Abstract: The invention relates to a walking beam furnace, the hearth of which consists, at least partially, of longitudinal beams arranged side by side and alternately formed as fixed beams and walking beams. Each walking beam is lifted and lowered with the aid of lifting rollers, which run on ramps. The ramps are prolonged downwards by a longer distance than is required for the working lift of the walking beams. The walking beams are depressed, step by step, into a repair and maintenance plane which lies appreciably below the plane of the hearth, by moving down the lifting rollers into the region of the lower prolongation of the ramps.