I work in Alaska and I've been driving past that thing for the past 20 years. There's also another one in Whitehorse, Canada at the transportation museum
@@doge_sevens as someone who works in the automotive restoration field, I disagree. Very easy to spend 100k restoring a car, this is many times larger than a car, and all replacement parts would need to be custom fabricated.
This has been one of my favorite RUclips sagas. It still boggles the mind that with the expense and effort to get the snow train up there and operating that they didn’t fully train the entire crew to properly drive it and allowed an inexperienced person to be in control.
I worked for LeTourneau as a machinist in the Longview plant for almost ten years. It was my good fortune to get to know some of the guys that had worked there for 40 or more years before they retired. Working there is something I will always be proud I was able to do.
I love the graphics and images of old diagrams in this video, I spent so much time as a kid looking thru books and magazines and being amazing by these huge machines. Thanks for the follow up, really great stuff.
Alaska, being full of fringe dwellers, those drivers probably call themselves "Travelers" so they can drive without a Driver License , Vehicle Registration and Insurance.
I just Googled "Letourneau House machine", and that thing is wild. Basically a steel mould, for an entire, re-enforced concrete house, created in a single pour, with thd whole thing on wheels; A giant, house-sized Dr Suess machine, that lets you roll up to a location, and lay a house, like a hen lays an egg. Apparently the house-pouring process took 24 hours.
Amazing video I had no idea before your video.. I find it ironic a Scotsman is covering lost usa history As well Leterno was a visionary thanks for your documentation
In the 1970s, I was working in the Fairbanks area and visited the wrecking yard where it was being stored. They had a looping video tape explaining the Rolle gone tires used and showed a person being run over by these soft tires with no injury. The person who created the Monster Truck called Bigfoot, bought some of these tires for his truck and built the first truly Monster Truck with those tires. I was a youngster at the time and really enjoyed the tour I got of that Overland train and still tell the story of it to my Grand Children today.
13:43 I'd be willing to bet that those tires would still hold air. If I had the $$ I would go there and buy what remains of that thing, repair it and get it all running because I believe that there are even more opportunities to use this it 'up' there. So cool, your videos always rule the class.
@@jefferysumpn6049 Yea I believe it was one of the first Bigfoot models, I want to say it's in Pacific MO. At a previous job a coworker told me about when he was in the army and worked on these machines. He had a lot to say about about it all, though mainly he talked about having to get under the damn thing every morning with weed burners to thaw everything out enough for it to be able to move, as the ice would lock it all up.
@@danielkapp9468 Yes there are actually two Bigfoot models on display in Pacific Missouri, I drive by them everyday lol. One is right next to I-44 in "Bigfoot Plaza" and the other is at the Bigfoot 4x4 company. Not sure of the models but I think the one by 4x4 is the original Bigfoot.
@@danielkapp9468 Turns out there's three Bigfoot models in Pacific Missouri. Bigfoot #5 was the one which used land train tires and it is located next to the B&H Market.
I’m from Longview Texas, and stumbled across your channel a couple years ago while trying to learn more about LeTourneau operations/projects in my town, and have even explored previous testing site property owned by him. I’m so glad you finally got a chance to see the Sno-Freighter. I’ve loved learning about the history as well, there are few people left that even know what LeTourneau did in and for the town of Longview.
Yeah when they sold out to Komatsu alot of stuff was lost. The library at the university does have public access and has alot of the history of the family and shows almost all of their projects.
@@CalumRaasayif you go further north on the Steese to Chatanika you can explore the old gold dredge that got torched a few years back. Just and fyi that ball structure used to be done at Greely base south of Delta.
My Dad had somewhat of a connection with the LeTourneau family way back in the day. After WWll and in the later 1940ies my dad moved our family from TX to southern cal. where he got a job at a Naval Air station in San Diego as a Firefighter on downed or crashed aircraft. Years later he moved up in position and became house crash captain. There at the firehouse he was at was a "VERY LARGE CRAINE". It was made to pick up and move crashed planes, (all military), off the runway. The crane was designed by LeTouneau, and he had his crew give me rides in it, (I was around 10-12 yrs old). I remember it didn't have a steering wheel; it was driven my buttons on the dash. Years later and after all us kids had grown and moved on, dad and Mom retired and moved back to Tx. (home). On a trip home once, (I had settled down in Ky after getting out of Army at Ft. Knox and I remember going to church with mom and dad that dad wanted me to meet a member there. I can't remember the members first name, but last name was LeTourneau. Dad asks me if I remembered the huge crane at the fire house in Cal that I had rode in and of course I said yes. He then told me that this gentleman was the son of the builder of that crane and of many other very large equipment. Just though I'd share that with ya. I very much enjoyed the video, I wish I could have seen the "Snow Freighter"!! John in Ky.
I can’t believe there is a direct flight from Frankfurt to Anchorage. When I’m in Scotland I’m going to check out the Isle of Raasay. It looks fascinating and breathtaking.
7:13 - I love the old school cut-away drawings! The barrel roof was caved in well after the fire. Using Google Street View, you can find 2009 & 2011 that show it almost intact.
@@CalumRaasayCalum, you could do a lot worse than to get yourself some back copies of the 'Eagle' comic or one of the several compendium books of the same, which are a cornucopia of cut away drawings featuring the wonders of the age (1950s).
My grandparents taught at one of the Dew Line stations in Quebec. They never would have seen the Snow Freighter, but these videos are still fascinating.
