Unloading
Unloading machinery and equipment from wagons
Machinery arriving by rail has to come off the wagon, and most of it is too heavy or too awkward to roll or drive off. We unload plant, machines and industrial equipment from wagons with 50 and 80 tonne mobile cranes, either at our terminal or at a siding where access allows.
What arrives this way
- Construction and earthmoving machines.
- Production lines and machine tools.
- Transformers, generators and electrical plant.
- Tanks, vessels and silo sections.
- Agricultural machinery.
- Structural sections and prefabricated units.
How the operation is planned
An unloading job is decided by three things: the weight of the heaviest piece, its geometry, and how close the crane can stand to the wagon. Get those wrong and the lift does not happen on the day.
Where the piece has designated lifting points, they are used. Where it does not, the slinging arrangement has to be worked out beforehand — not improvised beside the wagon with the clock running.
What we need before the day
- Weight of the heaviest piece — the real figure.
- Dimensions and lifting points.
- Photographs of the piece as loaded, if possible.
- Where it has to be set down.
- Whether it continues by truck and when that truck arrives.
- Whether the site is ours or yours, and what the access is like.
If the unloading is at your siding rather than at our terminal, access and ground bearing decide whether it is feasible at all. That is worth checking before anything is booked.
After it comes off
The piece can be loaded straight onto a truck, set down on site, or moved into storage until it is needed. Where it continues east on broad gauge, unloading and reloading are the same operation seen from two sides — see crane transshipment.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you unload at our own siding?
Sometimes. It depends on access, ground conditions and the room the crane needs. Send photographs.
What is the heaviest machine you can unload?
Within the 50 and 80 tonne cranes, subject to radius. Send the weight and dimensions.
What if the machine has no lifting points?
Then the slinging has to be worked out in advance. Tell us before the day, not on it.
Can the machine be stored after unloading?
Yes, indoors or outdoors depending on the machine.
Can you load it onto a truck straight away?
Yes, if the truck is there. Otherwise it is set down and loaded later.
Machine arriving by rail?
Send the weight, the dimensions and a photo of how it is loaded, and we will plan the lift.