Straddle Excavator: A Custom-Built Solution for Rail and Bulk Material Handling
category:
CTC Plant Company, Custom Design, Support
date:
10 June 2026
team:
CTC Plant Company
Engineering Equipment Around the Job
At CTC Plant Company, we understand that not every application can be solved with an off-the-shelf machine. Some operations require equipment to be modified, engineered and built specifically around the challenges of the site.
Our experience in custom earthmoving equipment is demonstrated by this Straddle Excavator, a specialised machine designed to work directly over rail infrastructure while allowing trains to pass beneath it. CTC has built several straddle excavators for specialised applications, including one for Transnet Freight Rail in Saldanha Bay, where it was used to offload coal from coal line trains.
The challenge: excavating above a moving rail line
Traditional excavators are designed to operate alongside a work area. In a rail-loading or unloading environment, however, this can create limitations in terms of access, visibility and productivity.
The solution was to position the excavator above the railway line, creating a machine configuration that could work over the train while maintaining clearance for the train itself.
This required a combination of height, width, structural support and machine positioning to create a purpose-built piece of equipment capable of operating within the rail environment.
The solution: a purpose-built Straddle Excavator
The Straddle Excavator was engineered and built to provide the required working height and clearance for the application.
Mounted on a specially fabricated elevated structure, the excavator is positioned high enough to operate above the train. The width of the structure allows the train to pass through beneath the machine, creating an efficient working arrangement for bulk material handling.
This configuration provided several important operational advantages:
- Elevated working position
- Train clearance
- Improved operator visibility
- Improved productivity
- Purpose-built design
More than a machine modification
Projects such as this demonstrate what is possible when earthmoving equipment, fabrication and application-specific engineering come together.
A straddle excavator is not simply a conventional excavator placed on a higher platform. The complete configuration needs to be considered, including machine positioning, structural requirements, operating clearance, access and the environment in which the equipment will work.
At CTC Plant Company, our capabilities allow us to look beyond the standard machine and develop equipment solutions around the customer’s operational requirements.
CTC Plant Company: Experience in custom equipment solutions
With more than 30 years of experience in the earthmoving equipment industry, CTC Plant Company has developed a strong understanding of the machines and applications used across sectors such as mining, construction, and agriculture.
Our capabilities extend beyond supplying used earthmoving equipment. Through our workshop and engineering, we can modify and develop equipment for specialised applications where a standard machine may not be enough.
The Straddle Excavator is one example of how CTC can take an existing machine concept and transform it into a purpose-built equipment solution designed around the demands of the job.