I commented on your last video about this, I'm stoked you actually came to Alaska, let alone Fox, Alaska. You were just a few miles from my house. All the years I've driven by this thing, this is the first time I got to see the inside, pretty cool. Thanks for your efforts. Hope you enjoyed your time here! Come back soon.
I was a freight Hauler to Alaska from the 1960's through 1988/ I have seen these rigs working. I pulled heavy Loads from the states to Alaska and many times junk loads back.
So happy to see you were able to come to Alaska and document for those who live outside of the state about this! There is a short film that airs on PBS here about it that is part of a number of historical tidbits that are sprinkled into time slots as available. I hope you enjoyed your trip!
@rot_studios don't forget they're not experts or really know what they are doing. 😂😂 (Joe's words, not mine.) From a group of guys to get a tank filled with concrete to run again. This Alaskan snow train would be a walk in the park. 😉
I appreciate people like you who go deeeep into their interests and share everything they have learned about such a specific area of history. Gonna binge your videos tonight for sure. Thanks Calum!
I think it would be even better to have it in an indoor museum in Alaska so that the Alaskans get to see and experience their heritage (and the kids would love to climb it too)
I am a student at LeTourneau University in Longview. This school is full of engineering nerds that would appreciate this engineering marvel and love to see is restored to operational condition. There is already a collection of LeTourneau machines here and as one of the last surviving overland trains it would definitely be proper for it to be displayed here. RG's legacy and appreciation is alive and strong here and it would be well cared for. Also, we are 5 minutes off an interstate and a few hours away from Dallas, so much more accessible for viewers.
My hometown of Mackenzie, BC has one of the remaining LeTourneau Tree Crushers on display near the center of town. It was used to prepare the 'pond' area that would become Williston Lake after the completion of the W.A.C Bennett hydroelectricity Dam. That Tree Crusher sat abandoned for years at the side of Williston Lake about 30 kilometers north of Mackenzie until it was moved to its current location in town in 1986. I'll say this about LeTourneau....he certainly was a man of vision.
With all of these mechanically inclined youtubers looking for their next big project it would be so cool to see this beast restored or atleast moving on its own power.
@@bb5242Controls and engines are the easy part. There’s it’s sister machine to use as a blueprint. The rest is fabricating the rest of the cab and replacing the metal. The only difficult part would be diagnosing all those electric motors, since they were proprietary.
Whilst restoring the controll car would be a massive massive project it would be nice to see one of the trailers restored. I would imagine there are a lot of fairbanks engines kicking about the area too.
I remember as a child in the early 1960's seeing articles regarding those vehicles. That man who owned that trucking company was truly remarkable. Very good video, I look forward to more. And coming from a married man as well, thank your wife for us.
man you deserve 10x the subs and views you're getting! well done! you're truly one of the best youtubers out there. I believe I commented & asked last year on your other road train video for you to try and find Alaskas roadtrain wrecked by fire as a video idea, since there was/is literally nobody else who covered this train or accident that I could find. heck there doesn't seem to be much history out there on it either, other then it existed and fire damage. I've searched pretty hard for info on it. heck a lot of people didn't even know where it was anymore, let alone this well preserved. thank you for accomplishing what I can't do personally, being I am disabled. I still love being a lifetime student and exploring and always had a fascination with these but no content real content to enjoy and inability for myself to go out exploring like I used to be able to. look forward to many more from you, keep it up Calum!
I remember learning about this snow freighter when Bob Chandler built a Bigfoot truck and used tires from it. It was definitely the tallest monster truck ever built at that time and possibly still is. Those tires are the tallest tires ever made.
Brilliant video!! I love these huge machines!! Everyone was mental in the 50's!!! They thought they could go anywhere and do anything!!! Oh if we had that spirit now!!! Really good stuff Callum, sadly, didn't see Tiddles the dog!😢! Haha!! Keep on with the great research and great videos. Ps. How the fook do you afford to go to Alaska??????
i was just talking to my buddy today about ice road truckers and i told him about this big land train system from back then. crazy that this video dropped today haha
I grew up in Tok Alaska. A trailer to one of the trains is sitting in the parking lot to an amusement park there called Mukluk Land. I recently was able to make a trip by there and noticed the tires had gone flat. I remember as a kid them still having air. This video makes me want to go back and take another look at it.
Thank you for visiting my great State of Alaska! I was at the University of Alaska 1969-1971 but never heard about this machine. I’ll try to make a visit up there from Anchorage next summer.
So, it sounds like the Army and LeTourneau hoodwinked Al Ghezzi and Alaska Freight Lines into shouldering the financial burden of prototyping their kit, then hung them out to dry. Though, AFL shouldn't have had an untrained operator driving, but... Shenanigans!
I wonder who owns it and if they would sell it for restoration? I’d be genuinely sad if it ends up getting scrapped or just sitting there to rust forever.
You do know that in Australia in 1915 there was an attempt to make a land train to replace camels trains and it was called “Big Lizzie”. Big Lizzie had a single cylinder oil burning water cooled engine and weighed 45 tonnes with a payload of 10 tonnes and pulled two trailers with a payload of 35 tonnes each. Like other land trains it was not a financial success and was used instead to clear land for farming and can be seen in Red Cliffs, Victoria Australia.
Amazing video as always Calum! 👍👍 I can't help but feel sad to see this incredibly cool and unique piece of Alaskan and US History slowly rotting away out in the woods when it should be in a museum where everyone can enjoy it.
*In the 1960's my Dad* worked building the hydro electric power stations in the northern territories of Canada - I remember him describing something like this to me as a kid. Ive never thought about them until this video - Giant snow trucks you lived in used to transport the critical pieces of equipment. Im sure he said it was nuclear powered though.
