Category: TC-497 Overland Train

Similar to the LCC-1 Sno-Train, the Overland Mark 2 came with a jib crane. It was designed for moving freight and even changing a tire if needed. The jib crane had a usable capacity of 20 tons. But, the weight capacity changed based on the angle of the crane arm.

The cargo size limitations also changed depending on the jib crane angle. For example, if your working load was 10,000 pounds, the maximum width crate the Mark 2 could load was 8 feet 6 inches.

Ever wonder what it looks like to install the Overland Train Mark II Solar turbines…?

A few days ago, I received an email from a man who said his dad, Vic Vessakosal, had been around the Overland Mark 2. His email goes on to say that his dad went to high school then worked at R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. He also knew H.D. “Red” Reynolds, or “Mr. Reynolds” as his dad imparted upon him. His family has a number of his wildlife nature paintings and had no clue that Red painted for R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. His son Timmy said, “I knew him as a kid in the 1970s but, he was just Mr Reynolds to me.”

Timmy’s dad came from Thailand and attended LeTourneau University, while working at R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. I’ll talk more about Vic Vessakosal and his ties to a Thailand Colonel in my book.

The image below was painted by Marathon LeTourneau, Co.’s Art Supervisor and company artist H.D. “Red” Reynolds. He started his professional career as a painter in 1951 for LeTourneau College. Reynold’s private paintings mainly focus on nature and wildlife. He was active in local Longview, Texas art events and in his encouragement of youth participation in the art field.

Before companies had marketing departments filled with Mac laptops, companies used to employ artists. The R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. company art is amazing to see – the shading, precise line work, and attention to detail is unimaginable by today’s standards. The painting shows the Overland Train Mark 2 traveling over Arctic terrain accompanied by a weasel. As you can slightly make out, exhaust is coming from the last two cars and the engine and generator set in the control car. The painting now resides in a private office in Longview, TX.

Gregg County Historical Museum hosted a R.G. LeTourneau exhibit from April 13, 2021 through June 12, 2021. During which time, the painting, or a print of it, was on exhibit.

There was a request of Facebook for drawings of the suspension on the Overland Mark II, or as the military contract number was cites, the TC-497. These drawings are from the Phase I Overland Train Project report dated December 28, 1959.

The first drawing is the suspension.

The second drawing is the cargo car drawing from the same report.

The Overland Train Mark II concept began in 1955. While the Mark II was the last of the Overland Trains to be built, it had the longest history. R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. would not see a purchase order for the Mark II until 1958. The images below show the Mark II on the test track at R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. in Longview, TX in 1961. Once the Army accepted the Mark II in Texas, it was sent by rail to Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona in April, 1962. This is where the real machine testing would occur. Today, the Mark II Control Car, the lead car, sits at the Yuma Proving Ground Heritage Center – https://history.army.mil/museums/IMCOM/yumaProvingGround/index.html.

LeTourneau Overland Trains used a variety of American made parts and materials. Companies used their contributions to help America fight and win wars. Advertisements like the one here helped to bolster their product lines. After all, if the United States military used their products, why wouldn’t you? The advertisement below is from a news release of the National Carbon Corporation, a division of Union Carbide Corporation.

The last Overland Train, the Overland Mark II (Mk2), consisted of 13 cars – the leading Control Car, 10 Cargo Cars, and two trailing Power Cars. Each of the 54 wheels had its own wheel motor that used National Carbon Company brushes. A total of 668 brushes were needed to complete the Mk2 – 504 brushes were used in the traction motors within the wheels, 56 large brushes for the DC generators, 12 for the exciters, and 96 round items for AC generator contacts.