Gauge Minitrix - Article No. 16681

"Crocodile" Class Ce 6/8 III Electric Locomotive

Prototype: SBB Historic class Ce 6/8 III, road number 14305. The locomotive looks as it did after 2017. 2-6-6-2 wheel arrangement. Built starting in 1926. World famous electric locomotive type, nicknamed "Crocodile".

_ % ! M , W \
"Crocodile" Class Ce 6/8 III Electric Locomotive
"Crocodile" Class Ce 6/8 III Electric Locomotive
"Crocodile" Class Ce 6/8 III Electric Locomotive
"Crocodile" Class Ce 6/8 III Electric Locomotive
"Crocodile" Class Ce 6/8 III Electric Locomotive
"Crocodile" Class Ce 6/8 III Electric Locomotive

Most Important Facts

Article No. 16681
Gauge / Design type Minitrix /
Era VI
Kind Electric Locomotives
Article not produced anymore.
Check with your local dealer
Find Dealer

Highlights

  • Limited to 1.400 pieces.
  • Tooling and technical changes.
  • Body made of metal-impregnated plastic.
  • Many sound and control functions.
  • Warm white LEDs headlights.
  • Product description

    Model: The body is made of metal-impregnated plastic for improved pulling power. The locomotive has a built-in digital decoder and sound generator with the formats DCC and Selectrix. It also has a motor with a flywheel. 6 axles powered. Traction tires. Warm white LEDs are used for the triple headlights. The locomotive has NEM coupler pockets.
    The headlights and marker lights change over with the direction of travel and will work in analog operation.
    This model is limited to 1.400 pieces for the 100th anniversary. A consecutively numbered certificate of authenticity is included.
    Length over the buffers 125 mm / 4-15/16".

    Spare parts for our articles can be found here in our spare parts search.

  • Publications

    - New items brochure 2019 - Main Catalog Minitrix 2019/2020
  • Prototype information

    The takeover by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) of the Gotthard line in 1909 brought radical changes. The most important new thing was the electrification of the Gotthard line now pursued with the highest priority, which included the start of electric operation on the actual ramps from Erstfeld to Biasca as well as the Gotthard tunnel on December 12, 1920. Finally, the line could be run continuously with electric locomotives from Lucerne to Chiasso starting May 28, 1922. The SBB required a large quantity of new locomotives for this purpose – and with the so-called "Crocodile" was born "the" Gotthard locomotive for freight trains. Initially, 33 units were delivered between 1919 and 1922 as Ce 6/8 II 14251-14283. Two groups of driving wheels, each with three powered axles and a pilot truck were linked by a close coupling. A short locomotive body was enthroned between the two groups of driving wheels thus guaranteeing marvelous maneuverability through curves. Constantly increasing performance in freight service caused the SBB to purchase 18 more Crocodiles in 1926/27 as Ce 6/8 III 14301-14318. They featured higher performance with 1,809 instead of 1,647 kilowatts / 2,426 instead of 2,209 horsepower. Their drive with two traction motors per group of driving wheels had been changed a little from their predecessors and was now done by means of the so-called Winterthur diagonal rod drive with the help of a counter jackshaft. Together with their older siblings, they dominated heavy freight service on the Gotthard in the following decades. In the mid-Fifties their maximum speed was increased from 65 to 75 km/h / 41 to 47 mph and they were thus re-designated logically as Be 6/8 III 13301-13318. The end of their use on the Gotthard did not come until the baptism of the Ae 6/6 at the end of the Fifties. All of the units initially went from the Erstfeld Depot to the Basle Depot and from there to other base locations. The "Crocodiles" now made almost all of Switzerland "unsafe" pulling freight trains. At the end of their career, they were only allowed to pull lightweight less-than-carload-lot trains. The last Ce 6/8 III disappeared from the rails in April of 1977. However, two units remain preserved with the road numbers 13302 (MEC Horgen) and 13305 (SBB Historic).

  • Digital Functions

    DCC SX2 SX MFX
    Headlight(s)
    Locomotive whistle
    Electric locomotive op. sounds
    Whistle for switching maneuver
    Direct control
    Sound of squealing brakes off
    Headlight(s): Cab2 End
    Light Function
    Headlight(s): Cab1 End
    Station Announcements
    Conductor's Whistle
    Compressor
    Blower motors
    Letting off Air
    Cab Radio
    Special sound function
    Special sound function
    Station Announcements
    Pantograph Sounds
    Main Relay
    Special sound function
    Special sound function
    Sound of Couplers Engaging
    Rail Joints
    Sanding
    Special light function

Warning

ATTENTION: adults only