About 40 miles north of Fairbanks, this monstrous piece of machinery sits beside the freeway, slowly rusting back into the earth. 

What is it?  Nothing other than a LeTourneau Snow Train, and in it's younger days it can be seen working away in this video below.  Apparently it was used to transport heavy gear over roadless country during the winter.  It's kind of like the original ice road trucker, but sometimes without the road.

What an odd piece of American industrial history.   Is it the last of it's kind, at true dinosaur?  Who knows.  A fascinating history of this vehicle and its kind can be found here.