Wuppertal Suspension Trains Lifted by two LTF 1060-4.1

Tandem hoist – two Liebherr LTF 1060-4.1 telescopic truck-mounted cranes install the suspended railway train on a new suspension frame. Photograph – Liebherr

Date 27 November 2018

After around 45 years’ operation, WSW Mobil, the operating company behind the Wuppertal suspension railway, has replaced the final generation 72 trains. After a maximum of 45 years in operation, the trains were removed and taken to new sites.

After a great deal of controversy broke out about the old trains, in addition to being sold, some of them where in fact raffled. Two LTF 1060-4.1 from Neeb were used for assembly work at one of the new sites.

A tandem hoist by two mobile cranes marked the end of a whole generation. Whilst the two telescopic truck-mounted cranes from Neeb suspended the final train from the Wuppertal suspension railway at its retirement location, a piece of history finally came to an end. The train, which otherwise had only been hoisted using gantry trains in the suspension railway workshop, was removed from the system for the last time, placed on a low loader and suspended on a specially constructed frame by the two LTF 1060-4.1 cranes.

The suspension railway’s trains had been in use since 1972, as noted by their name GTW 72, which stands for “GelenkTriebWagen Baujahr 1972” (articulated railway cars built in 1972). Whilst four of the original 28 trains were taken out of service prematurely, the 24 other trains remained in use until 2016. Since then, the trains have been steadily removed and replaced by the new generation GTW 15.

Each type GTW 72 train consists of two end cars and a short centre section and can accommodate 48 passengers in seats with a further 156 standing. The maximum speed of the suspended railway is actually 60 km/h, but this is rarely achieved on the 13.3 kilometre track which has 20 stops. The route of the track includes around 10 kilometres over the River Wupper and 3 kilometres over land. Each year, the railway, which is protected by a preservation order, is used by around 25 million passengers.

Bird’s eye view – new home for old suspended railway trains.

Event location – the historic trains will be the centre of an event location for Knipex employees and visitors

Source and Photographs – Liebherr