Overland Trains

Category: TC-264 LeTourneau Sno-Buggy

  • Building the Firestone 120x48x68 Tire Molds with a BETTS Vertical Boring Mill

    Building the Firestone 120x48x68 Tire Molds with a BETTS Vertical Boring Mill

    R. G. LeTourneau, Inc. was no stranger to building huge machinery. However, it wasn’t until 1952 that R. G.’s son, Ben LeTourneau built the tire mold that would help shape a critical component of the Overland Trains story – the monstrous tires! From this custom mold came the Firestone 120x48x68 tires that would support the Crash Pusher, the Swamp Buggy, Marsh Buggy, Sno-Buggy, the Thompson Trailers, Gold Digger, and several of the Overland Trains.

    R. G. LeTourneau (left in hat) in the Longview, TX manufacturing line with the BETTS Vertical Boring Mill in the top-right, 1948.

    In 1952, R. G. LeTourneau entered into contract with the Firestone Rubber and Tire Co. to build the 10 foot tall and 4 feet wide tires. However, they did not have a mold for them. At the age of 18, Ben LeTourneau helped build this mold for Firestone.

    The BETTS Vertical Boring Mill (BETTS) had a 12’ diameter table and was used to build the custom tire mold. The table “rotated with tools mounted on a bridge over the table, while the table rotated under the bridge.”

    After the two-halves of the mold were built and placed on the BETTS 12 foot diameter table, Ben “mounted it onto the rotating table and, after making a basket which I attached to the tool bar, rode the tool down into the mold while it was rotating under me. In this way we cut a smooth mold which was used to form the new tires.”

    The BETTS was still in use at the factory until 2006, when the company owners at the time dismantled and removed it. It is unknown whether it was scrapped or sold to another company.

  • Sno-Buggy Testing in Greenland with Aircraft Overhead

    Sno-Buggy Testing in Greenland with Aircraft Overhead

    While researching for my book, I came across this unique image of the Sno-Buggy with an aircraft flying overhead. This is a previously unreleased image as of 06Feb23.

    image courtesy R. G. letourneau museum and archives at letourneau university
  • Overland Train TC-497 and Buggy Fan Art

    Overland Train TC-497 and Buggy Fan Art

    Several young fans of R. G. LeTourneau’s Overland Trains sent in their fan art. The first drawing is of the Sno-Buggy. It had eight Firestone 120x48x68 wheels and was tested in Greenland.

    The next drawing is the Marsh Buggy. It used an AC electric motor and gear drive to lower and raise a blade, which was used for pushing down small vegetation or shaping small amounts of overburden.

    The final drawing is the TC-497. The control car is at the U.S. Army Proving Ground in Yuma, AZ. The two power cars and most of the trailers were scrapped. At least one trailer is in Nome, AK and was part of a gold dredging project built by Lloyd Molby called Gold Digger.

  • Sno-Buggy with Experimental Trailer and Model

    Sno-Buggy with Experimental Trailer and Model

    The Sno-Buggy was an experimental machine to help the Army further understand oversnow transportation methods. This was also the first time that the Firestone 120x48x68 tires had been tested in the Arctic. The Sno-Buggy departed LeTourneau’s Longview, TX factory for Greenland on July 15, 1954.

    Then and Now: (LEFT) Sno-buggy in 1954 in front of letourneau’s primary facilty and (right) the same building in 2021 sans sno-buggy 🙂

    The Sno-Buggy was designed as a single car, without powered trailers, with one exception. LeTourneau designed an unpowered trailer to accompany the Sno-Buggy in its Greenland tests. The trailer was unpowered and used different wheels and tires – it was called the LeTourneau Cargo Trailer Model 73. Only one of these trailers was ever built.

    Letourneau cargo trailer model 73, image courtesy r.g. letourneau museum and archives at letourneau university.
    sno-buggy and model 73 trailer in greenland, IMAGE COURTESY R.G. LETOURNEAU MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES AT LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY.

    C.D.G. Customs

    The Sno-Buggy, while not an Overland Train, was one of the building blocks for many of the technologies utilized for the Trains. A talented model builder on Instagram built this Sno-Buggy and Model 73 trailer. It is a 1/64th representation.

    model by c.d.g. customs

    You can view his Instagram Reel, a live video of his build at https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnFuSkTodRG/.

    What happened to the Sno-Buggy?

    When the Sno-Buggy came back to Longview, it was modified and repurposed into a new machine called the Swamp Buggy. You can read about the Sno-Buggy/Swamp Buggy and Overland Trains story on Kindle eBook or paperback formats. Order the book on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFL91FX6.

