Huge Off-Highway Road Trains

"QUANTUM SHOT" #370
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1. This thing might even conquer the Moon, with little modification

Huge Road Train, led by two locomotives, described on this site, may have already become a reality - the ultra-powerful, gas-gobbling monstrosity, that only miniature train enthusiasts, apocalyptic cult followers and Mad Max movie sequel producers would love. United Arab Emirates once again set out to conquer Sahara wastes - this time with 3,700 camel (er...horse) power under each hood.

Conceived by the Emirates Truck Factory the huge road train can transport up to 2300 metric tons:

Each vehicle on the train has its own all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering by-wire - with the ability of some wheels (middle axle-lines) to be lifted during the empty haul.

- they can be used in two directions
- each truck has MULTIPLE engines, totalling up to 3700 hp.
- the road train uses electric drive system which is unique in the industry.
- apparently hooking up many trucks provides costs savings more than 25%

(images credit: Emirates Truck Factory)

2. South African Road Transport Warriors

Miners in South Africa prefer to move loads not by rail (like in the USA, Germany, India and Japan), but - since they have huge open spaces - by means of the HUGE TRUCK TRAINS.

Looking like something out of a feverish Mad Max dream, these otherworldly centipedes are described here and here as a very capable set of machines:

(images credit: Dennis Child)

in fact,
THIS IS THE LARGEST ON-HIGHWAY VEHICLE IN THE WORLD!
- 370 ton Siemens generator with a gross combination load of 860 tons
- five Ultra Pacific trucks in one line, giving 4000hp.
- Total length 160m.
- The heaviest load transported: 950 ton (tunnel boring machine)

They also have the largest trailer (with 338 wheels):

(image credit: Dennis Child)

3. Classic Australian Road Trains

Traversing the (mostly deserted) route from Darwin to Adelaide in Southern Australia, these trains are often called "tyre kicker's paradise". They often have more than 60 tyres, travel 3,000 km between destinations and look like they can eat your normal Peterbilt for breakfast.

Here is a glorified view of one of these proud haulers:

(image credit: Kelvin Wong)

Heath Raymond thus describes the experience:

"Despite being limited to 100kmh, these Road Trains operate on desolate Highways (often single lane) that had unrestricted speed limits until July of 2007 (now 130kmh limit). Often the limiters are tampered with & passing one of these in the opposite direction is chilling enough. But when you get one that pulls out and overtakes you at 130kmh, that's scary!

If you encounter one of these approaching from the opposite direction on a single lane highway such as the Barrier or Tanami, you're left with two options. Pull over & out of there way & quickly, or put your head between your legs & kiss your ass goodbye! Because these things can't & won't swerve."

(image credit: Heath Raymond)

This video segment shows such road trains in action, and also tells about the longest "train" so far - "The Centipede":

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4. Nazis had a super-truck that nobody ever dreamed of

Well, the talented engineers in Nazi Germany had the supertruck / road-train territory covered, as well. The concept was quite powerful, even though half-realized. The data about these creatures is scarce, so any help is appreciated.

The modeling society at Militaar has come up with a miniature of this exceptional super-truck. Looks like it could easily go off-road even in Sahara territory.

(images credit Militaar)

UPDATE:
This super-sized vehicle was actually designed for crossing minefields. Hence the solid tires with no body structure around them and the heavily armored cab. Think of it as the ancestor of the MRAP.
(thanks SlowJoeCrow for info)

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