THE Z SCALE MODEL
(scroll down for information on the prototype locomotive)
Maerklin introduced the Ae 6/6 to the Z scale range in 1984 in the form of "cantons locomotive" 11412 Zurich (catalogue no. 8850), carrying the livery the Ae 6/6 sported when first entering into traffic, i.e. green livery with chrome stripe and "whiskers".
Maerklin mini-club 8850 (1984-1988)
[Click for larger image]The model was to become an important element of Maerklin's Swiss prototype Z scale production programme for the rest of the 1980s right up to the mid-1990s. Three years after the introduction of Zurich Maerklin introduced a livery variation in the form of "towns locomotive" 11429 Altdorf (8849) in 1987 in red livery without chrome (at the time this was a very up-to-date model as Ae 6/6 locos had only been repainted in this livery since 1984). Both locos were available side by side for one year until the original model 8850 was dropped from production in 1988. After six years on Maerklin's production run Altdorf (the capital town of the canton of Uri) was dropped by the end of 1993 and replaced with a plain green livery variation model, 11437 Stadt Basel (8829) in 1994.
Maerklin mini-club 8849 (1987-1993) / Maerklin 8829 (1994-1996)
[Click for larger image]When this model was dropped from production two years later in 1996, the Ae 6/6 temporarily disappeared from Marklin's Swiss Z scale programme for 6 years (1997-2002) with the exception of a limited-run model interspersed in 1999 (red liveried 11426 Stadt Zurich) as part of a set with three bi-level Zurich S Bahn coaches (81413).
Maerklin mini-club 81413 (limited run 1999 only)In 2003 the Ae 6/6 was back with the release of 11428 Stadt Luzern in all-green livery as a regular. non-limited production run model 88501). The only livery not reproduced by Maerklin is a "cantons locoomotive" carrying red with chrome, but who knows...
Maerklin mini-club 88501 (2003-)The Z scale Ae 6/6 is a model from Maerklin's "second generation" production standards from the early 1980s. Whilst Maerklin has improved the printing on each subsequent model released, the chassis and body are still the same as on the first Ae 6/6 from 1984, although the latest model (88501) now features a five-pole motor.
[Click for larger images]The overall appearance of the model is actually very good, especially when considering its age and taking into account the fairly crude models produced of the Ae 6/6 in H0 and N at the time Maerklin designed its Z scale version. This is mainly due to a body shell which, as a whole, is amazingly accurate, given the small size of the model. The cab windows are slightly odd, not so much because they are too small but because they have a black plastic inlay instead of a clear, see-through material, but somehow they don't look as bad as might be expected, perhaps because the result is windows which are flush with the body, again something not found on most models in N or H0 scale right up to the mid-1990s.
Model and prototype are presented here in identical scale-ratios for comparisonThe main faults of this model lie - as with many many other models in larger scales - with its chassis. Typical for production policies of the 1980s - again concerning most manufacturers, not just Z scale - Maerklin made economies by using a chassis already in production for a different model. It seems that most manufacturers hold a firm belief that modellers only look at the bodies of locomotives, never at what's below.
Well, if ever there's a chance to get away with this it's bound to be in Z scale, because everything's so small it won't be noticeable unless it's completely wrong. The Ae 6/6 is a good example here: because the outside suspension blades conveniently hide part of the bogies, few would notice the slightly wrong wheel spacing. The give-away is both awful and silly: the red colour of the wheels (the bogie and wheels (parts no. 26 783 and 26 090) originally come from the DB class 103 model, catalogue number 8854). Awful because no Swiss electric loco ever had red wheels (something typically German), and silly because it would be so easy for Maerklin to rectify. When Maerklin reintroduced the Ae 6/6 in 2003, catalogue pictures showed the model to still carry red wheels, but thankfully the actual model has finally seen correction of this mistake in the process of Maerklin's general policy to blacken wheels on all models . The most glaring difference between model and prototype is, however, the virtual absence of the prominent and typical valences which run around the chassis and part of the bogies on both ends of the locomotive. Reproducing these would pose problems with the Maerklin type couplers and restrict sideway clearance of the bogies on curved track, but Maerklin chose to avoid any problem at all and just fitted mere little stumps.
