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09-10-2011 06:47 AM |
Mike, 54-wheel-drive: The LeTourneau electric arctic land trains that put Australian road trains to shame at Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts
LeTourneau land trains were built to access the most remote reaches of the arctic and to dwarf just about any other land vehicle in size.
Designed to traverse arctic conditions as well as sand and desert, the six-wheeled TC-497 Overland Train MkII used four Solar gas-turbine engines (at 1,170hp each, that's 4,680hp total) to spin generators that delivered juice to 54 total motors – one for each of its wheels. Of its 12 trailers, two were dedicated just to carrying the turbines and generators.
The Overland Train stretched 572 feet long, easily making it the world's longest vehicle. Funny enough, it could only carry 150 tons of freight – as much as the Sno-Freighter – though it carried such developments as steerable trailer wheels that allowed the entire train more maneuverability. |
