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Crocodilelocomotive

The Crocodile is an electric locomotive because they have long "noses" at each end, reminiscent of the snout of a crocodile.

History[]

These engines were built from 1919 to 1921 by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works and the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon and later they were rebuilt from 1942 to 1947.

These contain the motors and drive axles, and are connected by an articulated center section. The center section usually contains the crew compartments, pantographs and transformer.

The name was first applied to Swiss locomotives. Sometimes the term is applied to locomotives in other countries of a similar design.

Between 1942 and 1947, thirteen members of class Ce 6/8 II were upgraded with more powerful motors, to allow a higher top speed, and these became class Be 6/8 II. This required raising the jackshaft above the plane of the axles, necessitating a more complex system of side rods. In 1956, all eighteen members of class Ce 6/8 III were upgraded and became class Be 6/8 III.

Trivia[]

  • They are iconic in continental Europe, where several similar designs were used in other countries, but perhaps not so much in North America and the UK.
  • A prototype locomotive, SBB-CFF-FFS Ce 6/8 I number 14201, was ordered in June 1917.
  • Instead of having horns like usual electric locomotives, these engines have an LNER Style Bell Whistles instead.
  • In the flash game Rail of War, a locomotive named Rhino Industrial is modelled on a crocodile locomotive. Its design is heavily based on a Rhaetian Railway Ge 6/6 I.

Gallery[]

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