Liebherr LTM 1450-8.1 lifts historic railway carriage into Wuppertal station
30-Second Takeaway
A 450-tonne Liebherr LTM 1450-8.1 lifted historic suspension railway carriage Car 76 into Wuppertal Central Station, Germany. Franz Bracht Kran-Vermietung carried out the lift, with a Liebherr LTM 1090-4.2 from Wuppertal-based Wilden providing support. Confined space and an underground shopping area and car park restricted where heavy vehicles could travel. The LTM 1450-8.1 was configured with its outriggers reduced to 7.95 metres, 134 tonnes of ballast at a five-metre radius, a 31-metre telescopic boom and a 56-metre luffing jib. The restored carriage is planned for use as a registry office and venue for private events.
Crane configuration fitted a tight station site
The operation took place in a restricted area at Wuppertal Central Station. A basement-level shopping area and underground car park directly in front of the site meant vehicles weighing more than eight tonnes could not enter certain areas. The main crane therefore had to be positioned on a narrow access road. Franz Bracht Kran-Vermietung deployed its 450-tonne Liebherr LTM 1450-8.1, supported by a Liebherr LTM 1090-4.2 from local crane company Wilden.
To work within the available footprint, the LTM 1450-8.1 was set up with its outriggers reduced to 7.95 metres. Its VarioBallast system carried 134 tonnes of counterweight at a reduced radius of five metres. The crane’s VarioBase system allows its outrigger configuration to be adapted to site conditions.
For the lift, the telescopic boom was extended to 31 metres and fitted with a 56-metre luffing jib, providing a maximum working radius of 65 metres. The carriage and lifting gear weighed approximately seven tonnes.
Car 76 returns to the station
Car 76 is part of the Wuppertal suspension railway’s Series 50 fleet, which dates from 1950. Kahl Schwerlast transported the carriage to Wuppertal on a flatbed trailer on August 31. It was lifted into the station area on September 1 and moved into its final position on September 18, ahead of celebrations marking the suspension railway’s 125th anniversary.
The restored carriage will be repurposed as a registry office and venue for private events, giving the former public transport vehicle a new use at the city’s central station.
About the companies
Franz Bracht Kran-Vermietung
Franz Bracht Kran-Vermietung provides mobile crane rental and lifting services. The company is part of the Franz Bracht Group, which coordinates crane and transport projects from locations across North Rhine-Westphalia.
View website: https://www.bracht-autokrane.de/en
Wilden
Wilden is a crane rental and heavy transport company based in Wuppertal. It supplied the supporting Liebherr LTM 1090-4.2 for the carriage lift.
View website: https://www.wilden-autokrane.de/
Liebherr
Liebherr manufactures the LTM 1450-8.1, an eight-axle mobile crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 450 tonnes and an 85-metre, seven-section telescopic boom. Its VarioBallast system allows the counterweight radius to be adjusted from seven metres to five metres, while VarioBase enables the crane’s outriggers to be extended to different lengths.
View website: https://www.liebherr.com/en-us/
Frequently Asked Questions
What crane lifted the historic railway carriage?
A Liebherr LTM 1450-8.1 with a maximum lifting capacity of 450 tonnes carried out the lift. A Liebherr LTM 1090-4.2 from Wilden provided support.
How was the LTM 1450-8.1 configured for the lift?
The crane was set up with its outriggers reduced to 7.95 metres and 134 tonnes of ballast at a five-metre radius. It used a 31-metre telescopic boom with a 56-metre luffing jib.
What will happen to carriage 76?
The restored carriage is planned for use as a registry office and venue for private events at Wuppertal Central Station.
