callum. You never miss the Mark. It's amazing to see this machine, and even more amazing that this is only Mark-1. Imagine if this was further developed, this would really leave its Mark on history. Shame it was sold to the scrap Mark-et instead.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +1

      I know right? This was certainly the most advanced of all the overland trains but the entire development only happened over the course of a decade of so. Who knows what could have happened if this had been allowed to develop further!

  • @57northphoto32
    @57northphoto32 Před rokem

    Great stuff, worth the watch and so well put together. I remember seeing pictures of machines like this when I was young and they seemed so futuristic and fantastical and now a video showing how real they actually became, sadly for a short time. Thanks Calum and of course the “Marks”.

  • @apollomoon1
    @apollomoon1 Před rokem +1

    Thanks for your tireless work on these marvelous machines. I remember the first time I saw them in Popular Science as a young boy. I’ve been interested since then but they were so obscure, it was nearly impossible to find information about them. When I stumbled across your channel I was astounded to find so much information about them. Fantastic effort and thank you.

  • @douglasmgriffin
    @douglasmgriffin Před rokem +2

    "Feels like a ship." I worked in a push boat for a bit. Barge movers like push and tug boats have very similar interior accommodations for similar-sized crews, which makes absolute sense they share the same task, just over different terrain.

  • @whyjnot420
    @whyjnot420 Před rokem +6

    The kitchen in this vehicle really isn't all that much smaller than the kitchen in my house. In relative terms it is about half the size, but in absolute terms it really isn't a whole lot smaller. The kitchen in my 120 year old house is clearly a small addition to the original structure. It is big enough for a full sized fridge, range & sink, along with a little room for preparation. No room for a table or anything like that. It might be small, but it really is more than adequate for my needs.
    addendum: Congratulations on getting married.

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +4

      I know right? You'd pay top dollar for an apartment that size in most cities!

    • @eekee6034
      @eekee6034 Před rokem +1

      I'm sure I've seen kitchens with poorer fittings in brick and mortar houses, and I'm not counting the bedsits I've lived in.

    • @KevinSmith-ys3mh
      @KevinSmith-ys3mh Před rokem +1

      It reminds me of the accomodations on some older submarines Iv'e visited, such as USS Bluefin?, now tied up in the Columbia river outside the Science Museum in Portland Oregon. I think it was the first modern teardrop hull sub in the US Navy, but still Diesel-Electric drive.

  • @russelljohnson6243
    @russelljohnson6243 Před rokem +1

    I am so glad your extraordinary efforts paid-off! The word for the brand of the cook stove is chef, as in a cook, no big deal, just mentioning it.

  • @JackpineGandy
    @JackpineGandy Před rokem +1

    traveling all the way from Old Blighty to Yuma Arizona to see this incredible relic...amazing! and a tip of the hat to your dear wife, for going along on this trip!

  • @KonjonoAwesome
    @KonjonoAwesome Před rokem +6

    An earlier version of the overland train concept was the Lombard Log Hauler. These were steam-powered track and ski "locomotives" that pulled sleds loaded with logs across snow and ice in Maine and other northern US states. Patented in 1901, the Lombard Log Hauler was the first successful commercial application of a continuous track for vehicle propulsion.

  • @michigandon
    @michigandon Před rokem +6

    Most of us Yanks have never gotten to see this in person! Kudos to you for pulling all the strings necessary to get on post, and sharing the experience with us.

    • @tomfxstc4833
      @tomfxstc4833 Před rokem +1

      I Was in it thanks to my Bro Mark The bald guy in the Pics and video

  • @shades360
    @shades360 Před rokem

    Congratulations on your honeymoon and thanks for the effort of filming your once in a lifetime experience

  • @bobbysenterprises3220

    Thank you for your effort, both in time and treasure as well as your wife's to not only bring these close up views but also your experience to us.

  • @austinduvall2422
    @austinduvall2422 Před rokem +8

    If you like stuff like this you should look up The Gem of Egypt and The Big Muskie they were huge coal shovels used to strip mine most of south eastern Ohio and parts of P.A. they were utterly massive machines I got to see the Gem of Egypt when I was a little kid just before they tore it down and the thing was honestly mesmerizing it seriously looked like a huge mechanical dinosaur eating away at the earth.

  • @haidenthomas6002
    @haidenthomas6002 Před rokem +3

    8 of the wheels from an Alaskan land train ended up on the Bigfoot 5 monster truck

  • @silur989
    @silur989 Před rokem +1

    very interestting, never heard from this before - thanks for this effort and everything from germany - dankeschön, mega geil 👍

  • @clxudzYT
    @clxudzYT Před rokem +1

    The interior is just frozen in time from the day it was left there… Crazy! I love this kind of stuff!!!

  • @Crazyboutpeace
    @Crazyboutpeace Před rokem +3

    I wonder if this and the previous video made anyone in the military look into a modern version of the concept, with all the miniaturization tech has had over the decades, would probably be way more efficient today, and still be useful. Great video!

