VAUBEKA Gantry Crane (1935)

The Largest Historical Crane in Berlin – This crane was used to load coal from 1935 to 1991. Composed of two bridges, the steel construction is 122 meters long and 22 meters high. A rotating trolley crane with a hook hangs from the loading bridge. The crane could be moved over 230 meters of track along the Teltow Canal. This made for the efficient loading of coal: from boats to the storage yard to the freight railway, whose tracks run along Teilestraße. The crane was built by the Vereinigte Berliner Kohlenhändler (VAUBEKA), or United Berlin Coal Dealers. Its proximity to Tempelhof Airport made the crane decisive for the success of the Berlin Airlift in 1948. The coal flown into Tempelhof Airport was transported here and thence distributed throughout the city.