Electric locomotives - Switzerland: books - history

Les légendaires locomotives électriques suisses

With progress on the march, the famous black steam behemoths were gradually giving way to the gleaming electric locomotives proudly displaying the famous Ae, Be, Ce or later Re on their sides, always accompanied by the figures for the number of drive axles and the total number of axles.

It was these historic machines, some of which were able to export their reputation across the oceans, that made the heyday of the Swiss Bundesbahns, BLS and others, including during the darkest periods of the 20th century. It was these powers born in the SLM, BBC halls in Baden, MFO in Zurich and in the Sécheron workshops in Geneva with their sometimes elegant, slender, sometimes square, unattractive features but never leaving anyone indifferent.

This is what is at stake in this work, which is above all intended to be a portfolio harmoniously combining the history and formidable strength of Swiss railway industrialization from another era with the subtle touch of a black and white photograph.

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Die Krokodile - Elektroloks der SBB, ÖBB, RhB und DB (Lok-Legenden)

Hardly any other type of locomotive is as popular as the Swiss crocodiles, which owe their nickname to their characteristic appearance and to their long presence in everyday railway life.

From 1920 onwards, they played a key role in traction on the Gotthard for several decades. But the hard-to-miss "crocodiles" were also in tireless use on other railway lines from the very beginning, mainly pulling heavy and long freight trains. This made the locomotives synonymous with power, reliability and durability.

This volume of locomotive legends describes the history, development and use in words and pictures.

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Krokodil - Königin der Elektrolokomotiven

No other type of locomotive used by the Swiss Bundesbahns is as well known as the machines commonly known as "crocodiles", which were built as Ce 6/8 II and Ce 6/8 III, and later partly as Be 6/8 II and Be 6/8 III. They owe their popularity to their distinctive appearance on the one hand, and to their extremely long presence in everyday SBB life on the other.
From 1920 onwards, they played a key role in traction on the Gotthard for several decades. But the hard-to-miss crocodiles were also in tireless use on other SBB lines from the very beginning, mainly pulling heavy and long freight trains. The locomotives thus became synonymous with power, reliability and durability - all values that were considered to be quintessentially Swiss virtues until recently.

The volume "Krokodil - Königin der Elektrolokomotiven" brings the great era of the Crocodiles back to life. Special attention is paid to the visual representation. Christian Zellweger also brings to light facts that have never been published in this context and also addresses unrealized projects.
In addition to locomotive types closely related to the Crocodiles, examples that still exist today are presented, some of which are still operational and one of which is even still in use in the Biel marshalling yard.

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Faszination Krokodil - Bilder einer Eisenbahnlegende

No other type of locomotive used by the Swiss Bundesbahns is as well known as the machines commonly known as "crocodiles". Used for decades as Ce 6/8 II and Ce 6/8 III, they were later partially rebuilt and sent back to heavy line service - now as Be 6/8 II and Be 6/8 III.

The machines owe their popularity to their characteristic appearance on the one hand, and to their extremely long presence in everyday SBB railway service on the other. For several decades from 1920, the initially brown, later green rail alligators played a key role in traction on the Gotthard.
But the hard-to-miss crocodiles were also in tireless use on other SBB lines, mainly pulling heavy and long freight trains. The locomotives thus became synonymous with power, reliability and durability - all values that were considered to be quintessentially Swiss virtues until recently.

The reptile name, which refers to the shape and predominant color of these locomotives, is also familiar to those who are not infected with the railway virus. Many historical documents, some of them unpublished, from the archives of SBB Historic, the author and other railway photographers illustrate the fascinating history of the crocodile.
Spectacular images from the period of operation up to the present day, when the crocodiles are on the road as special trains, offer an incomparable view of the queen of electric locomotives.

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Ellokbetrieb in der Schweiz - In Farbe - ab 1957

Soon after the start of the 20th century, the Swiss railways began electrifying their railway lines and developing the electric locomotives and railcars required for this. This gave rise to a first-class vehicle industry whose products achieved world fame.

The well-known Swiss railway photographer Peter Willen captured the different types and uses in color photographs as early as 1957/58. For the new illustrated book, he has selected around 160 varied photographs that document the use of standard gauge electric locomotives and railcars, mainly from the period from 1957/58 to the mid-1960s.

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