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Longest Off Road vehicle in history

B

Bill(Wis)

Well-known Member
US Army Overland Train during testing at Yuma Proving Ground in 1962-63. Standing down in front wearing OD fatigues is Major George Hendrickson, the test director. After the testing was complete he was assigned to Fort Eustis, VA and I, being the next most senior, was assigned to put the thing into storage. The Army eventually decided it would not be needed due to the arrival on scene of large heavy lift helicopters and the train, except for the command car, was sold for scrap. The command car had quarters for six including toilets and a galley. Fully air conditioned, those guys lived and ate well.

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Thats an impressive set up but what a huge target. Thanks for posting, very interesting. Used to drive by the proving grounds while employed doing business in the area. All the camouflaged vehicles even Harley Davidsons. Never got to get on site.
 
I believe the command car and a few trailers are at the transportation museum in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Ben
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Centash: That one would be the arctic version that was tested earlier. It's intended purpose was to supply the Dew Line. The one I pictured was, except for the command car, sold for scrap. The command car is reportedly on display at the museum yard at Yuma Proving Ground. There were improvemnts made to the Yuma version. The diesel emgines were replaced with International Harvester Solar Saturn turbine engines. 1170 HP each. Many other changes as well.
 
Firestone 120 x 48 x 68. Each one of those tires had to be painted by hand with anti-ozonant paint before going into storage. 54 tires, six guys. Do the math (;>)) Firestone tires, body by LeTourneau, DC electric traction motors (one powering each wheel) by Westinghouse, engines by International Harvester's Solar turbine division located in San Diego.
 
Yes, it's history dates back to the DEW line. All the wiring has been cut, not sure if it's slated for restoration....

Ben
 
Yes, I drove it. Under the watchful and amused supervision of Major George Hendrickson. To steer it? A toggle switch that said right-left. I kid you not.
 
No big deal but I have stood under it at whitehorse. That's when I figured out where big foot got its tires.
 
Thanks, Jim. The Yuma version was 574 feet but the length could be anything! Just add more cars. Need more range? Just add fuel cars. The cars followed in the tracks of the preceeding cars due to a very simple connection. They left tracks in that desert that will be there for one thousand years. The ground was covered by small chocolate pebble rocks that was underlayed by tan colored silt. Very productive farmland if watered. Once those pebbles werte disturbed, the tan silt would be left exposed, forever! Just out to the west of Yuma, Patton's tracks are still clearly visable as he excercised his Second Armored Division.
 
Seems these are the tires that the Big Foot monster truck group spotted, then built a truck for just for fun. Front & rear wheels nearly touched each other !
 
Lived in Flagstaff for 7 years, and got to the deserts quite often. Unless there is a flash flood, all tracks tend to be permanent. Nice to remember. Jim
 
Hard to envision the size of it until you zoom in on the picture.

Tucked in sideways on the first wagon that jeep looks like a toy.

Then wagon six with a dozer sideways on it.
 
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