Swiss ‘crocodile’ locomotive invited to Sweden

The crocodile locomotives were produced in Switzerland between 1919 and 1927 David Gubler/bahnbilder.ch

The iconic crocodile-shaped Swiss electric train engine will be guest of honour at the Swedish Railway Museum to celebrate 100 years of the electric locomotive in the Nordic country. Swiss Federal Railways is selling tickets for the eight-day journey.

Sweden inaugurated its first fully electric train line in 1915 and the Swedish Railway MuseumExternal link in Gävle is commemorating this with an event to showcase 100 years of electric trains throughout the Swedish railway history. The Federal Railways crocodile is a favourite among train enthusiasts and many Swedish children have grown up with a toy model of one. A “Ce 6/8 III 14305” model built in 1926 will feature in the Swedish event.

The eight-day journey will start from Olten on August 31 but the crocodile will be pulled by other locomotives through Switzerland, Germany and Poland. At the Polish border it will be loaded onto a ferry and will be transported across the Baltic Sea to Sweden where the crocodile will pull its own weight. 

Seven Swiss carriages will accompany the crocodile and around 36 places are available for those wishing to embark on the trip. Visits to spas and museums are offered en route. Swedish railways will also be adding carriages for the Swedish leg. 

For those with an annual rail pass or a half-price card, a one-way trip costs CHF2,900 ($3,087) with a second ticket available for CHF1,500. This does not include compulsory cancellation insurance (CHF145).