You're truly one of the great documentarians working today, and I suspect your career will become important to the oeuvre of 21st century historical reflections. Thanks again for sharing your research, adventures, and story telling skills.
R.G. LeTourneau was a visionary. I remember reading ‘Mover of men and mountains’ as a kid, and seeing the results of one of his machines in South Australia. Thanks for the video, and give that wife of yours a high five for being awesome.
Knowing/talking about cool jobs and costs involved with the owner of a now very large successful US based industrial electric motor rewinding/rebuilding/testing company I'm afraid this would be EXTREMELY expensive... Not so much for the diesel engines and generator, but for the hub motor rebuilding/gear/bearing/seal replacements, then the neccessary total re-wiring (probably) to get it running again 😐 It would be awesome if someone atleast restored the power/control train to original working condition, but that would require high six figures in parts/transportation even if labor was free... Even if components were donated logistics and shipping costs would still require a large sum of money from the organizers... I'm guessing that's why it hasn't happened over all these years, even as those costs rise each year it sits and replacement parts become more scarce or would require building from scratch... Hopefully videos and more notoriety exactly like this might inspire someone with the neccessary resources and contacts to take on the immense project though 🤞 Here's to hoping that restoration happens one day though 👍 (Maybe I should try gaslighting that individual I know that owns/owned that motor company into helping making it happen... 🤔 🤣 Sadly he's basically retired and had been talking about stepping away/selling/or transferring the company he founded to one of the BIG name corporations, and that conversation was a few years ago. 😐 But he was focused on finding the best solution for his employees, not himself, especially if getting absorbed by a GE type corporation, with long term employees being guaranteed packages/shares/etc... One of the truly rare actual rags to riches hardwork to great success stories I know about of someone born in the 1960's that wasn't originally bankrolled or propped up to achieve amazing results, also not in the "tech world" specifically... Atleast among individuals with similar financial networths if that makes sense...) I know that was quite the tangent, but learning about the industrial electric motor industry and processes was awesome! 😂 Especially when getting to hear it from such a rare awesome individual that I was lucky to cross paths with!
@@douglashanks4189 Yeah I guess even the sort of known as "best of the best" Alaska State Troopers still need a position for the lowest scoring most irritating people that graduate their academy... Certified scale operating weight/DOT heavy vehicle focused officers! 🤣 If you've interacted with any in any state, then you'll probably understand... 🤡💰🤬
Interesting , Thank You. Gone but NOT forgotten. Thank You for showing that fine example of 1050's engenering , design and execution . . Thank You for the history lesson.
Build a hassle-free website and see how Odoo can help you! www.odoo.com/r/10c Thanks again to the Gold Daughters for letting me visit! Remember that the Snow Freighter is in a poor state and should not be climbed in or messed with! Seek permission before going close to it.
I'm truly amazed the tires are still inflated and the rubber is in good shape after 70 years! The valves have still kept the air pressure! You don't see tires made like that any more!
I am going to look into Odoo. I’m kicking around a business plan and if it does what it says it does. This would be the first time I paid attention to a sponsor pitch. Advertising does work apparently.
Wild, RUclips actually did what they were supposed to. I saw your video about that land train vehicle in the desert last year, and now I got this new video in my recommendations. Glad I get to learn about another of these engineering marvels!
R.G. LeTourneau was an incredible man. He was foremost a Christian and an honest businessman who ran his business considering God as his business partner. He built at least 70% of the earthmoving equipment used by the allies in WWII and developed the first offshore oil drilling platform at his own financial risk. At certain times, He gave 90% of his earnings to the church and lived off of the remaining 10%. The overland train was probably LeTourneau’s least successful ventures that came to fruition, but if there had been more use for this type of transportation, it would have been improved with later models. It just happens that this wasn’t the most efficient way to travel in the arctic, but he gave it a herculean try or else you wouldn’t have made this video. Komatsu owns what was the LeTourneau mfg. company plants and they build the largest front end loader ever made at the plant.
YESSS!!!! "Bigfoot"'s tall-skinny tire origins, and way more importantly, one of most soberingly massive human creations ever! I LOVE the photos of the desert trains. I burned a whole afternoon/evening one day reading, learning, and tracking this down on Google Earth. I forgot how much cool stuff went into this-I think I stll have it flagged on "Maps", in hopes to visit. Thanks for sharing all this info in one place. Truly amazing stuff!
Huge thanks to you and more importantly your wife for bringing all of us along to see this amazing machine! Looks like it's aging really well all things considered.
Calum, thank you so much for documenting these for all to see. I used to live in Fairbanks many years ago. I am sure I have driven by the snow freighter many times but it probably blended in with the many other ancient roadside treasures (and junk) that Alaska has to offer. Anyway all of your videos are fascinating and I hope you never stop making them. My personal favorites are the Rescue Buoys and the Airmail Arrows.
I worked out of Fairbanks and points north for over thirty years and have driven by this many times. It looks like the trees have grown up over the years. I haven’t been by there in over ten years now. I’ve been to most of the radar sites around Alaska.
As a connoisseur of quality, your uploads are the MOST worth each and every wait. (Because of you, I found that Raasay whisky is available where I live in Kansas City, and of it, I am a huge fan as well!)
Well..... This is absolutely the most interesting thing I've watched on RUclips in weeks!!! What an amazing piece of machinery that once was!!! Oh... By the way. Sweet Toyota!!
