World's Longest Airstream: 51 Feet Long

[Ray Eklund]

The Silverton Casino in south Las Vegas, Nevada has the shell of the elusive 51 foot Airstream. This time we took photos with our cell phone to the disbelievers out there. It is so long... you could actually bowl in this one!

3333 Blue Diamond Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89139

[Ray Eklund]

... and if you bowl, it is $3 per game. But, I imagine if you carry a Station Casino player's card there could be a discount. I was busy shooting Craps and was able to leave with $75 more than I started with. Just maybe... a few more tries and I can get myself one of these Tow Vehicles!?

If you love aluminum... try this Shelby Cobra CSX6000- 427 engine, aluminum and starting at $163,000. I will ask next time we stop at the office and ask what the Tow Rating is for this model. It does come standard with 15" wheels and tires!

The wife may want the Red or Blue fiberglass models that start at $93,000.

Not everything in Las Vegas has to do with gambling! Bowling and your next tow vehicle that matches are also here to be found.

[Ray Eklund]

We had a two for one buffet at the Silverton Casino today. Cost us $10.80 including tax.

But... for those with a 16 foot Bambi... a 289 cubic inch Shelby in aluminum is also available for $163,000. These tow vehicles ARE street legal. They probably get lousy gas mileage... but who is that concerned if Santa parks one in your driveway in 2017.

We can all dream and it costs you nothing. The tour at the Shelby Plant runs twice a day and is absolutely free... unless you stop and buy one. This, of course, is their asking price. I doubt if they accept trade ins, but... there is always a first time!

[Thalweg]

Awesome, you can tow your aluminum bowling ally with your aluminum Cobra. What could be better?

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by Thalweg

Awesome, you can tow your aluminum bowling ally with your aluminum Cobra. What could be better?

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Left handed bowlers I would give a 50% discount.

This might have been the 4 Axle that went on the 2016 Wyoming Adventure. I am only a so so bowler, so did not take a look. Was that anyone on this Forum?

[dcasr]

Can you get a side photo that shows the entire Airstream all at once? When was it made? Where? Was it from the factory or did someone put two together in their back yard? Just wondering.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by dcasr

Can you get a side photo that shows the entire Airstream all at once? When was it made? Where? Was it from the factory or did someone put two together in their back yard? Just wondering.

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I will have to have Thalweg in Wyoming to visit and describe the 'parts and pieces'.

I will bring my camera next time. My wife had her cell phone and did her best on the exterior and the well lit interior. When transferring to the Forums, the photos were not as wide.

The end furthest from the door is 'pop riveted'. This no doubt is the added section. From looking at it, they took two Airstreams and added the length to accommodate the 'bowling alley'. Probably two double axle trailers made to fit what they needed for a novel bowling alley. I did not want to put $3 of quarters into it... I am sure the pins are those that flip up and reset on each frame like those found at carnivals.

I may ask an employee about how and when... and just might stick $3 into it and see what happens.

A real surprise, but a true Airstream hybrid. When in Las Vegas... check it out. Bring a pocket full of quarters in you want to add your comments as to how this whole thing works.

The exterior has all of the dings and scrapes expected from well used Airstreams. No doubt, someone on this Forum is already considering making their own Bowling Alley and invite us all over for a few games.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

The Silverton Casino in south Las Vegas, Nevada has the shell of the elusive 51 foot Airstream. This time we took photos with our cell phone to the disbelievers out there. It is so long... you could actually bowl in this one!

3333 Blue Diamond Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89139

Was there a 51' actually built by AS ?
Or is this a gag of sorts.

[Sharkboards]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

But... for those with a 16 foot Bambi... a 289 cubic inch Shelby in aluminum is also available for $163,000. These tow vehicles ARE street legal. They probably get lousy gas mileage... but who is that concerned if Santa parks one in your driveway in 2017.

We can all dream and it costs you nothing. The tour at the Shelby Plant runs twice a day and is absolutely free... unless you stop and buy one. This, of course, is their asking price. I doubt if they accept trade ins, but... there is always a first time!

Speaking of those aluminum Cobras, I visited the facility of a company that made beautiful accurate aluminum Cobras. They had aluminum bodies/shells made in Poland by workers who formerly made MiG fighters for the USSR government. Apparently aluminum fabrication is a dying art. They had several in various stages of finishing. One was polished beautifully, but they explained that it was slated to be painted after the owner tired of being blinded by the sun's reflection on the bonnet.

I'd love to see a vintage Airstream behind a shiny aluminum Cobra.
marc

[A W Warn]

post #8 in this thread
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f48/...ade-70147.html

[Ray Eklund]

#8... not a gag. I paced it out at 51 feet. This was assembled for or by the Casino into a novelty. It is all Airstream, even though it probably took two trailers to get this thing long enough to install the bowling alley.

