Old Military vehicle locomotion trials

[glassk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aAxpJNI5u4Q

 

[Another Ahab]

We worked a couple of DoD development contracts. We added MTS tracks to 5 ton trucks to make half tracks. Also put them on tandem axle cargo trailers for flotation in mud and sand. QUOTE]

Love to see one of those suckers.

 

[RangerBob]

Those land trains weren't built for the ALCAN, they were built to resupply the DEW line. I tried to get up close to the LCC-1 (1st photo), it was in a scrap yard out the back gate of Ft Wainwright, but the yard was sold and liquidated before I could track down an owner. Fortunately I just read that it was saved and now resides at a museum in Whitehorse. A land train trailer still lives in Tok, AK and another Letourneau land train is parked on private property just north of Fairbanks. The owner has a 'mog too.

The land train north of Fairbanks is still there as of last month, and it looks like the owner runs a little tourist gold panning operation on the property during the summer. I should have stopped to ask what his plans for it are, but work gives me little time for roadside chats. The trailer north of Tok is still there as of last week. AND...I am looking at the land train in front of the museum in Whitehorse right now! It looks great. Will get pictures tonight or tomorrow. They appear to be maintaining it well. Heck, it looks like it might even be able to move under its' own power.

 

[sigo]

That's a great update! I'm glad to hear about that place across from the pipeline viewing stop. I always assumed the owner is an enterprising sort of fellow. He also made an enormous ice tower during the winter a few years back. It was quite a sight. Seems like I recall the paper said it was around 90' tall. It was up on that ridge behind his house. Wish I had stopped for some photos.

When I drove through Tok and saw that trailer I saw an unusually high number of other former MVs for such a small area. I recall a few M37s, a deuce, and maybe a few others.

I look forward to the photos of the LCC in Whitehorse.

 

[jasonjc]

I seen some 8X8's that had 2 straight axles , instead of steer axles , in the front. They turned like a wagon in front. These were from the 50's.?. Any one know anything about them?

 

[73m819]

YES but do not have my reference book at the moment, think it was built by Cook brothers, it had wagon steering.

 

[sigo]

73m819 nailed it. Cook Brothers 8-ton chain-drive T20 was evaluated in the mid 40's. There were tractor and cargo truck variants. Looks like the Corbitt T20E1 and T20E4 also had platform (wagon) front steering. The Corbitt 8x8 shared nothing in common with the Cook Bros trucks. During the same timeframe there was also a 12 ton 8x8 T26 by Sterling that had front bogie platform steering. Reference US Military Wheeled Vehicles by Fred W. Crimson.

 

[RangerBob]

A few pictures of the land train in Whitehorse...

 

[Flingarrows]

View attachment 510813

That looks similar to the Fordson snow machine: https://youtu.be/zBjlSJf4274

 

[Another Ahab]

That looks similar to the Fordson snow machine: https://youtu.be/zBjlSJf4274

That was all very cool, thanks Flingarrows:

- One SERIOUS woodpile there (i think it was around 4.30 +/-)

- And a hoot that a substitution for horses is even mentioned (but then you realize the number of horses that the Wehrmacht went through during WWII, tens of thousands I think it was).

 

[Another Ahab]

A few pictures of the land train in Whitehorse...



View attachment 580942

You thinking about picking that up for your collection, RangerBob!?

 

[RangerBob]

You thinking about picking that up for your collection, RangerBob!?

Not this, since in general wheels are for weenies, although this is an exceptional set of wheels, but maybe one of the Rolligons in Boggies collection.

 

[CT-Mike]

That looks similar to the Fordson snow machine: https://youtu.be/zBjlSJf4274

Very cool, thanks for the link.