Since you're interested in LeTourneau's giant vehicles, have you ever considered visit8ng the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands to take a look at the BARC landing craft? I stood next to it during my 2020 visit, was even able to conpletely hide between the wheel and its engine. I had never even heard of LeTourneau's insane creations before, and it was amazing to see one in person.
I just uploaded my trip to the FINAL overland train - the sno train! ruclips.net/video/ld_oOTtrdig/видео.htmlsi=-udUxe-Tt1nbmD_9
I work in Alaska and I've been driving past that thing for the past 20 years. There's also another one in Whitehorse, Canada at the transportation museum
There is indeed ;)
@@CalumRaasay There are also some wagons for it in North Pole and down at Tok.
Sounds like another trip for Calum in the future.
There's one in Whitehorse?!?!? That's just given me another reason to go there at some point.
Yep. I've been looking at that thing for AT LEAST the last 20 years. I'm thinking more than 30 years now!
This deserves to be restored and displayed just like the other.
History ❤
I feel the same. If I was in the area I would donate some of my time to clean it clear the weeds and trees from the area. It is that cool.
Probably cost a couple million dollars or more.
@@RPGreg2600more like hundreds of thousands, millions is like large steam engine territory
@@doge_sevens as someone who works in the automotive restoration field, I disagree. Very easy to spend 100k restoring a car, this is many times larger than a car, and all replacement parts would need to be custom fabricated.
I feel like any vehicle with a forward canted windshield/front is an automatic yes from me. That angle just gives me all the feels.
Yeah despite it's pretty simple, boxy design I think it's my favourite of the three. There's something so great about those angles!
You must be loving MZKT trucks and its chinese derivatives.
@@CalumRaasay It's the same with the front grille of the BMW 2002, just that perfect forward lean.
@@namenlosnutz Those trucks need MOAR ANGLE
@@CalumRaasay have you see the rare finnis tractor valmet 1502
Calum pushed the limits of his marriage to bring us this video on the limits of logistical engineering. 😂
I treated her to an all you can eat Panda Express afterwards. Who wouldn't forgive me after that?
@@CalumRaasay Hahaha, the pinnacle of American culture.
Thank you for the amazing videos!
Yeah, I wonder how many months of household chores he's due for this. 😀
That's True Love man, True Love.
True love is indulging in your partner's obsessions and passions, up to a point of course.
This has been one of my favorite RUclips sagas.
It still boggles the mind that with the expense and effort to get the snow train up there and operating that they didn’t fully train the entire crew to properly drive it and allowed an inexperienced person to be in control.
"Spared no expense" strikes once again.
That sounds like the most alaskan thing even if that didn't happen in Alaska
I worked for LeTourneau as a machinist in the Longview plant for almost ten years. It was my good fortune to get to know some of the guys that had worked there for 40 or more years before they retired. Working there is something I will always be proud I was able to do.
Any good stories???
Too bad letourneau is gone now. I live in longview and the university is still there, but they sold the plant to Komatsu almost 20 years ago.
Longview Texas native here 🙌
I love the graphics and images of old diagrams in this video, I spent so much time as a kid looking thru books and magazines and being amazing by these huge machines. Thanks for the follow up, really great stuff.
You and me both! Those magazine cutaways are amazing.
Never let "the Cook" drive. There is a very good reason they're not called "the Driver".
Alaska, being full of fringe dwellers, those drivers probably call themselves "Travelers" so they can drive without a Driver License , Vehicle Registration and Insurance.
@@BTW... Ah. The sovereigns.
And sometimes the cook turns out to be an ex-SEAL and saves the day.
Hats off to the Cook though. He managed to cook the whole machine!
@polbecca is the cooks name Casey Ryback?
I just Googled "Letourneau House machine", and that thing is wild.
Basically a steel mould, for an entire, re-enforced concrete house, created in a single pour, with thd whole thing on wheels; A giant, house-sized Dr Suess machine, that lets you roll up to a location, and lay a house, like a hen lays an egg. Apparently the house-pouring process took 24 hours.
LeTourneau was a big proponent of affordable housing for all! Amazing man.
Amazing video I had no idea before your video.. I find it ironic a Scotsman is covering lost usa history As well Leterno was a visionary thanks for your documentation
You're such an underrated RUclipsr bud... Proper videos, interesting and really well made.
I appreciate that!
In the 1970s, I was working in the Fairbanks area and visited the wrecking yard where it was being stored. They had a looping video tape explaining the Rolle gone tires used and showed a person being run over by these soft tires with no injury. The person who created the Monster Truck called Bigfoot, bought some of these tires for his truck and built the first truly Monster Truck with those tires. I was a youngster at the time and really enjoyed the tour I got of that Overland train and still tell the story of it to my Grand Children today.
Bob Chandler and he built 2 of them using these giant tires
13:43 I'd be willing to bet that those tires would still hold air. If I had the $$ I would go there and buy what remains of that thing, repair it and get it all running because I believe that there are even more opportunities to use this it 'up' there. So cool, your videos always rule the class.
yeah tubeless tires so I bet with a few plugs they would still hold air!
One of the “Bigfoot” monster trucks used a set of Tires off one of these.
@@jefferysumpn6049 Yea I believe it was one of the first Bigfoot models, I want to say it's in Pacific MO. At a previous job a coworker told me about when he was in the army and worked on these machines. He had a lot to say about about it all, though mainly he talked about having to get under the damn thing every morning with weed burners to thaw everything out enough for it to be able to move, as the ice would lock it all up.
