MODELLING SWISS RAILWAYS IN Z SCALE

Maerklin first offered the Ce 6/8 III in 1981, two years after introducing the first Swiss prototype model in 1:220 scale in the form of the Be 6/8 III. Just as the two prototype classes did not differ in terms of external appearance, the model of the Ce 6/8 III was of course the same model as the earlier release Be 6/8 III, differing only in terms of its livery: brown for the Ce 6/8 III, green for the Be 6/8 III.

The model of the Ce 6/8 III was dropped from production in late 1993 but was re-introduced in 2001 as part of what Maerklin calls "train sets". The brown "crocodile" was made available again together with a set of six period freight stock, but only as a one-off production for the year 2001, and made another return at the head of a circus train in 2004, again limited to a one-off production run.

81423 Set "Swiss Freight Train"
Ce 6/8 III brown livery with 6 freight cars
(click for larger image)

81433 Set "Swiss Circus Train"
Ce 6/8 III brown livery with 4 flat cars
(click for larger image)

Strict period modellers may take note of the fact that electric locomotives carried brown liveries from 1920-1928 and green liveries after that date.

Click on image for M”rklin's parts list for the Z scale Ce 6/8 III and an illustration of how it all fits together
(pdf file, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

The decision of Swiss Federal Railways in 1914 to electrify the Gotthard route (electrification between Lucerne and Chiasso was completed in 1922) required an entirely new class of heavy electric freight locomotive.In 1917 SBB management contracted SLM (Schweizer Lokomotiven und Maschinenbau Winterthur) and BBC (Brown Boveri Co.) for the design and production of four prototypes, with a linked contract for series production for the winning design. The specifications of the contract were broad, leaving ample room for design and technical innovation. The only required specifications were: a tractive effort of 32,400 lb (14,700 kg) at 25 mph (41 km/h) and a top speed of 40 mph (65 km/h), side rod coupling of the driving wheels, and a limit of five rigidly mounted driven axles (due to the sharp radii on the route).

It took considerably longer to design and build the four prototype locomotives than originally planned, and so the SBB management found that - as electrificiation on the line was progressing and the moment arrived when the order for the series production should have been submitted - the four prototypes simply weren't ready. Something had to be done, and so SLM together with MFO (Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon) submitted a design for a 1’C-C1’ locomotive with uniquely long "snouts" and a relatively short center section - quite unlike any of the prototype designs. However, SBB management was convinced that this SLM-MFO design fitted the bill, and so what was to become nothing less than the icon of Swiss railways - the famous "Crocodile" - was born almost as an afterthought.

In complete overturning of traditional SBB best practice, this design - classed Ce 6/8 II (the BBC prototype design, which remained a solitary loco until withdrawal in 1968, was classed Ce 6/8 I) - entered production even before the prototype trials were completed. MFO was in charge of the electrical system components for the ten locomotives built to order by SLM in Winterthur.

Preserved Ce 6/8 II ( SBB Historic)

The class designation Ce 6/8 II translates into C indicating a top speed of 40 mph (65 km/h), e indicating an electric locomotive, 6/8 stating that six out of a total of eight axes are driven, and II that this is the second variant of a basic model, i.e. 1'C-C'1. The new locomotive, delivered in 1920, was quickly nicknamed "Crocodile", no doubt because of its distinctive long, flat motor housings and double articulation.

By the end of 1922, all 33 ordered locomotives were running on the Gotthard route and performing exceptionally well, hauling 450 ton trains at 22 mph (35 km/h) over the 2,6% grades and left with enough power to exceed the required performance levels by a substantial 25% for 15 minutes if required - the crocodiles now reigned supreme on this beastly route.

In 1926/27 an additional 18 crocodiles were built to order. Numbered 14301 through 14318, they were considered second generation machines and classed as Ce 6/8 III. Due to the increased traffic demand on the Gotthard route, the Ce 6/8 IIIs were required to haul 520 tons on a 2,6% grade at 21.7 mph (35 km/h). The main visible difference between the two sub-classes are the driving rods: while the Ce 6/8 II has a triangular counterweight jackshaft on the connecting rod (visible in the photograph above), the Ce 6/8 III only has a second straight connecting rod (known as "Winterthur" system).

The "Crocodile" featured on a special stamp issued in 1947 to celebrate the centenary of railways in Switzerland

Two decades after the crocodiles became the established motive power on the Gotthard route, the limitations imposed by their speed limit became painfully obvious. In 1942, SBB decided on upgrading 13 Ce 6/8 IIs with more powerful motors and strengthened frames. This work was carried out at the SBB works in Bellinzona between 1942 and 1947.

The new top speed of the upgraded engines of 47 mph (75 km/h) resulted in re-classification as Be 6/8 II. In 1956, all 18 Ce 6/8 IIIs were upgraded and became Be 6/8 IIIs numbered 13 301 through 13318.

After more than 30 years of reigning supreme on the Gotthard route, the Crocodiles were phased out in the 1950s as the new Ae 6/6 locomotives arrived. They soldiered on, however, now hauling heavy freight trains in the central regions of Switzerland. The last of their breed were retired in the early 1980s after having been relegated to yard switching service (with, noteably, only one pantograph). Today, two Crocodiles are preserved as active lcoomotive sby SBB Historic (Ce 6/8 II 14253 and Ce 6/8 14305), while several are privately owned.

Maerklin themselves attracted new attention to the Crocodiles when they chose a design by Erismann + Gessler showing the siderod arrangement of a Ce 6/8 II Crocodile for their Re 460 "Swiss Collection art locomotive" in 1999.

(SBB)