Click on image for Maerklin's parts list for the Z scale Ae 6/6 and an illustration of how it all fits together
(pdf file, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)The roof details are - naturally - a lot clumsier than they should be, somewhat enhanced by the bright red plastic used. The pantographs are oversize as well, but considering that they actually work, this aspect can really be overlooked.
As a conclusion, the Ae 6/6 is a pleasing model, especially in the form of later releases which benefitted from advanced printing techniques. It can be run straight from the box as a convincing representation of a classic Swiss locomotive, but it also provides ample possibilities for improvement (Jens Wimmel has done an excellent job, and his superdetailed Ae 6/6 really looks the part).
One final aspect which clearly sets the model and the real locomotive apart is pulling power. While the Ae 6/6 is a powerhouse even by today's standards, Maerklin's Z scale model will only pull a good 15 pieces of freight stock on level track without problems. Maybe it's because the model - in contrast to the real loco's 120-124 tons - only weighs 30g...
The Class Ae 6/6 locomotives were built between 1952 and 1966 by the three big Swiss locomotive suppliers SLM Winterthur, MFO Oerlikon and BBC Baden to an order of a total of 120 locomotives.
The locomotive has a total weight of 120-124 tons and has a maximum traffic speed of 125 km/h (Type "A") generated by 6 traction motors working two Co'Co' bogies. Maximum output is 5'830 hp / 4'300 kW. Total length of the Ae 6/6 is 18.4 m.
A brand new Ae 6/6 at Airolo in 1955
(Hans Boelsterli Collection)All 120 locomotives were originally elivered in the classic green SBB paint scheme, with the first batch of 25 locomotives (11401 - 11425) being named for one of the Swiss cantons. They were hence referred to as "cantons locomotives" and carried the canton's coat of arms as well as chrome sidebands and front "whiskers".
Ae 6/6 11421 Kanton Graubunden in its original green livery with chrome stripes, whiskers and letters
Thun, 29 May 2004Locomotives 11426 - 11450 were designated as "towns locomotives" and received the names and coats of arms of the 25 cantonal capitals, but no chrome stripes. The remaining 70 locomotives were named after important "railway towns".
While the naming of locomotives was a common thing at the beginning of the railway age (when more often than not locomotive names were meant to convey a programmatic identity, e.g. "The Rocket", "Adler" (eagle), "Sans Pareil" (in a league of its own), etc.), it did not become a lasting tradition outside of Britain. This is also true for the railways of Switzerland. Whilst early steam locomotives were commonly named after towns or rivers (e.g. Genf, Limmat), the system quickly converted to alphanumeric class designations and simple running numbers to identify locomotives. However, when Swiss Federal Railways decided to bring the old tradition of naming locomotives back to life with the new Gotthard locomotive, it was done in style and with patriotic stride. The names of the cantons were adorned with the cantonal coat of arms, decorative bands of shining chrome were added, and an emblem with the Swiss national flag adorned both cabs.
The quality of workmanship that went into these decorations certainly was to the highest standards, and naturally, this is an important aspect of the overall character which makes the Ae 6/6 stand out amongst other electric locomotives of that period.
The naming of 11402 Uri on 23 September 1953 was the first in a long series of public gatherings with festive character, as a canton or town celebrated its "own" locomotive.
Following entry into service in 1952, the Ae 6/6 gradually phased out the famous "Crocodiles" (Ce 6/8 and Be 6/8) as well as the Ae 4/ 7 and thus became known as "Gotthardlok". As a true general purpose locomotive the Ae 6/6 is, however,virtually employable on all types of trains.
As of 1984, locomotives undergoing an R3 general overhaul emerged from the depots in bright SBB red. A new paint job was not, however, part of the intermediate overhauls (R1, R2), resulting in a locomotive fleet carrying a total of four different types of liveries: original green with chrome, original plain green, red with chrome, and plain red.