@@danielkapp9468 Yes there are actually two Bigfoot models on display in Pacific Missouri, I drive by them everyday lol. One is right next to I-44 in "Bigfoot Plaza" and the other is at the Bigfoot 4x4 company. Not sure of the models but I think the one by 4x4 is the original Bigfoot.
@@danielkapp9468 Turns out there's three Bigfoot models in Pacific Missouri. Bigfoot #5 was the one which used land train tires and it is located next to the B&H Market.
I’m from Longview Texas, and stumbled across your channel a couple years ago while trying to learn more about LeTourneau operations/projects in my town, and have even explored previous testing site property owned by him. I’m so glad you finally got a chance to see the Sno-Freighter. I’ve loved learning about the history as well, there are few people left that even know what LeTourneau did in and for the town of Longview.
Yeah when they sold out to Komatsu alot of stuff was lost. The library at the university does have public access and has alot of the history of the family and shows almost all of their projects.
I work at a gold mine just north of there- I drive past it almost every day, but didn't know much of its history. Great video!
Amazing! We loved our trip up there but that was as far north as we got. I’d love to go back one day
@@CalumRaasayif you go further north on the Steese to Chatanika you can explore the old gold dredge that got torched a few years back. Just and fyi that ball structure used to be done at Greely base south of Delta.
It's amazing how well preseved it is considering it's been on fire and left open to the elements for decades. Great video Calum 👍
My Dad had somewhat of a connection with the LeTourneau family way back in the day. After WWll and in the later 1940ies my dad moved our family from TX to southern cal. where he got a job at a Naval Air station in San Diego as a Firefighter on downed or crashed aircraft. Years later he moved up in position and became house crash captain. There at the firehouse he was at was a "VERY LARGE CRAINE". It was made to pick up and move crashed planes, (all military), off the runway. The crane was designed by LeTouneau, and he had his crew give me rides in it, (I was around 10-12 yrs old). I remember it didn't have a steering wheel; it was driven my buttons on the dash. Years later and after all us kids had grown and moved on, dad and Mom retired and moved back to Tx. (home). On a trip home once, (I had settled down in Ky after getting out of Army at Ft. Knox and I remember going to church with mom and dad that dad wanted me to meet a member there. I can't remember the members first name, but last name was LeTourneau. Dad asks me if I remembered the huge crane at the fire house in Cal that I had rode in and of course I said yes. He then told me that this gentleman was the son of the builder of that crane and of many other very large equipment.
Just though I'd share that with ya.
I very much enjoyed the video, I wish I could have seen the "Snow Freighter"!!
John in Ky.
I sense a future Calum video...😊
The voice over microphone has an arrow so you know he has spent enough time talking into the wrong end to find necessary to draw a huge arrow on it. 😂
It’s how you know I’m a pro!
It's how you know you're a chump. Responding to a Porn Bot out of desperation for comment algorithm! 😂😂
@@CalumRaasay I thought it was to honour the flight path beacons covered in a previous video?
I can’t believe there is a direct flight from Frankfurt to Anchorage. When I’m in Scotland I’m going to check out the Isle of Raasay. It looks fascinating and breathtaking.
@@davidgirkin7733yeah I was surprised too! I was also surprised how many Germans were in Alaska visiting as well so I guess it makes sense 😂
Oh man, 11:48 when Google Maps transitions into a drone shot ... how cool is that!! Breaking the fourth wall ... Amazing!
Haha thank you! Proud of that
7:13 - I love the old school cut-away drawings!
The barrel roof was caved in well after the fire. Using Google Street View, you can find 2009 & 2011 that show it almost intact.
Same- I wish I could draw them as well as they did back then!
@@CalumRaasayCalum, you could do a lot worse than to get yourself some back copies of the 'Eagle' comic or one of the several compendium books of the same, which are a cornucopia of cut away drawings featuring the wonders of the age (1950s).
Wish this could be restored and put on display in a museum. This is a marvel of engineering!
Hey Calum, make her a nice dinner and get her some flowers after this; afterall, we wouldn't want this quadrilogy to end abruptly. 😅
Well we managed to get upgraded to business class(!) on the way out, that counts right? haha!
@@CalumRaasay: Hahaaa... that's a win in my books. Cheers to you, sir! 💯
Guilt Flowers... are never advisable.
In future, every time she sees him bringing flowers for no reason she will expect the guilt admission to follow.
@@BTW...So then mix it up every so often with chocolates, got it!
I can't wait until @ViceGripGarage fixes this up and drives it home!
Would be the best thing ever!!!!!!
Don't be giving him any more ideas, he's busy enough! LOL
I think if anyone could do it it's Derek. A guy could probably get the Titanic up and running again.
My grandparents taught at one of the Dew Line stations in Quebec. They never would have seen the Snow Freighter, but these videos are still fascinating.
I commented on your last video about this, I'm stoked you actually came to Alaska, let alone Fox, Alaska. You were just a few miles from my house. All the years I've driven by this thing, this is the first time I got to see the inside, pretty cool. Thanks for your efforts. Hope you enjoyed your time here! Come back soon.
That's so sad that it's just sitting there surrounded by bushes. That thing should be at a museum on display
How is this national treasure not in a museum? What a shame!
I was a freight Hauler to Alaska from the 1960's through 1988/ I have seen these rigs working. I pulled heavy Loads from the states to Alaska and many times junk loads back.
So happy to see you were able to come to Alaska and document for those who live outside of the state about this! There is a short film that airs on PBS here about it that is part of a number of historical tidbits that are sprinkled into time slots as available. I hope you enjoyed your trip!
