Category: VC-22 Sno-Freighter
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Steve McPeak and the Sno-Freighter
In December 2024, I received an email from someone who told an interesting story about Steve McPeak and owning one of the Overland Trains. McPeak was a daredevil and holder of 24 world records. “Around 1980 I met a guy named Steve Mcpeak who at the time was doing a daredevil act act at Chicago…
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Augustin “Marty” Martinez and his Ties to LeTourneau’s Overland Trains
Augustin “Marty” Martinez has had more hands-on time with Overland Trains story than any one individual. He was the primary Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in charge of the Sno-Freighter’s recovery after it caught fire and was immobilized deep in the Yukon. His documentation, slides, and personal stories of these events adds significant depth to our events…
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The Sno-Train connected to the Sno-Freighter During its Recovery
After the Sno-Freighter caught fire and became immobilized, it sat for five years in a valley within the Yukon Territories. The Sno-Freighter’s owner contracted with the Army to go in and retrieve the Sno-Freighter with the Sno-Train and personnel familiar with the machines. The image seen below was captured by Augustin “Marty” Martinez, the Non-Commissioned…
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Sno-Freighter Trailers Used as Decking for House
Prior to the Sno-Freighter’s more prominent display along the Steese Highway at Gold Daughters, the trailers were featured as decking for a home placed adjacent to the property. One of these images and the story of how the trailers came to be at the property are featured in my book on page 136.
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Received LeTourneau NOW Newsletters 1953-1966
I received a cache of gently read LeTourneau NOW newsletters in the mail yesterday. These company newsletters were published by R. G. LeTourneau. Inc. and mailed to whomever wanted to read it free of cost. The date range for these newsletters closely aligns with the Overland Trains development, including the Firestone 120x48x68 tires. I have…
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Recovering the Sno-Freighter with the Sno-Train
On the Alaska Freight Lines Sno-Freighter’s third journey resupplying the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line stations, it jackknifed and caught fire. The machine sat immobilized for five years in a valley east of Eagle, AK, just inside the Yukon Territories. The United States Army and the Sno-Freighter’s owner set out to recover the Sno-Freighter; they…
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Sno-Freighter Without Paint
The image below is the Alaska Freight Lines Sno-Freighter, built in January-February of 1955. This image is dated February-March 1955. There is a healthy post discussion about it on the Overland Trains Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OverlandTrains).
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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).
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Breaking Down the “Le Tourneau Cross-Country Freighter”
The November 10, 1962 issue of Eagle (England) published a cutaway image of the Alaska Freight Lines Sno-Freighter. While the drawing is inaccurate on a few details, it shows the general ideas well. I was talking with Dale Hardy about the image; he pointed out the control car’s front axle and how it would be…
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Sno-Freighter at Bear Creek Machine Shop – Then and Now
After the Sno-Freighter jackknifed and caught fire, it sat for several years in a valley east of Eagle. When the Sno-Freighter was recovered, it was moved to the Bear Creek Machine Shop on the Yukon Consolidate Gold Corporation (YCGC) property. It sat for many years until it was finally moved in 1968 by Cliff Bishop…
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NEW Sno-Freighter Image in Storage
I recently acquired a new Sno-Freighter image slide. The slide is dated September 1969, which places it in Alaska, just after it left Bear Creek, YT. After I digitized the photo, it came out like this. As you can see in the photo, two tires in the foreground appear to be from the trailers. The…
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Sno-Freighter Control Car Towed as a 5th Wheel
In 1968, the Sno-Freighter was towed from Bear Creek, Yukon Territories to the Alaska, United States. The trucking company that was contracted to haul the Sno-Freighter placed the the trailers on flatbeds. The control car was fitted with a 5th wheel attachment and towed from the rear. If you were following the Sno-Freighter as it…