LeTourneau TC-479 Overland Train Control Car
The LeTourneau TC-497 Land Train was an experimental off-road transport system built in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the U.S. Army. It was designed to haul huge amounts of cargo across remote areas where roads and railroads didn’t exist, like the Arctic or deserts. Using electric wheel motors powered by onboard gas turbines, the train could travel over rough ground and stretch more than 500 feet long when fully assembled, making it one of the largest land vehicles ever created.
The project was ultimately short-lived, as advancements in heavy-lift cargo aircraft made the land train unnecessary. Only one prototype was ever completed, and it now rests at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Despite its cancellation, the TC-497 remains a unique piece of Cold War engineering — a bold attempt to create a roadless supply train for extreme environments.
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Here I’ve built the control cab (or front control car) of the TC-479 Land Train. This is the lead unit of the series and the part that directs the whole setup.
The cab runs without infinite fuel or electricity. It’s powered by two medium diesel engines, which drive two medium generators. These generators produce the electricity that feeds an electric motor on each wheel, giving the cab its own propulsion. I haven’t fully tested for overheating yet, so let me know if you run into issues.
This build isn’t 100% accurate to the real thing — I had to rush and replace some parts when I realized I couldn’t use modded pieces after finishing. If you notice any missing parts, gaps, or spots that could use improvement, please drop a comment. This is the best I could do with the tools available, and I hope you enjoy driving it!
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For historical accuracy, the TC-479 layout would be: Control Cab → 8 Cargo Cars → Fuel Car → Rear Control A → Rear Control B