I'm betting that if you'd get Mr. Hewes' team and manager Ted, you could fix this up to running condition.
Love the comment. Ted is a hell of a softy towards his underlings though. 😅
Silly idea - we all know Jack couldn't reach the steps😂
@@SabretoothBarnacle 😂😂
Gosh, now that's a dream. If there's one group of people insane enough it'd definitely be them though.
@rot_studios don't forget they're not experts or really know what they are doing. 😂😂
(Joe's words, not mine.)
From a group of guys to get a tank filled with concrete to run again. This Alaskan snow train would be a walk in the park. 😉
I honestly could watch ten more videos on these overland trains 😅 Another great video. Thanks!
Well, (at least) one more coming soon!
it's criminal that this machine should be delivered this fate.
At least in this state there’s hope for her. At least she wasn’t just scrapped.
I appreciate people like you who go deeeep into their interests and share everything they have learned about such a specific area of history. Gonna binge your videos tonight for sure. Thanks Calum!
I wish we could get that back here to Texas and get it in Longview, TX museum.
That would be amazing. The drier climate would probably help preserve it too!
I think it would be even better to have it in an indoor museum in Alaska so that the Alaskans get to see and experience their heritage (and the kids would love to climb it too)
I am a student at LeTourneau University in Longview. This school is full of engineering nerds that would appreciate this engineering marvel and love to see is restored to operational condition. There is already a collection of LeTourneau machines here and as one of the last surviving overland trains it would definitely be proper for it to be displayed here. RG's legacy and appreciation is alive and strong here and it would be well cared for. Also, we are 5 minutes off an interstate and a few hours away from Dallas, so much more accessible for viewers.
My hometown of Mackenzie, BC has one of the remaining LeTourneau Tree Crushers on display near the center of town. It was used to prepare the 'pond' area that would become Williston Lake after the completion of the W.A.C Bennett hydroelectricity Dam. That Tree Crusher sat abandoned for years at the side of Williston Lake about 30 kilometers north of Mackenzie until it was moved to its current location in town in 1986. I'll say this about LeTourneau....he certainly was a man of vision.
With all of these mechanically inclined youtubers looking for their next big project it would be so cool to see this beast restored or atleast moving on its own power.
half of the comtrol cab is completely gone, it's a derelict
@@bb5242Controls and engines are the easy part. There’s it’s sister machine to use as a blueprint. The rest is fabricating the rest of the cab and replacing the metal. The only difficult part would be diagnosing all those electric motors, since they were proprietary.
Whilst restoring the controll car would be a massive massive project it would be nice to see one of the trailers restored. I would imagine there are a lot of fairbanks engines kicking about the area too.
"It's wheely big!" Nice.
This is the way, never be sorry for your puns.
I remember as a child in the early 1960's seeing articles regarding those vehicles. That man who owned that trucking company was truly remarkable. Very good video, I look forward to more. And coming from a married man as well, thank your wife for us.
The trailers being used as a foundation and deck of a house is probably the most Alaskan statement i have ran across in recently memory
Alaskan culture is a strange thing 😂
Love this kind of history!
❤Thanks❤
PS. $500K in 1950 would be $6.5M today.
Inflation is a hell of a drug…..
I love this, this is the perfect mix of history, machinery and nerdery
Unbelievably excited for this watch!
I hope you enjoy it!
This is what RUclips is for, THANK YOU CALUM!
And I'm OK with the socks.
I think someone needs to bring this beast back to life
man you deserve 10x the subs and views you're getting! well done! you're truly one of the best youtubers out there. I believe I commented & asked last year on your other road train video for you to try and find Alaskas roadtrain wrecked by fire as a video idea, since there was/is literally nobody else who covered this train or accident that I could find. heck there doesn't seem to be much history out there on it either, other then it existed and fire damage. I've searched pretty hard for info on it. heck a lot of people didn't even know where it was anymore, let alone this well preserved. thank you for accomplishing what I can't do personally, being I am disabled. I still love being a lifetime student and exploring and always had a fascination with these but no content real content to enjoy and inability for myself to go out exploring like I used to be able to. look forward to many more from you, keep it up Calum!
01:44 "still regretting life decisions" made me giggle more than it should have 😂
I remember learning about this snow freighter when Bob Chandler built a Bigfoot truck and used tires from it. It was definitely the tallest monster truck ever built at that time and possibly still is. Those tires are the tallest tires ever made.
Brilliant video!! I love these huge machines!! Everyone was mental in the 50's!!! They thought they could go anywhere and do anything!!! Oh if we had that spirit now!!! Really good stuff Callum, sadly, didn't see Tiddles the dog!😢! Haha!! Keep on with the great research and great videos. Ps. How the fook do you afford to go to Alaska??????
I used to drive by this thing every day when I worked a little north of Fox, I had no idea of all it’s history back then. Great video!
i was just talking to my buddy today about ice road truckers and i told him about this big land train system from back then. crazy that this video dropped today haha
I grew up in Tok Alaska. A trailer to one of the trains is sitting in the parking lot to an amusement park there called Mukluk Land. I recently was able to make a trip by there and noticed the tires had gone flat. I remember as a kid them still having air. This video makes me want to go back and take another look at it.
Not too many people from Little Tokyo. Great spot to stop on the way through.
Big ups for the tucked socks, gotta keep those ticks out.
It’s the Scottish way!
Thank you for visiting my great State of Alaska! I was at the University of Alaska 1969-1971 but never heard about this machine. I’ll try to make a visit up there from Anchorage next summer.
