H0 Scale
Era II & III
Limited Edition - 1859 Sets Produced
in 2009
Märklin
31859
SBB Crocodile Set
Special Edition Commemorating the 150th
Anniversary of Gebr. Märklin & Cie
 
Summary:
Three different class Ce 6/8 III Swiss "Crocodile" freight
locomotives, each with Winterthur diagonal drive rod
propulsion:
-
White version
lettered for the New York Central Lines, based on a hand
sample produced by Märklin as a unique item in the
Thirties for the USA.
-
Brown version
lettered for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) as
it originally looked around 1930.
-
Pine green version
lettered for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) as
it looked in early Era III before 1956.
-
All three locomotives
have articulated metal chassis and bodies
-
All three locomotives
have mFx Digital decoders
-
Set includes a wood
and glass display case
-
Limited edition of
1850 sets. Each set is consecutively numbered.
A matching consecutively numbered certificate is proof
of the authenticity of this exclusive set for the 150th
anniversary of the founding of Gebr. Märklin & Cie (now
Märklin GmbH)
Individual Model
Details:
White Crocodile:
The locomotive has an
mfx digital decoder. It has controlled propulsion. The
locomotive also has a large, centrally mounted motor. 6
axles and 2 jackshafts powered. Traction tires. The
locomotive has articulated running gear for better
negotiation of curves. It has a 3-part metal body with
hoods that can swing out. The triple headlights will
work in conventional operation and can be controlled
digitally. The locomotive has the Swiss headlight /
marker light changeover. This locomotive is a heavy
metal version based on the legendary Märklin model 3015.
Length over the buffers 26.6 cm / 10-1/2".
|
|
Central
Unit |
Control
Unit |
Mobile
Station |
Central
Station |
|
Headlight(s) |
o |
o |
o |
o |
|
Direct control |
|
o |
o |
o |
Brown Crocodile:
The locomotive has an
mfx digital decoder and a sound generator. It has
controlled Softdrive Sine propulsion and , a
maintenance-free compact design motor. 3 axles and a
jackshaft powered. Traction tires. The locomotive has
articulated running gear for better negotiation of
curves. It has a 3-part metal body with hoods that can
swing out. The locomotive has detailed roof equipment.
The headlights / marker light are maintenance-free, warm
white LEDs. The triple headlights will work in
conventional operation and can be controlled digitally.
The locomotive has the Swiss headlight / marker light
changeover. Length over the buffers 23.0 cm / 9-1/16".
|
|
Central
Unit |
Control
Unit |
Mobile
Station |
Central
Station |
|
Headlight(s) |
o |
o |
o |
o |
|
Marker light(s) |
|
o |
o |
o |
|
Locomotive whistle |
|
o |
o |
o |
|
Direct control |
|
o |
o |
o |
Green Crocodile:
The locomotive has an
mfx digital decoder. It has controlled propulsion. The
locomotive also has a large, centrally mounted motor. 6
axles and 2 jackshafts powered. Traction tires. The
locomotive has articulated running gear for better
negotiation of curves. It has a 3-part metal body with
hoods that can swing out. The triple headlights will
work in conventional operation and can be controlled
digitally. The locomotive has the Swiss headlight /
marker light changeover. This locomotive is a heavy
metal version based on the legendary Märklin model 3015.
Length over the buffers 26.6 cm / 10-1/2".
|
|
Central
Unit |
Control
Unit |
Mobile
Station |
Central
Station |
|
Headlight(s) |
o |
o |
o |
o |
|
Direct control |
|
o |
o |
o |
Additional Information:
The Swiss mountain
locomotives that pulled heavy freight trains over the
Gotthard grades were known as "Crocodiles". The design
(articulated hoods, extended shape) and the color green
was the source of the name. When traversing combinations
of turnouts and "S" curves, these locomotives "snaked"
through the curves like a reptile. "Six-axle full gauge
locomotive, only for large curves, true reproduction of
the 'Crocodile locomotive' ...", this was the way the
reproduction of the latest Swiss locomotive was
presented in the 1933/34 Märklin catalog. The design and
the pulling power of the original locomotive impressed
people so much at that time that it became a synonym for
progress and power. A mystique that henceforth lingered
on in the history of Märklin. This legendary piece of
motive power was offered by Märklin in all scales. First
in 1 Gauge and 0 Gauge, then H0 and even in Z Gauge Mini
Club. It was the top product offered everywhere in the
assortment and thus became the unofficial "heraldic
animal" of Märklin. The color green dominated over the
longest period of its service life on the Gotthard
grades and left the original color brown almost
forgotten. Märklin did not bring out a "Crocodile" in
brown on the market until 1984 in a limited quantity in
1 Gauge as an offering for the 125 anniversary of the
company. There never was a white "Crocodile" in reality.
Despite that, a large Märklin dealer in New York ordered
single samples of large 0 Gauge locomotives in special
paint schemes. He chose the color white, which is
totally atypical in the prototype. It can't be denied
that the locomotives in this fantasy paint scheme had a
special effect on observers. Despite this, there was
only the one order for some unknown reason. These
locomotives were thereby one-off pieces seen by only a
few people. Amazingly, they became very well known in
collector circles. Perhaps, because who could imagine a
"Crocodile", the Swiss mountain locomotive, which was
typically green, in a white paint scheme?
Text and photos
shown above are excerpted from information published on
Märklin's Internet sites:
http://www.maerklin.com
http://http://www.maerklin.de
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