The group of enthusiasts, who call themselves Historic Rescue Vehicles – Marnach Depot, say they urgently need additional storage space and financial support to shelter and restore their growing collection of historic emergency vehicles.
The project began in the former tram depot Tramsschapp – now a cultural centre – where the first vehicle, a fire engine from Rumelange, was brought in, according to Raymond Brausch, a former professional firefighter and the driving force behind the initiative. He explained that as word spread across the country, more and more people approached the group, often when old vehicles were being decommissioned, to make sure they wouldn’t end up scrapped.
When the tram depot was demolished, the vehicles were relocated to Luxembourg City’s old slaughterhouse – an arrangement that Brausch considers far from ideal. The fire engines were crammed in side-by-side with barely any room to move, making access difficult and leading to damage, Brausch recalled.
Later, the collection moved to Schoenfels and three years later to the police impound lot in Colmar-Berg – where it remained for 25 years – before finally finding a more permanent home in Marnach about five years ago. The current site, which was once the RTL transmitter facility, now houses around 40 vintage fire engines, 30 trailers, and a civil protection water treatment unit. Some of the vehicles, Brausch noted, even date back to World War II.
The oldest vehicle on display in Marnach is a 1938 fire engine from Dudelange. It’s in urgent need of full restoration, with mice having damaged the seats over the decades. “It’s repairable”, Brausch said, “but we need funding to make it happen”. The collection also includes the longest ladder-equipped fire engine in Luxembourg.
The group consists of passionate volunteers, mainly from the Weller and Putscheid area. According to Brausch, they’re all committed idealists. Following fire service reforms, many local brigades donated their old equipment to the depot rather than dispose of it, an act that saved countless vehicles from being lost to history.
Visits to the site are possible upon request.
