Overburden conveyour bridge F60, Industrial crane and open-air museum in Lichterfeld-Schacksdorf, Germany
The F60 overburden conveyor bridge is a massive steel structure that rises like a horizontal tower over the flat landscape of the former mine. The machine rests on 18 supporting legs and features a walkable platform at the top that offers views across the entire mining area.
This machine was built in the late 1980s in East Germany as one of the final large investments in coal mining operations. After German reunification, coal mining quickly ended, but the structure was preserved and eventually transformed into a monument to industrial history.
The structure now symbolizes the Lausitz region's shift from active mining to a place of memory and reflection. Visitors come to understand how this landscape once operated and what industrial work meant for the people who lived here.
Visitors can explore the site on foot, and weather-appropriate clothing is recommended since the platforms are exposed to wind and elements. The climb involves many steps, so basic fitness helps, though the pace is manageable for most people.
The F60 was originally a fully operational machine with thousands of moving parts, yet after shutdown it was intentionally preserved in its exact position. This choice makes it one of the few examples of an active industrial machine converted into a walkable monument to working history.
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