Resource Type

[Marathon LeTourneau Company, Longview, Texas]

Photograph of the entrance to Marathon LeTourneau Company in Longview, Texas. In 1970, Marathon purchased R.G. LeTourneau, Inc. after the death of its founder, R.G. LeTourneau, and renamed the company "Marathon LeTourneau Company." The manufacturing facility was sold several more times and is now owned and operated by Komatsu.
Date: [1970..]
Creator: Marathon LeTourneau Company
System: The Portal to Texas History

Log Stacker, Double Jointed J5G L-13578

Photograph of a double-jointed log stacker in action. Location is unknown.
Date: September 1, 1957
Creator: R. G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Mesquiter-A Tournadozer-80 tons J5G, 202

Photograph of two men standing inside one of the wheels of the 80-ton Mesquiter-A Tournadozer in 1948. Most likely taken at the Vicksburg, Miss. plant.
Date: September 1948
Creator: R. G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Aerial view of LeTourneau plant in Longview, Texas

Photograph of the R.G. LeTourneau plant in Longview, Texas. The first of these five domes, the one in the foreground, was built in 1962, while the final three were built in 1965. Two of the domes have been destroyed in separate weather events in 2018 and 2021. Each dome is 85-feet high and contains 70,000 square feet of space.
Date: 1965
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Cotton PickerLT20 Folder 392

Photograph of what is described as a cotton picker. There appears to be no record of LeTourneau building such a machine.
Date: 1945
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Electric logging,crane P0U,P-10-34, L 7916

Photograph of a Series "F" Log Stacker, called by Eric C. Orlemann "the most efficient log loading solution for the timber industry."
Date: July 12, 1955
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Fork Lift Truck Lt8 L18762

Photograph of an early version of LeTourneau's FL-50 Fork Lift Truck, shown picking up an 18-wheeler trailer. The company began making the trucks in mid-1961, according to author Eric Orlemann. A total of four of the FL-50 Fork Lift Trucks were built.
Date: 1961
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Landing Craft Retriever Archive LT20

Photograph of the Series MA-31 Landing Craft Retriever, essentially a large mobile gantry crane structure, mounted on electric-drive wheels with 120-inch diameter tires. Built in November 1954 for the US Army, it was designed to retrieve beached or capsized amphibious landing craft. Only one LCR was tested by the military. (Eric C. Orlemann, LeTourneau Earthmovers)
Date: 1954
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Landing Craft Retriever Lt8-55017-5-298

Photograph of the Series MA-31 Landing Craft Retriever, originally completed by LeTourneau in November 1954. It was ordered by the U.S. Army, and only one was ever built. Its main mission was to drive into deep surf and retrieve beached or capsized amphibious vehicles, according to author Eric Orlemann.
Date: September 8, 1955
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Landing Craft Retriever Lt8-56132-6-27

Photograph of the Series "MA-31" Landing Craft Retriever built for the U.S. Army by LeTourneau. It was the only LCR ever built, according to author Eric Orlemann. Its main mission was to drive into deep surf and retrieve beached or capsized amphibious vehicles.
Date: September 1, 1955
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Log stacker tong on Series "F" Log Stacker (Model C-4)

Photograph of the tong on Series "F" Log Stacker (Model C-4) shown picking up a log. According to author Eric Orlemann, LeTourneau got into the log-stacking business after selling the original company to Westinghouse in 1953 and agreeing not to build earthmoving equipment for five years. It proved to be highly successful. The log stackers were used all over North America as well as overseas.
Date: October 1, 1956
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Logging Arch, P0U, P-10-34, L 6557

Photograph of a LeTourneau Logging Arch. According to Eric Orlemann, the logging arch was first introduced in 1935.
Date: December 6, 1954
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Logistical Cargo Carrier (Series LCC-1)

Photograph of a Logistical Cargo Carrier (Series LCC-1) at some type of exhibit of military vehicles and aircraft. According to author Eric Orlemann, the U.S. Army Transportation Corps requested the LCC-1 to re-supply the radar stations along the DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line. Length of the train was 173 feet with a maximum rated 45-ton payload capacity.
Date: 1956
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Model C-6 Transporter, off-road