So, it sounds like the Army and LeTourneau hoodwinked Al Ghezzi and Alaska Freight Lines into shouldering the financial burden of prototyping their kit, then hung them out to dry.
Though, AFL shouldn't have had an untrained operator driving, but... Shenanigans!
The passion and energy in your voice is inspiring 🙌🏻
I wonder who owns it and if they would sell it for restoration? I’d be genuinely sad if it ends up getting scrapped or just sitting there to rust forever.
I'm currently reading R. G. LeTourneau's biography called "Mover of men and mountains". Amazing read. Very inspiring.
Yay!!! Callum's back!!!! I have not looked at the video yet, doing my tea!! Do we get guest appearances from Mrs Callum and Rover??
I hope you enjoy it! I wont spoil anything ;)
@@CalumRaasay Settling down with a nice glass(vat) of red to enjoy the show!!🍷
Haha I’m having a beer to celebrate final getting the video out 😂
Hey Calum just wanted to say that your videos are a true gem on this platform.
0:30 Some of us understand that tucking your pants into your socks is a decent way to keep nastys like ticks out of your skivvies.
Tricks learned from living in the countryside!
Each might warrant it's own video, but I bet a video exploring the various machines and equipment made by the LeTourneau company would be fascinating!
I can't imagine being that cook at the wheel having wrecked that thing... I would have been watching my back around the rest of the crew lol
Very interesting video, Calum. Many thanks. 👍
You do know that in Australia in 1915 there was an attempt to make a land train to replace camels trains and it was called “Big Lizzie”. Big Lizzie had a single cylinder oil burning water cooled engine and weighed 45 tonnes with a payload of 10 tonnes and pulled two trailers with a payload of 35 tonnes each.
Like other land trains it was not a financial success and was used instead to clear land for farming and can be seen in Red Cliffs, Victoria Australia.
Amazing video as always Calum! 👍👍
I can't help but feel sad to see this incredibly cool and unique piece of Alaskan and US History slowly rotting away out in the woods when it should be in a museum where everyone can enjoy it.
*In the 1960's my Dad* worked building the hydro electric power stations in the northern territories of Canada - I remember him describing something like this to me as a kid.
Ive never thought about them until this video - Giant snow trucks you lived in used to transport the critical pieces of equipment. Im sure he said it was nuclear powered though.
Funnily enough they did toy with the idea of nuclear power to these things! Check out the end of my video on TC497- I discuss it in detail there.
@@CalumRaasay Yeah my memory is foggy - Im think back to like stories a 10 year old me was told about the astonishing life in the Arctic.
You're truly one of the great documentarians working today, and I suspect your career will become important to the oeuvre of 21st century historical reflections. Thanks again for sharing your research, adventures, and story telling skills.
You know there is a Soccer Mom looking at this thing and thinking, "I could drive that to the grocery store, or nail salon"
My ex is that way too lol
You would understand why you need something that large if you had a single kid, living in the suburbs.
Buying a giant car for being a bad driver with shit awareness seems like a negative reinforcement, IMO
While texting!
Those painters and decal men did some amazing work though am I right? Outstanding!
Apologies, there's an odd sound from the mic at 18:11, I think from hitting it while I climbed into the cab! I'll try and edit it out in post
I think we can suffer through it
Ghosts 👻
Fantastic. Very cool to see neat hidden adventures up here! Glad you are sharing your and it's story! Cheers and safe journeys.
Legend!
14:11 seeing the semi driving by puts into perspective just how massive the Sno-Freighter really is.
R.G. LeTourneau was a visionary. I remember reading ‘Mover of men and mountains’ as a kid, and seeing the results of one of his machines in South Australia. Thanks for the video, and give that wife of yours a high five for being awesome.
The cook was driving the Snow Freighter when it crashed; he made an excellent flambee!
🥁
Thank you Calum, another amazing account of something we knew nothing about. Keep the videos coming.
0:01 what's that heavilly rusted vehicle on the left if anyone knows?
Looks like a rusted log trailer. He seems to walk alongside (& films it) when first approaching his machine at about 12 min 30 secs
@@johnphelan6623I was thinking more of a mobile conveyor belt, but you could also be correct
That beauty needs to be restored and preserved better. So much history in that machine.
$30k, 3 capable friends, 1 summer. You could put a license plate on it & drive it in the US. Do it.
Knowing/talking about cool jobs and costs involved with the owner of a now very large successful US based industrial electric motor rewinding/rebuilding/testing company I'm afraid this would be EXTREMELY expensive... Not so much for the diesel engines and generator, but for the hub motor rebuilding/gear/bearing/seal replacements, then the neccessary total re-wiring (probably) to get it running again 😐 It would be awesome if someone atleast restored the power/control train to original working condition, but that would require high six figures in parts/transportation even if labor was free... Even if components were donated logistics and shipping costs would still require a large sum of money from the organizers... I'm guessing that's why it hasn't happened over all these years, even as those costs rise each year it sits and replacement parts become more scarce or would require building from scratch... Hopefully videos and more notoriety exactly like this might inspire someone with the neccessary resources and contacts to take on the immense project though 🤞 Here's to hoping that restoration happens one day though 👍 (Maybe I should try gaslighting that individual I know that owns/owned that motor company into helping making it happen... 🤔 🤣 Sadly he's basically retired and had been talking about stepping away/selling/or transferring the company he founded to one of the BIG name corporations, and that conversation was a few years ago. 😐 But he was focused on finding the best solution for his employees, not himself, especially if getting absorbed by a GE type corporation, with long term employees being guaranteed packages/shares/etc... One of the truly rare actual rags to riches hardwork to great success stories I know about of someone born in the 1960's that wasn't originally bankrolled or propped up to achieve amazing results, also not in the "tech world" specifically... Atleast among individuals with similar financial networths if that makes sense...) I know that was quite the tangent, but learning about the industrial electric motor industry and processes was awesome! 😂 Especially when getting to hear it from such a rare awesome individual that I was lucky to cross paths with!