#9... the glare off the hood. Makes sense to me. Shelby would not say WHERE the bodies were made, but they were not made in Las Vegas. If anyone deserves a Shelby Cobra... you are on top of it.

Someday our Airstreams may need to be painted because of the glare and reflection from our aluminum skins. Red or dark Blue... could be a killer with pin striping.

[Iron Doc]

It has been more than 25 years, but at one time there was a very long Airstream at the Railroad Museum in Portola, CA. I did not measure it, but it was more than 40 feet long. The shell was in pretty good condition, but obviously the frame needed work as parts of the trailer was sagging somewhat. It appeared to be used as living space someplace stationary, as it was certainly too long to be towed on the road, at least in California, unless one had a professional trailing towing set up. I have no idea what happened to the Airstream as it was gone the last time I was up that way. Presumably it could be the same one that is now in Las Vegas.

[dcasr]

Originally Posted by Iron Doc

It has been more than 25 years, but at one time there was a very long Airstream at the Railroad Museum in Portola, CA. I did not measure it, but it was more than 40 feet long. The shell was in pretty good condition, but obviously the frame needed work as parts of the trailer was sagging somewhat. It appeared to be used as living space someplace stationary, as it was certainly too long to be towed on the road, at least in California, unless one had a professional trailing towing set up. I have no idea what happened to the Airstream as it was gone the last time I was up that way. Presumably it could be the same one that is now in Las Vegas.

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There was a one-off 40+ foot AS made decades ago at the request of, if I remember correctly, a railroad or some company that used it for a bunkhouse. It was originally roadworthy, but who would wish to pull such a monster?

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by dcasr

______________

There was a one-off 40+ foot AS made decades ago at the request of, if I remember correctly, a railroad or some company that used it for a bunkhouse. It was originally roadworthy, but who would wish to pull such a monster?

It was manf. for a railroad as a bunk house.If I remember it was on a flat car. I don't remember the RR co. but I believe one of pacifics. I also remember there was a thread about this trailer but I don't no how to research it.

[Ray Eklund]

"Western Pacific Airstream (www.timelesstraveltrailers.com/mid-century

The Western Pacific Railroad Company commissioned only ten of the 40′ Airstream trailers in 1962. They were used for Maintenance of Way Foreman.

The design of these Airstreams was different from others of the same model year in that they were symmetrical from end to end rather than having the sloping tail. They were created by riveting two 20′ trailers together in the middle. The trailers were mounted on 50′ railroad flatcars when new and spent the rest of their working days on the rails. Most railroads used their retired passenger equipment for MOW work. The Western Pacific had very modest passenger operations and ran a very tight budget. This kept almost their entire passenger fleet in revenue operation until the 1970′s with the inception of Amtrak.

For Western Pacific, the investment in the Airstreams made good economic sense. The Western Pacific was acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1989. The Airstreams were dismounted from their flatcars for the first time in 27 years. One unit went to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, CA. Another unit went to the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento, CA and the remaining units were sold in various auctions. It is noted that two were destroyed while in railroad service. One of only 5 in public possession, Timeless Travel Trailers were honored to restore this amazing piece of history."
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The photos provided by Timeless Travel Trailers are wonderful! Forty feet of trailer and a DOUBLE AXLE. Running... Marathons? More research is needed. There could be a 41 foot or longer out there to discover.

Iron Doc Post #12 and dcasr Post #13 are on the trail of the NEXT largest Airstream.

[AldeanFan]

Guess I should have gone with the polished cobra.


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[Road Ruler]

Aldean... Very nice combo!

[AldeanFan]

But no room for the generators


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[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by AldeanFan

Guess I should have gone with the polished cobra.
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Be careful. The 40 foot Airstream started out as a 23 foot before picking the 'wrong' tow vehicle like yours. After a couple years... you will need another axle.

My brother in law has one just like yours and has it in California for some work. No one in Wyoming knows what to do with it. If he stops by us in Las Vegas, I would like to add a foot or two to our 25 foot International. Need more leg room up front on our trailer.

[Ray Eklund]

The previous post was to explain that too much horsepower can stretch your Airstream.

Google: 'Western Pacific Airstream' You will enjoy the photographs if you click on 'Western Pacific Airstream - Timeless Travel Trailers'. There are a number of other Threads to pick from that are just as interesting.

One 1962 Western Pacific Airstream 40 foot sold for $200,000 in Denver, June 30, 2015. 'Hemmings- Vintage Airsteam that once rode the rails sells for $200,000 in Denver'.

I include four photos that caught my attention. Found a red Airstream for AleanFan!