As early as 1956, the United States Army Nuclear Power Program had been researching and developing a compact nuclear power plant. These compact reactors would be movable on semitrailers, railroad flatcars, or barges. The January 15, 1958 United State House of Representatives record relates the following.
![](https://overlandtrains.com/wp-content/uploads/house-record-nucelar-train.png)
The Army’s Nuclear Power Program was heavily scaled back in 1966 because of budget cuts related to the Vietnam War. Nuclear power never found its way to any of the 6 Overland Trains.