The three liveries carried by the Ae 6/6 in addition to the green with chrome illustrated above: plain green (11468 Lenzburg, 24 October 2003, Thun), red with chrome (11419 Kanton Appenzell Innerrhoden, 3 January 2004, Thun), and plain red (11431 Sarnen, 28 April 2004, Aarau) [click for larger images]
The driver's side of the cab (left) and a close-up view of the characteristic double row of suspension blades on the outside of the bogies upon which the main loco body rests (11477 Martigny, on display at the Olten depot open day celebrating the inauguration of the new high-speed line Mattstetten-Rothrist, 23 October 2004) [click for larger images]
On September 4th 2002, the Ae 6/6 (now designated class Ae 610) celebrated 50 years in service on Swiss rails. An amazing 119 of the 120 locomotives originally delivered to Swiss Federal Railways were on the active service motive power roster on the day of their golden jubilee - only 11410 Kanton Basel-Stadt missed the party, having been withdrawn on 18 September 2001 with more than 6 million kilometres on its clock after a collision left the loco beyond repair. The Swiss newspaper Der Bund featured an article to commemorate this event (which coincided with the Swiss Federal Railways' centenary) - click for a larger, readable rendering of this newspaper article.
More retirements followed in September 2003, but the class still soldiers on as Swiss Federal Railways cannot afford to withdraw the Ae 6/6 yet with their order books full and too few new locos coming in to pull the trains. However, there will be no more visits to the paint shop for the Ae 6/6, meaning that some locos are starting to look fairly grubby, especially "cantons" locos which had their last R3 overhaul with repaint way back in the 1970s and whose chrome stripes have definitely lost their original shine.
In 2004 the class was hit by theft and looting, with more and more coats of arms "disappearing", together with letters, manufacturer's plates, etc. from Ae 6/6 units which were stabled overnight.
Ae 6/6 11499 Sargans glides through Ostermundingen on 23 March 2005 virtually as undercover locomotive - an extreme example where not only the coat of arms had been taken down on both sides of the locomotive but the running number and SBB CFF letters were stolen on one side of the locomotive body too.Not having a clear overview of the actual numbers of thefts, it nevertheless must have been clear to SBB Cargo that this sudden rise of incidents pointed to an organised criminal scheme rather than individual cases of theft. The rate at which reports of missing regalia came in prompted SBB Cargo to act quickly.
[click for larger image]As all chrome and decorative markings on the Ae 6/6 seem to have been attached in a non-theftproof way, the only immediate option for SBB Cargo was to outrun the thieves - by taking off fhe most vulnerable items themselves. Over a few days in Mid-March 2005, SBB Cargo staff thus stripped all Ae 6/6 they could lay their hands on. The result, as illustrated by 11449 Neuchatel and 11512 Horgen, is a sad picture (below).
Officially, SBB Cargo has commented that the action was necessary to prevent further trespassing which subjected thieves and innocent third parties to a high potential risk to their lives. However, SBB Cargo was quick to add that it was also a question of preserving Swiss railway heritage, and that the coats of arms and letters to go with them would be refitted in a theft-proof way in due course of time. However, the Ae 6/6 units remain stripped and denamed even after 18 months, and one begins to fear that SBB Cargo will save the money and kiss old memories, including the proud Neuchatel eagle and the bold swan from Horgen, goodbye.
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Given the fact that this is due to organised theft, this event must be a fairly singular one in railway history Neglect attracts vandalism, a fact of life illustrated by 11452 Baden in the stabling tracks at Thun on 25 March 2006, after falling victim (not necessarily at this location) to would-be graffiti artists.
In September 2006, Ae 6/6 11492 Emmen was turned out by the Bellinzona shops as Ae 610 492 Erstfeld in SBB Cargo livery and, after a few runs, was set up in the complex of the motorway service area at Erstfeld.
Ae 610 492 (formerly Ae 6/6 11492) on its special journey on 5 October 2006 to Altdorf by rail and then on to Erstfeld by truck
(pictures (c) Gotthard-Bahn, used with kind permission)The locomotive is to remain there as a static display throughout 2007 as part of the celebrations for the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Gotthard route, whilst at the same time serving as a temporary replacement for the restaurant which is undergoing renovation. For this purpose, two SBB dining cars have also been set up a static display.
Ae 610 492 (formerly Ae 6/6 11492) providing meals on wheels
(picture (c) Gotthard-Bahn, used with kind permission)
The following list gives the running numbers and names of the individual locomotives (red and green indicate the livery now carried by a locomotive or, in the case of retired class mebers, the livery last carried). Numbers in brackets indicate notes, which can be found at the bottom of the table. Some running numbers are links to separate pages with pictures and additional information.