  • R. G. LeTourneau’s Overland Trains: a complete history is now AVAILABLE

    R. G. LeTourneau’s Overland Trains: a complete history is now AVAILABLE

    I started writing this book in February of 2020. Two and a half years later, I have captured the most complete Overland Trains story ever published. Buy the book now on Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFL91FX6).

  • Sno-Buggy in Greenland

    Sno-Buggy in Greenland

    The TC-264 Sno-Buggy spent some time in Greenland testing out the HUGE Firestone 120x48x68s and a few unpowered trailers. It participated in tests as Camp Sierra and was driven by Nate Galbreath. Galbreath was assigned to the 9223rd Transportation Service Unit (Transportation Arctic Group). We know a great deal about the Sno-Buggy and its time in Greenland. During testing, R.L. and R.G. LeTourneau visited the testing areas and received valuable feedback that would eventually shape the Overland Trains we know today. R.L. kept a photo journal with original images and descriptions that very few have seen, which is part of why we have such a rich machine and storyline history.

    • Nate Galbreath in Greenland, 1954. Image: U.S. Army, fair use.
    • Nate Galbreath. Image: thule1954.com

    Unlike many of R.G. LeTourneau’s machines, the Sno-Buggy was painted an olive, or drab green. With its dual tires on each of LeTourneau’s Electric Drives, it spanned 24 feet wide and was 27.5 feet long.

    Experimental Letourneau Sno-Buggy, Greenland 1954

  • Overland Trains Video by Calum

    Overland Trains Video by Calum

    An acquaintance of mine posted a video on the Overland Trains today. It has been a labour of love for him over the past 2 years. His research and narration are top class. I can’t recommend watching his video enough.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abGyX2uwXsw
  • Abbreviations and Acronyms

    Abbreviations and Acronyms

    If the military is involved, you can be certain that they will use an abbreviation or acronym for their organized name, project, or equipment. Here are a few of the more commonly used abbreviations and acronyms used during the scope of the Overland Trains.

    ACAN – Army Command and Administrative Network

    ACFEL – Arctic Construction & Frosts Laboratory

    APPR – Army Package Power Reactor

    ERDL – Engineer Research & Development Laboratory

    FESA – Facilities Engineering Support Agency

    LCC – Logistical Cargo Carrier

    PR&DC – Polar Research & Development Center

    SIPRE – Snow, Ice, Permafrost & Research Establishment

    TRADCOM – Transportation Research Development Command

    TRARG – Transportation Arctic Group

    TRECOM – Transportation Research Command

    TREOG – Transportation Research & Environmental Operations Group

    USARSG – United States Army Research & Standardization Group

  • Firestone 120x48x68 Tires

    Firestone 120x48x68 Tires

    The Firestone 120x48x68 tires are arguably, one of the most recognizable features on the last 3 LeTourneau Overland Trains. These tires were first produced in 1952. The numbers describe the tire dimensions as 120 inches tall – diameter (10 feet), 48 inches wide (4 feet), and 68 inches inner diameter. The were manufactured in thicknesses of 10-ply to 36-ply based on the machine it was used. If you wanted to buy a tire and rim combination during the 1960s, you would expect to shell out around $3,500 per tire and $1,600 per rim.

    • photo: D.Hardy, 2009
    • Rim and tire combo weight, 2,322 pounds each.

    Tire and rim combination weights will vary by rim model, rim metal composition, and tire plies. These tires were also used on the Crash Pusher, Water Wagon, Marsh Buggy, Sno/Swamp-Buggy, and possibly a few others that I have not seen.

    April 15, 1954 – Ft. Eustis, VA. Three visitors marvel at the new Firestone tires.
  • Sno-Buggy Image: Then and Now

    Sno-Buggy Image: Then and Now

    The image of the TC-264 Sno-Buggy below was captured in front of the R.G. LeTourneau building in Longview, TX, very close to the original guard shack.

    In May of 2021, I traveled to Longview, TX. I was able to capture an image of the building, now owned by Japanese based Komatsu. The two-story buildings in front are gone. You can still see their outline.

    The old R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. building in Longview, TX May of 2021

    I placed the images side by side for comparison below.

    Then and Now

    The Sno-Buggy spent some time in Greenland, where it engaged in a variety of tests. The United States Army (USAR) was evaluating equipment for logistics operations and others – most importantly, how to move petroleum, oil, and lubricant efficiently over the ice.

    The Sno-Buggy was not an Overland Train. However, the machine greatly contributed to the development of that concept. I will expand on the Sno-Buggy, it’s role in Greenland, another piece of equipment that was shipped and tested with it, and how the Buggy transformed when it came back from Greenland, in my book.