Just don’t let the cook drive 🙃
Might also need a cdl
@@douglashanks4189 Yeah I guess even the sort of known as "best of the best" Alaska State Troopers still need a position for the lowest scoring most irritating people that graduate their academy... Certified scale operating weight/DOT heavy vehicle focused officers! 🤣 If you've interacted with any in any state, then you'll probably understand... 🤡💰🤬
Interesting , Thank You. Gone but NOT forgotten. Thank You for showing that fine example of 1050's engenering , design and execution . . Thank You for the history lesson.
Hell yeah
Wow the editing and graphics and the amount of work went into the research! Amazing, great watch first time watcher will definitely be back
Build a hassle-free website and see how Odoo can help you! www.odoo.com/r/10c
Thanks again to the Gold Daughters for letting me visit! Remember that the Snow Freighter is in a poor state and should not be climbed in or messed with! Seek permission before going close to it.
Well done 👍😮
Happy Wife, happy life ? LoL
I don't know why I find these giant Tonka truck videos so fascinating but I do 😁
I'm truly amazed the tires are still inflated and the rubber is in good shape after 70 years!
The valves have still kept the air pressure!
You don't see tires made like that any more!
Did you stop and visit the one in Whitehorse on the way up to Alaska or did you miss it by flying to Alaska?
I am going to look into Odoo. I’m kicking around a business plan and if it does what it says it does. This would be the first time I paid attention to a sponsor pitch. Advertising does work apparently.
i’d make fun of you for not tucking your sock you could of had ticks on ya
Wild, RUclips actually did what they were supposed to. I saw your video about that land train vehicle in the desert last year, and now I got this new video in my recommendations.
Glad I get to learn about another of these engineering marvels!
R.G. LeTourneau was an incredible man. He was foremost a Christian and an honest businessman who ran his business considering God as his business partner. He built at least 70% of the earthmoving equipment used by the allies in WWII and developed the first offshore oil drilling platform at his own financial risk. At certain times, He gave 90% of his earnings to the church and lived off of the remaining 10%. The overland train was probably LeTourneau’s least successful ventures that came to fruition, but if there had been more use for this type of transportation, it would have been improved with later models. It just happens that this wasn’t the most efficient way to travel in the arctic, but he gave it a herculean try or else you wouldn’t have made this video. Komatsu owns what was the LeTourneau mfg. company plants and they build the largest front end loader ever made at the plant.
YESSS!!!! "Bigfoot"'s tall-skinny tire origins, and way more importantly, one of most soberingly massive human creations ever!
I LOVE the photos of the desert trains.
I burned a whole afternoon/evening one day reading, learning, and tracking this down on Google Earth. I forgot how much cool stuff went into this-I think I stll have it flagged on "Maps", in hopes to visit. Thanks for sharing all this info in one place.
Truly amazing stuff!
Your wife is a saint xD
You're telling me!
@@CalumRaasayjust remember that your obligation is to be as great as she thinks you are.
Nice piece of work. Great to see engineering like this being covered. I can't believe how good the paintwork looked.
Huge thanks to you and more importantly your wife for bringing all of us along to see this amazing machine! Looks like it's aging really well all things considered.
Calum, thank you so much for documenting these for all to see. I used to live in Fairbanks many years ago. I am sure I have driven by the snow freighter many times but it probably blended in with the many other ancient roadside treasures (and junk) that Alaska has to offer.
Anyway all of your videos are fascinating and I hope you never stop making them. My personal favorites are the Rescue Buoys and the Airmail Arrows.
I worked out of Fairbanks and points north for over thirty years and have driven by this many times. It looks like the trees have grown up over the years. I haven’t been by there in over ten years now. I’ve been to most of the radar sites around Alaska.
I always wondered about the domes as a kid. Spent 6 years working on AWACS. I'd still love to take a peek.
Impressive engineering. Couldn't imagine driving that beast.
Finally caught you within ten minutes of posting!! I'm pumped for this one, sir!
haha well I upload so infrequently I'm not easy to catch!
As a connoisseur of quality, your uploads are the MOST worth each and every wait.
(Because of you, I found that Raasay whisky is available where I live in Kansas City, and of it, I am a huge fan as well!)
Well..... This is absolutely the most interesting thing I've watched on RUclips in weeks!!! What an amazing piece of machinery that once was!!! Oh... By the way. Sweet Toyota!!
I remember seeing this on the way to the artic circle about 8 years ago, it was way more visible then.
Since you're interested in LeTourneau's giant vehicles, have you ever considered visit8ng the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands to take a look at the BARC landing craft? I stood next to it during my 2020 visit, was even able to conpletely hide between the wheel and its engine. I had never even heard of LeTourneau's insane creations before, and it was amazing to see one in person.
Wow this is an awesome bit of kit. Interesting to see how advanced a hybrid with hub motors was back in the 50s.
So glad you got to go see the VC-22 in person! Great video, keep up the good work.
Another excellent video, wonderfully done. Some more inspiration for my Tonka builds, thank you. 👍