To provide a carrying appliance for optimizing the number of carriages and devices for maintenance work.

Two sets of article carrying loops C and D having a switching rail 6 traversing between a carriage passing position W and a carriage waiting position X by a traverser device 1, a traveling rail 2 to form an endless carrying route together with the switching rail 6 at the carriage passing position W, communication rails 17 and 18 with one end thereof communicated with the switching rail 6 at the carriage waiting position X, and a carriage 4 mobile along these rails are arranged with other ends of the communication rails 17 and 18 facing each other. A lifter device 5 having an elevating/lowering rail 16 movable between the carriage delivery position Y and the carriage attachment/detachment position Z continuous to the other ends of the communication rails 17 and 18 is provided, and the carriage 4 is reciprocated between the article carrying loops C and D via the switching rail 6, the communication rails 17 and 18, and the elevating/lowering rail 16.