The 2024 Santa Claus Parade, which took place in downtown Kamloops (British Columbia) at the end of November, was themed “Christmas Movie Magic”. In keeping with this, the creative minds at CEC transformed their brand-new LTM 1120-4.1 into a locomotive. Equipped with a matching passenger wagon, the all-terrain crane was reminiscent of the film “The Polar Express”. The streets were filled with families and children who were thrilled by the detailed design of the train, especially the horn and the escaping steam. The crane’s so-called “crab steering” – a special driving technique – was also a source of great admiration, as many had never seen a crane move sideways before.
A project for community and Christmas magic
The idea of transforming the crane into a Christmas locomotive was a joint project between CEC employees and the City of Kamloops. Under the direction of Duke Piquette, an “all-round talent” in the workshop, the production teams built the associated passenger carriage. The crane was equipped with numerous Christmas details that transformed it into an impressive locomotive.
“We are incredibly proud of our team, who have put their heart and soul into this project,” says Briar Beers from CEC. “Every year, the parade is a great opportunity for us to connect with the local community and other local businesses.” And Simon Schuster, sales representative at Liebherr adds: “Our LTM 1120-4.1 showed at the parade that it not only delivers top performance on the construction site, but also attracts attention on unusual jobs.”