Photograph of a Model C-6 Transporter demonstrating its off-road capabilities. The Transporter was powered by a large 300-hp Buda Super Diesel engine, according to author Eric Orlemann. Its generator provided power to electric traction motors in all six wheels. Its load capacity was 35 tons.
Date: April 6, 1956
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Model D Tournapull with Model Q Carryall

Photograph of a Model-D Tournapull attached to the Carryall Model Q. According to information found online (https://contract295dev.wpenginepowered.com/classic-machines/model-d-tournapull/), the company built this combination, an "air transportable earthmover," for the U.S. Army from 1942-1946, during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, LeTourneau built over 600 of these machines and continued production after the war. This photograph was clearly meant for a brochure or catalog, since the background has been eliminated.
Date: 1942/1946
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Model TC-497 Overland Train MkII

Photograph of the Model TC-497 Overland Train Mkii, the largest and most powerful of all the "land trains" produced by LeTourneau. The TC-497 was built for the U.S. Army to transport cargo in the Arctic under a wide variety of road conditions, according to author Eric Orlemann. It contained nine cargo trailers, a control car and two trailing power units. The TC-497 weighed 135 tons. Its overall length was about 527 feet.
Date: February 1, 1962
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

"Orange=Peel" Electric Loader/Digger LT20 1st Folder Mixed 21038

Photograph of the experimental Series TSL-100 "Orange Peel" Electric-Loader, first built in January 1964, according to author Eric Orlemann.
Date: Likely 1964
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Overland Train 32-wheel train in downtown Longview. TX, J5G L-3973

Photograph of LeTourneau's overland train snaking its way through downtown Longview on April 20, 1954
Date: April 20, 1954
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Overland Train Model TC-497 MkII 1

Photograph of the Model TC-497 Overland Train Mkii, the largest and most powerful of all the "land trains" produced by LeTourneau. The TC-497 was built for the U.S. Army to transport cargo in the Arctic under a wide variety of road conditions, according to author Eric Orlemann. It contained nine cargo trailers, a control car and two trailing power units. The TC-497 weighed 135 tons. Its overall length was about 527 feet. One of the LeTourneau domes is visible in the background.
Date: February 1, 1962
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Overland Train Model TC-497 MkII 2

Photograph of the Model TC-497 Overland Train Mkii, the largest and most powerful of all the "land trains" produced by LeTourneau. The TC-497 was built for the U.S. Army to transport cargo in the Arctic under a wide variety of road conditions, according to author Eric Orlemann. It contained nine cargo trailers, a control car and two trailing power units. The TC-497 weighed 135 tons. Its overall length was about 527 feet. An unidentified U.S. Army official is pictured talking to the driver in the cab.
Date: February 1, 1962
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Pacemaker Series L-67 Electric Digger Lt8 19322

Photograph of the 60-ton capacity Pacemaker Series L-67 Electric Digger, first introduced in March 1960, according to Eric C. Orlemann. Its payload capacity was 60 tons.
Date: March 1960
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Power Packer Model M-50 Sheepsfoot Roller, Lt8 16885

Photograph of Power Packer Model M-50 Sheepsfoot Roller (according to the filename it was given.) Date of photograph is unknown. The sheepsfoot roller was popularized by R.G. LeTournea and was used to compact soil in much the same manner herds of sheep were used for the same purpose pre-machinery.
Date: Date unknown
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Rolling Mill,ingot, P0U,P-10-34,L 12786

Photograph of iron ingots being melted at the rolling mill, likely in Longview, Texas.
Date: April 1, 1957
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History

Rolling Mill,repairs, P0U,P-10-34,L 9357

Photograph of repairs being made on a rolling mill machine, likely in the Longview Texas, plant given the date of creation.
Date: March 1, 1957
Creator: R.G. LeTourneau, Inc
System: The Portal to Texas History