# Where's the Antarctic Monster-Truck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 26, 2019, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301 "2019-10-26T03:24:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/1 "2019-10-26T03:24:42Z")
For the third Antarctic Expedition, Admiral Byrd had constructed a “Snow Cruiser” to transverse the coldest place on earth. [https://www.google.com/search?q=“Snow+Cruiser”&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ACYBGNQdInGLiiCMGqJdxUMjX1z4OoqEAA:1572059968322&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-wejf-7jlAhUo1lkKHbhAD14Q\_AUIESgB&biw=1920&bih=938#imgrc=\_](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Snow+Cruiser%22&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ACYBGNQdInGLiiCMGqJdxUMjX1z4OoqEAA:1572059968322&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-wejf-7jlAhUo1lkKHbhAD14Q_AUIESgB&biw=1920&bih=938#imgrc=_) It Failed…and was abandoned…and lost/forgotten. Where is it now? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/2 "2019-10-26T04:21:56Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > For the third Antarctic Expedition, Admiral Byrd had constructed a “Snow Cruiser” to transverse the coldest place on earth. > [https://www.google.com/search?q=“Snow+Cruiser”&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ACYBGNQdInGLiiCMGqJdxUMjX1z4OoqEAA:1572059968322&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-wejf-7jlAhUo1lkKHbhAD14Q\_AUIESgB&biw=1920&bih=938#imgrc=\_](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Snow+Cruiser%22&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ACYBGNQdInGLiiCMGqJdxUMjX1z4OoqEAA:1572059968322&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-wejf-7jlAhUo1lkKHbhAD14Q_AUIESgB&biw=1920&bih=938#imgrc=_) > > It Failed…and was abandoned…and lost/forgotten. > > Where is it now? Wow. Thanks for those links. I never heard of the Snow Cruiser. And, frankly, while ambitious, it seems not to be very well thought out for dam near anything. I almost took a job a McMurdo. I was just to be a gofer, handyman though. I instead took the job that I still have had for 27 years. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/3 "2019-10-26T05:04:15Z")
I’m pretty sure that is in my back yard somewhere. I think its between the '78 Fiat and the Rambler. ---
**Author:** ![allyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@allyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/allyn)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/4 "2019-10-26T05:55:18Z")
Potted history from wikipedia: > **[Antarctic Snow Cruiser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Snow_Cruiser)** > > The Antarctic Snow Cruiser was a vehicle designed from 1937 to 1939 under the direction of Thomas Poulter, intended to facilitate transport in Antarctica during the United States Antarctic Service Expedition (1939–41). The Snow Cruiser was also known as "The Penguin," "Penguin 1" or "Turtle" in some published material. > Poulter had been second in command of Byrd's Second Antarctic Expedition, launched in 1934. From his time in the Antarctic, Poulter had devised several innovative features. The ... Some neat photos from The Atlantic: > **[The Antarctic Snow Cruiser—Updated](https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/01/the-antarctic-snow-cruiser-updated/424851/)** > > An update to a previous photo essay about this massive Antarctic Snow Cruiser that was designed and built for Antarctic exploration in 1939, but failed to live up to expectations. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/5 "2019-10-26T06:04:15Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’m pretty sure that is in my back yard somewhere. I think its between the '78 Fiat and the Rambler. THERE IT IS! [sub]golf clap[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/6 "2019-10-26T11:57:35Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’m pretty sure that is in my back yard somewhere. I think its between the '78 Fiat and the Rambler. “The” rambler. You only have one? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/7 "2019-10-26T12:13:45Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > “The” rambler. You only have one? The others wandered off. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/8 "2019-10-26T12:44:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The others wandered off. You’re killing me here. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/9 "2019-10-26T14:16:21Z")
Interesting story. But IMO the [overland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overland_train) [trains](https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2009/11/19/54-wheel-drive-the-letourneau-electric-arctic-land-trains-that-put-australian-road-trains-to-shame/) were more impressive. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/10 "2019-10-26T14:31:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The others wandered off. You misspelled “rambled.” They apparently decided it was: _time to ramble on Ramble on And now’s the time, the time is now To sing my song_ Etcetera. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/11 "2019-10-26T14:42:43Z")
> [@allyn](#): > > Some neat photos from The Atlantic: > > [The Antarctic Snow Cruiser—Updated - The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/01/the-antarctic-snow-cruiser-updated/424851/) Amazing how something designed and built in the mid/late 30s can end up like something from the 60s like the afore mentioned overland trains. Design and purpose decades ahead of it’s time. I suppose if those diesels were turbos and those giant tires had tread this thing would still be a viable mobile base. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-antarctic-monster-truck/842301/12 "2019-10-26T17:01:06Z")
Why in the world did anyone think that was going to work? Had the designers never seen snow before? I’d imagine an actual monster truck would have done just fine. ETA: Yes, I’m aware “monster trucks” were still a good 40 years away from reality, but still. Slick tires?!