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +3

      Mark does mention in his book that there were some rumours of a new trackless train concept, though it never came to much!

    • @chain3519
      @chain3519 Před rokem

      This thing using induction motors could actually be quite interesting

  • @wtmayhew
    @wtmayhew Před rokem +1

    I recall watching a documentary about Monster Trucks which make a circuit crushing cars and racing each other. One of the trucks (Bigfoot ?) uses tires which apparently came from overland train scrap. I believe those tires are still in use as of 2023.

    • @stevestrohacker8436
      @stevestrohacker8436 Před rokem

      That would have been Bigfoot 5, and then Bigfoot 7 used the same tires as well.

    • @wtmayhew
      @wtmayhew Před rokem

      @@stevestrohacker8436 Thanks for the info on which Bigfoot trucks used those awesome tires.

    • @stevestrohacker8436
      @stevestrohacker8436 Před rokem +1

      @wtmayhew no problem, my friend. I'm a bigfoot junkie from back in the day. In fact, one of the drivers of Bigfoot grew up about 5 miles from my folks' home. I think he still holds the longest monster truck jump of 202'.

    • @wtmayhew
      @wtmayhew Před rokem

      @@stevestrohacker8436 Hello. Thanks for sharing a bit of history.

  • @BarbarianGod
    @BarbarianGod Před 8 měsíci +1

    16:00 oven next to the fridge/freezer seems like a bold choice!

  • @SJNFAB
    @SJNFAB Před rokem +4

    VEHICLES AND SUBMARINES GET NUCLEAR GENERATORS BUT MY HOUSE CAN'T. 🤬

  • @CybershamanX
    @CybershamanX Před rokem +3

    Ok... This is just BEGGING to be in a Mad Max film. Imagine an overland train armed to the teeth fending off raiders as they tried to get their precious cargo across the desolate mutant-filled plains to the tribes on the other side. 😉

    • @CalumRaasay
      @CalumRaasay  Před rokem +2

      I know right?! There is actually a Mad Max style book that features them - check out AMTRAK wars!
      I'd like to see them in a Fallout game one day!

    • @CybershamanX
      @CybershamanX Před rokem

      @@CalumRaasay Thanks for the tip! 😎👍

  • @ridezosmon2306
    @ridezosmon2306 Před rokem

    Amazing video fam! I really enjoy these masterpieces of the old age, just their presence is enough to be stunned and think that was built by people 60 or 70 years ago

  • @jasonl3445
    @jasonl3445 Před 3 měsíci

    That is very cool thanks for sharing!

  • @Valkyrie9000
    @Valkyrie9000 Před 8 měsíci

    I think the saddest part of our modern times is that something this spectacular would never be made. We don't dream, we don't thrive, we don't build, and we don't fund.

  • @jonas852
    @jonas852 Před 11 měsíci

    they are so cool! had love to restore it to working order and all the carts

  • @chrisschemmer1978
    @chrisschemmer1978 Před 11 měsíci

    This is such a cool piece of history and engineering! Thank you for doing this video! And congratulations on your nuptials!

  • @paper_pinscher8889
    @paper_pinscher8889 Před rokem +1

    Absolutely incredible! I love experimental technology like this from the 40's to the 80's. The cargo car used for dredging in Alaska reminds me of Captain Rex's AT-TE because of all the piping and support structures slapped on.

  • @bobmiller7502
    @bobmiller7502 Před 2 měsíci

    Its good to see someone follow there passion,how you talked the wife into incorparating it into your honeymoon,thats a skill of its own,thanks for giving us the chance to share in this amazing machines lifetime,keep on keeping on my brother, love and contentment from Liverpool UK,xx

  • @NICKGAR7
    @NICKGAR7 Před rokem

    Another super-interesting video Calum! Watched it with my grandson. Fascinating. I’ll get to Raasay one day soon (Mull next month). Cheers, Nick

  • @thedustkid
    @thedustkid Před 8 měsíci

    Wonderful video and such hard work of the volunteers for the restoration. Never knew it existed, now I do, excellent!

  • @jon_c
    @jon_c Před 8 měsíci

    I had one of those General Chefs in my first studio apartment! The apartment was tiny, but the only thing I could afford in the city. I have fond memories of that kitchen hardware as it had everything but was so compact.

  • @resolutemedal4512
    @resolutemedal4512 Před 11 měsíci

    Supper cool to see a peace of Yukon history being highlighted!!

  • @nisemonoyarou
    @nisemonoyarou Před rokem

    Thank you Mark!

  • @robertclark8527
    @robertclark8527 Před rokem

    Love your passion about this piece of history!

  • @AZ762SHOOTER
    @AZ762SHOOTER Před 9 měsíci +1

    The cab of this thing used to be right next to the 8 freeway on araby when i got stationed here. This was around 98. At the time i just figured it was just farming equipment until a gunny in my unit told me what it was. It sat there for a couple years before it moved to yuma proving ground.