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SBB Be 6/8 III "Crocodile"

The Swiss crocodile hardly needs an introduction. The reptiles from the Gotthard are among the most famous locomotives in the world.

What is less well known is that the SBB had two different crocodiles. After the Ce 6/8 II locomotives procured between 1919 and 1921 had proved themselves on the Gotthard, the progressive electrification created a need for a similar machine in the lowlands. The new flatland freight locomotive was to be both stronger and easier to maintain than the first Crocodiles.

The distinctive fronts with a central section were retained, but the previous rod drive with jackshaft was replaced by the Winterthur inclined rod drive.

The first four locomotives were initially assigned to the Olten depot, but it was decided to use them on the Gotthard after all. The Olten machines were also soon moved to the Ticino.

Like their predecessors, the Ce 6/8 IIIs proved themselves without any problems on the steep Gotthard ramps.

In the 1950s, it was decided, as had been the case a few years earlier with the Ce 6/8 II, to approve the machines for 75 km/h and to designate them accordingly as Be 6/8 III and to give them new numbers.

Until the arrival of the new Ae 6/6, the 18 Be 6/8 IIIs remained loyal to the Gotthard. After they were displaced there by newer machines, they first came to the Basel depot and later to Zurich, where they hauled gravel trains.

At the beginning of the 1970s, the Be 6/8 IIIs were increasingly struggling with age-related problems, which could not be remedied even by reducing the speed to 65 km/h. The locomotives were then replaced by new locomotives.

With the delivery of new locomotives of the type Re 4/4 II and Re 6/6, the services of the crocodiles were no longer needed, and in 1973, with 13303, the last Be 6/8 III was discarded.

Today, two machines of this type are still preserved and are regularly used by SBB Historic for special trips. While the Be 6/8 III 13302 shows itself in its last condition, the Ce 6/8 III 14305 was restored to the condition of the early 50s.

Content:
Features:

• Double heading version
  
• Fake Version
  
• Corrected light change according to Swiss Regulations
  
• Corrected Tractionpower

Options

• Disable start/end year
  
• Disable individual versions

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