ASME Designates Switzerland’s “Crocodile” Electric Locomotive a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark

Date Published:

Nov 10, 2022

NEW YORK (November 10, 2022) – In 1918, Swiss Federal Railways (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, or SBB) ordered 10 locomotives for heavy freight traffic on the newly electrified Gotthard line. The locomotive they chose was the Ce 6/8 II (nicknamed “Crocodile” for its distinctive physical profile). The innovative combination of articulation, regenerative braking, single-phase, series motors, and other elements produced a reliable locomotive with a large cargo capacity that could handle the Gotthard’s tight bends and steep slopes. During their 63 years in service, the Crocodiles attracted more attention than any other contemporary locomotive due to their unique appearance. They were the favorite of train spotters and model railway makers. Similar designs were constructed for foreign railways as well as other Swiss rail companies.

Recognizing the importance of Switzerland’s Crocodile electric locomotive in the history and evolution of mechanical science and technology, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has designated the locomotive Ce 6/8 II Crocodile as a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. The locomotive with the serial number 14253, delivered in 1920 by the Swiss engineering company Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon (MFO), was the third Ce 6/8 II to be produced. The oldest existing locomotive of its kind and still operational today, Crocodile 14253 is owned by SBB Historic, a foundation aimed at preserving document and artifacts from the history of Swiss rail transportation.

ASME President Karen Ohland presented a plaque commemorating the landmark designation at a ceremony on Saturday, October 8, 2022, in Erstfeld, Switzerland. In her remarks, Ohland congratulated SBB Historic and ASME’s Switzerland Section on the designation. Including the Crocodile electric locomotive, 278 artifacts from around the world have been designated historic mechanical engineering landmarks, heritage collections or heritage sites. The ASME History and Heritage Committee selects these artifacts based on their engineering attributes, role in the evolution of the mechanical engineering profession, and significance to society in general.

“ASME is honored to have the Crocodile locomotive join our roster of artifacts, historic sites and collections, and engineering achievements,” said Ohland. “It joins a prestigious list including the Model-T, the Apollo Space Suit, the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Liverpool Manchester Railway & Site of the Rainhill Trials, Wright Flyer, and the Funicular Giessbach, which was the last landmark designated here in Switzerland in 2015. The Crocodile locomotive is our fifth historic mechanical engineering landmark designated in Switerzland – all demonstrating ground breaking technological advancements and the ability of the engineer to devise solutions to complicated challenges.”

The railway lines served by the Crocodile were extremely important for Switzerland during the Second World War as the country was facing foreign supply shortages and the threat of occupation. By that time the rail network was mostly electrified. The railway lines over the Alps played an important part in maintaining Swiss independence since Italy was dependent on German supplies that had to be shipped across the Alps. Since it was easy to disrupt, the Gotthard connection served as insurance against attack by the Axis powers.

The development of the Swiss rail power grid was a pivotal technical achievement, with the Crocodile its most visible component. It showed that a new technology could be established and commercialized on a large scale within a matter of 10 years, in a way often compared to the development of electric cars today. Electrification made the job of the stoker on steam trains almost obsolete within 10 years. However, the men were not fired but continued to work as co-drivers. In French-speaking regions, the stoker’s old professional designation “chauffeur” even evolved to mean driver in general. This term is now also used in German.

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education, and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. In 2020, ASME formed the International Society of Interdisciplinary Engineers (ISIE) LLC, a new for-profit subsidiary to house business ventures that will bring new and innovative products, services, and technologies to the engineering community, and later established the holding company, Global Knowledge Solutions LLC. In 2021, ASME launched a second for-profit subsidiary, Metrix Connect LLC, an industry events and content platform to accelerate digital transformation in the engineering community and an agent for the Mechanical Engineering® brand of media products. For more information, visit www.asme.org.