Overland Trains

Category: R.G. LeTourneau

  • LeTourneau Tactical Tree Crusher Location

    LeTourneau Tactical Tree Crusher Location

    The Tree Crusher is not an Overland Train. I wanted to showcase a unique machine built by R.G.

    In 1968, the United States military leased the only two Tree Crushers in existence from R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. The military needed a win against the overbearing vegetation in Vietnam. They hoped that the answer would be the LeTourneau Tree Crusher.

    War is Boring (https://warisboring.com/the-u-s-army-leveled-vietnamese-forests-with-monstrous-tree-crushers/) has an extensive write-up on them.

    Where are They now?

    What is left of the Tree Crushers reside in Longview, TX. Both cabs and the drums are sitting behind a workshop, rusting away. The bottom two image gallery pictures show a partially cut drum. A local Longview scrapper contacted the drums owner to see if he could salvage the steel. After repeated attempts, the owner agreed and the scrapper started cutting. The scrapper did not anticipate the foam’s toxicity inside the drum. The foam was used to create buoyancy with the heavy machine. As the welder cut into the steel, toxic fumes from the foam made him sick. The scrapper came back again and to give cutting another try. This time the foam off-gassing made him sick and landed him in the hospital. The scrapper abandoned his efforts to salvage the drum steel.

    • 2 drums
    • Tree Crusher cab
    • Tree Crusher Cab and cut drum
    • close up of cut drum
    • cab close up
  • R.G. LeTourneau, Inc: Defense Projects

    R.G. LeTourneau, Inc: Defense Projects

  • Research & Writing Update, June 3, 2021

    Research & Writing Update, June 3, 2021

    Two weeks ago, I traveled to Texas for an extensive week long research mission. After braving a tornado siren warning and the extreme heat and humidity, I have to say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. I visited in-person with a LeTourneau Historian, visited the Gregg County Historical Museum, spent hours sifting through boxes and boxes of records – spiders too – and interviewed two individuals that had direct experience assembling and drafting the Overland Trains. The information from this trip added over 6GB of electronic data, one sling shot, a piece of the former R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. Dome 1, and relayed experiences that will significant add to the Overland Train’s provenance.

    • R.G. demonstrates equipment operation
    • The controls and wheel motor and tire setup used on the picture to your left

    The image with R.G. is a functional demonstration model using during shows. When the operator turned the potentiometer, the wheel would turn and the operator could see components move. The color image on the right side of the gallery is the actual control dashboard that R.G. sat in as it sits today. I was able to see and sit in the operator’s chair seen right during my trip.

  • An Ar-Gee Design

    An Ar-Gee Design

    You won’t see the Ar-Gee Design logo very often. It was used in 1957 only. When R.G. LeTourneau wanted to attend a trade show, he was still restricted from using the R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. name, pending a 5 year moratorium on selling earth moving machinery. He came up with the Ar-Gee name.

    • The “Ar-Gee Design” logo
    • On a piece of machinery
  • R.G. LeTourneau’s first Oil Barge Sold to George H.W. Bush

    R.G. LeTourneau’s first Oil Barge Sold to George H.W. Bush

    In December of 1954, R.G. LeTourneau, George H.W. Bush, and R.L. LeTourneau met to go over plans for the late President’s first offshore oil platform (image below). In 1954, President Bush ran Zapata Offshore Co. from 1954-1966. He bought one of R.G. LeTourneau’s first offshore oil barges.

    Pictured left to right: R.G. LeTourneau, George H.W. Bush, and R.L. (Dick) LeTourneau

    When R.G. LeTourneau approached Zapata Offshore Co. about purchasing a barge, Bush was hesitant. After some back and forth, R.G. proposed a low risk scenario to Bush. Considering that the platform was R.G.’s first platform sale, he made an offer that Bush could not refuse. R.G. told Bush that he would build the platform and have it towed out to a location of his choice at no cost to Zapata Offshore Co. If the platform did not function as desired, R.G. would tow it back and Zapata Offshore Co. would not be out a dime. If the barge performed as expected, Zapata would then be obligated to purchase the rig – nearly $3 million). Bush accepted.

