The invention relates to a so-called top drive (16) in the form of a device to drive drill pipes and to a method for operating the same, in which means are provided to heat the gearbox oil (46) used by the top drive (16), which means can also be supplied by an emergency power unit and comprise a hydraulic unit (28) and a pressure limiting valve (40) of the top drive (16), wherein hydraulic fluid (36) is circulated through the pressure limiting valve (40) to heat the gearbox oil (46) by the hydraulic unit (28), and the heat energy thus generated is emitted to the gearbox oil (46) via a heat exchanger (48) through which the hydraulic fluid (36) flows.
