The remains of one of the largest vehicles ever made that had living quarters found abandoned on an Alaskan highway
- World’s largest ever vehicles discovered in Alaska
- It had been abandoned in woods off the highway
- It was designed to cross some of the most hostile terrains on Earth
Published on Dec 15, 2024 at 12:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Dec 11, 2024 at 4:40 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Here at Supercar Blondie, we love a superlative – and one of the largest vehicles ever made turning up in the US state of Alaska is no different.
This 1950s ‘Sno Freighter’ was discovered on a highway.
The vast ‘trackless train’ was designed to traverse some of the most hostile environments on Earth.
It was so expansive that it included living quarters for a crew of four.
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One of the largest vehicles ever
Per a video by Scottish YouTuber Calum Gillies, the Sno Freighter was part of a series of vehicles designed by American manufacturer of heavy construction equipment, LeTourneau.
The VC 22 Sno-Freighter was a massive diesel-electric, trackless Arctic transport vehicle.
It was built sometime in the 1950s at a huge cost of $450,000 and designed to support the construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line in the Arctic.
So how big are we talking? It measured nearly 280ft (8.5m) in length.
It was so expansive it included living quarters for a crew of four – check out the world’s biggest car, that’s so big you need a ladder to get in.
This heft was powered by 24 hub motor-powered wheels.
In short: “It was a trackless train for the Arctic wilderness, said to be ‘a testament to human ingenuity in conquering extreme environments'”, said Gillies.
Sadly, as innovative as it was, the Sno Freighter faced numerous mechanical issues.
These ran the gamut from poor suspension to frequent tire damage and generator failures.
It completed two resupply trips in 1955 but suffered a catastrophic fire during its third trip in 1956, leaving it inoperable.
The expensive and unsuccessful venture eventually led to the closure of financial backers, Alaska Freight Lines.
The road to Alaska
After the fire, it’s thought that the Sno Freighter was simply abandoned in the Alaskan wilderness.
It wasn’t until decades later that enthusiasts and researchers rediscovered its remains.
Its historical significance can’t be overlooked, with the Sno Freighter a symbol of Cold War ingenuity in extreme Arctic conditions.
In fact, the entire DEW Line remains a testament to mid-century engineering and military preparedness.
With Arctic conditions firmly in mind, meet the ‘Black Lizard’, a 205HP carbon snowmobile from Mansory.
Or maybe this custom Cybertruck that plows through snow with track wheels is more your thing.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
