Crocodile (engine)

See also: Crocodile (homonymy)

The Crocodiles are locomotive electric, thus called because of their form and probably of delivered green of the first units brought into service in Switzerland starting from 1919. They are articulated engines made up of 2 coupled frames. Each frame comprises 2 engines of traction and six driving axles pulled by a driving Bielle and coupling rods. A center section comprising the system of collecting of the current, the Transformer S and the driving cabin rests on the 2 frames via bearing S.

History

Name “crocodile” goes up to the models Be 6/8 II and III and This 6/8 II and III of the federal Railroads Swiss. These powerful engines were designed to draw from the heavy trains of goods on the strong slopes of the Swiss network, in particular on the Ligne of Gothard between Lucerne and Chiasso (borrowing the high tunnel of Saint-Gothard).

To reconcile the power necessary with the need for adapting to the tight curves of the lines of mountain, the driving part of the machine was divided into two independent sections, connected by an articulated element of junction. Nowadays, these series are known like the Swiss Crocodiles or Crocodiles CF.

Similar engines were used in Germany and Austria by ÖBB.

External bond

  • a personal site on the Crocodiles CF (history, technique, photographs)
  • a personal site on the Crocodiles with narrow gauge railway
  • movie 1923

Random links:Ram Mountains | Edmond Ardisson | Tigers of Victoriaville | Championship of Greece of football 2006-07 | List prizes winner of the Felix prices in 1998 | Interface_de_Digitals_périodique