    SCOPE, December 30, 1955

    After R.G. built and towed the platform out to a location, the platform did not deliver. R.G. hurried out to the platform and took out his soap stone, marking up a few locations on the platform. Welders came out and followed R.G.’s marks and repair instructions. After the corrections, R.G.’s platform operated as intended. On March 20, 1956, drill barge SCORPION was open for inspection and commissioning at Pier 12 in Galveston.

    • Commissioning ceremony invite – front page
    • Commissioning ceremony invite – inside

    Dale Hardy provided the background story for this article.

  • Custom Slingshot from a R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. Draftsman I Interviewed

    Custom Slingshot from a R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. Draftsman I Interviewed

    During my trip to Texas last week, I interviewed a man who drafted the suspension components for the Overland Train MkII. The interview lasted only an hour. A couple of days later, we met up with another man who worked on the R.G. LeTourneau, Inc assembly line. During the 2 hour lunch, he gave me a custom slingshot. He makes these custom for each person that he deems worthy of his creations. This is built out of Red Oak and has custom engravings on each side.

    • One side is engraved with my name “Mark.”
    • One side is engraved with the word “Historian.”
    • Each slingshot has a custom message for the owner. This was mine.

  • Trip to Texas – May 17-22, 2021

    Trip to Texas – May 17-22, 2021

    I traveled to Texas the week of May 16th for book research. I went through piles and piles of archival folders, documents, and reports. The findings from this trip were significant, especially as it relates to the Sno-Train (LCC-1), Overland MkII, and information about R.G. LeTourneau. On Friday, I spent two hours talking to two different individuals over lunch. One of these men worked on the assembly line; he assembled the Sno-Buggy, Sno-Train, and Overland MkII!!! The other worked side-by-side with R.G. LeTourneau drafting up his ideas and the suspension for the Overland MkII. In total, I gathered nearly 6GB of data about the Overland Trains, including a dozen or so new Train concepts. I am still hoping to have my book published by the end of the year. I can definitely see all of this data delaying the final product by a few months into 2022 – I need to make sure this book is right!

    I visited the Gregg County Historical Museum’s R.G. LeTourneau exhibit. There was a great deal of history about LeTourneau and his contributions, including a small exhibit on the Overland Trains. This exhibit closes June 12, 2021.

    • Most of the R.G. LeTourneau exhibit
    • LeTourneau sign
    • a 750 pound bomb made by LeTourneau for WWII
  • Gregg County Historical Museum LeTourneau Exhibit

    Gregg County Historical Museum LeTourneau Exhibit

    Beginning April 13 and extending until June 12, 2021, the Gregg County Historical Museum will host an R.G. LeTourneau exhibit. Gregg County is where LeTourneau’s Longview, TX facilities used to reside – now Komatsu. Come and celebrate R.G.’s accomplishments and visit the Museum exhibit. Visit the museum website at http://gregghistorical.org.

    EDIT: Adding a gallery from the trip.

    • The main floor of the R.G. LeTourneau exhibit
    • Harmon General Hospital was an Army hospital, which later became LeTourneau Technical college, now LETU
    • Bomb casing built by LeTourneau
    • Close-up of bomb casing tail fin
    Overland Mark II model
  • The Overland Train MkII (TC-497) with Power Car

    The Overland Train MkII (TC-497) with Power Car

    Below, the Overland Train MkII rolls along with a Cargo Car and Power Car in Yuma, AZ. There is no backstory for this image and the source is unknown. This week was largely spent working on the TC-497 chapter. Phase I of the Army’s contract for R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. to create the Overland Train, was to build out the preliminary design. Using data from the Sno-Train (LCC-1), LeTourneau engineers worked out the gaps and started work on the machine you see below.

    source: unknown.

  • Ben W. LeTourneau dies at 85 years of age

    The last remaining child of R.G. and Evelyn LeTourneau passed away on February 15, 2021. Ben was one of 5 children of R.G. LeTourneau. R.G.’s children included his daughter Louise Dick and 4 sons Richard, Roy, Ted, and Ben. Ben had multiple health issues and had contracted Covid-19. He passed while in the Intensive Care Unit.

    March 21, 1934 – February 15, 2021
    source: September 15, 1954, NOW