Running numbers marked with a strike-through indicate locomotives which had officially been withdrawn from service prior to SBB Cargo putting most of these locos back on their books and listing them as being simply stored in Spring 2005. An updated and factual list is in preparation.
Cantons
11401Ticino (1) 11414 Bern/Berne 11402Uri (2) 11415 Thurgau 11403 Schwyz 11416Glarus (13) 11404 Luzern 11417Fribourg/Freiburg (6) 11405 Nidwalden 11418St. Gallen (10) 11406 Obwalden 11419 Appenzell I.Rh. 11407 Aarau 11420 Appenzell A.Rh. 11408 Solothurn 11421 Grischun/Graubunden 11409Baselland (3) 11422 Vaud 11410Basel-Stadt (4) 11423 Valais/Wallis 11411 Zug 11424 Neuchatel 11412Zurich (5) 11425 Geneve 11413 Schaffhausen Cantonal capitals
11426Stadt Zurich (7) 11439 Schaffhausen 11427 Stadt Bern 11440 Herisau 11428 Stadt Luzern 11441 Appenzell 11429 Altdorf 11442 St. Gallen 11430 Gemeinde Schwyz 11443 Chur 11431 Sarnen 11444 Aarau 11432 Stans 11445 Frauenfeld 11433 Glarus 11446 Bellinzona 11434 Stadt Zug 11447 Lausanne 11435 Fribourg 11448 Sion 11436 Stadt Solothurn 11449 Neuchatel 11437 Stadt Basel 11450 Ville de Geneve 11438Liestal (11) Important traffic centers
11451 Winterthur 11486 Burgdorf 11452 Baden 11487 Langenthal 11453 Arth-Goldau 11488 Mendrisio 11454 Yverdon 11489 Airolo 11455 Biel/Bienne 11490 Rotkreuz (I) 11456 Olten 11491 Wohlen AG 11457 Romanshorn 11492 Emmen 11458 Rorschach 11493 Sissach 11459 Chiasso 11494 Schlieren 11460 Lugano 11495 Bulach 11461 Locarno 11496 Stadt Wil 11462 Biasca 11497 St. Margrethen 11463 Goschenen 11498 Buchs SG 11464 Erstfeld 11499 Sargans 11465 Oerlikon 11500 Landquart (II) 11466 Sursee 11501 Renens 11467 Zofingen 11502 Nyon 11468 Lenzburg 11503 Payerne 11469 Thalwil 11504 Le Locle 11470 Brugg 11505 Lyss 11471 Pratteln 11506 Grenchen 11472 Brig 11507 Wildegg (III) 11473 St-Maurice 11508 Wettingen 11474 Vevey 11509 Gossau SG 11475Vallorbe (12) 11510 Rheinfelden 11476 Les Verrieres 11511 Dietikon 11477 Martigny 11512 Horgen 11478 Sierre 11513 Wallisellen 11479 Visp 11514 Weinfelden 11480 Montreux 11515 Kreuzlingen 11481La Chaux-de-Fonds (8) 11516 Baar 11482 Delemont 11517 Brunnen (IV) 11483 Jura (V) 11518 Fluelen 11484 Romont 11519 Giubiasco 11485Thun (9) 11520 Langnau i. E.
(1) withdrawn 11.09.2003, possibly for preservation as historic locomotive
(2) withdrawn 10.09.2003, designated for preservation
(3) withdrawn 11.09.2003
(4) withdrawn 18.09.2001
(5) withdrawn 11.09.2003
(6) withdrawn 11.09.2003
(7) withdrawn 01.10.2003
(8) withdrawn 11.09.2003
(9) stored unserviceable in Biasca
(10) stored unserviceable in Biasca
(11) stored unserviceable in Biasca
(12) withdrawn 02.01.2005
(13) stored unserviceable in Biasca
(I) coat of arms of Risch
(II) coat of arms of Igis
(III) coat of arms of Moeriken
(IV) coat of arms of Ingenbohl
(V) named Porrentruy until 1979 (admission of the new canton of Jura to the confederation)
Text and pictures © Adrian Wymann
unless noted otherwisePage created 27/OCT/2004
Last revised 01/DEC/2006
