Could someone explain to me the crocodile cult that is so widespread here?
It is a nice looking loco, but there must be more to it than that.

I would also say it is because it is a very unusual locomotive. It differs a lot from other locomotives out there and is sort of a symbol of the SBB. I must say I really do like the Mörklin H0 models as well.

I think it's like having kids; If you don't have one, You wouldn't understand.
BTW I have no kids, Just crocodiles.
I think When a machine out performs anything it was ever designed for, it becomes a legend. That goes for the prototype as well as the model. Another lok in this class is the GG-1. They ran for 49 years. Crocodiles ran for over 60 years!
Like a sports team that's on a winning streak, They can't be beat. And everybody falls in love with them.

I recently stumbled onto this video. It's a part one of several.




Mikey

Crocodiles was very famous and top favorites for collectors.

They are just a beautiful locomotive, as was the USA version the GG1 on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Metal fatigue in thier frames and running gear was thier downfall. With many having over a million USA miles of them. Even wore out and tired, they could out accelerate thier replacements that were brand new at the time (AEM7's) While the GG1 lacked the outside side rods that make the Swiss Croc just a wonder to behold, espically at track speed! Mike

Interesting question Jabez. I find that it is often good to reexamine things that you have always just taken as a given.

For me the Märklin crocs were fascinating from the very first time that I saw one and I knew that I had to own at least one. I currently have three but IMO you can never have too many versions of this classic loco. They are unique and very special locomotives. That is what I focus on in my collecting, regardless of the era or the country of origin.

Of course I have been required to get various other Swiss locos to keep my crocs company, but that is just a burden that I have accepted.

Edited by user 26 July 2017 01:24:10(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Crocodiles are the European BBs.

I had see one Marklin maybe 3015 in Switzerland when I was a Child in the 60's.
My father refuse to buy it for me.. it was very expensive...
From then I am in love with crocodiles

I have 3 so far but not any 3015....

I am waiting for my Insider Croco 2018 in about one month!!!!!

Costas

As far as I know, the "crocodile cult" only happen within Marklin community and collectors. There are other brand which produced the croc in HO scale, e.g.: Roco, Lematec, Fulgurex. but never become a cult.
Marklin started to produce the croc in 1934, gauge 1, model number CCS66. This is an expensive "high end model train" which only a few can afford. The perceived status of the croc as expensive high-end toy started here.
In 1947, Marklin started the production of the croc in HO scale; the CCS800, which enjoyed the same status symbol as CCS66. Those perceived status eventually created intangible value many years later as collectors willing to pay high for those toys.
Marklin also produced the "german crocodile", E94 (DB 194, DR 254) which has similar articulated design as the Swiss croc, but never become a cult.

Below is the list of HO scale (3-rail) Marklin croc:

ccs800 1947-1957 tin plate, green color, analog
3015 1957-1978 metal body, green color, analog
3056 1976-1981 plastic body, green color, analog
3300 1985 metal body, green, set with DB 194, analog
3352 1987-1995 metal body, brown, analog
3352 1988 metal body, white, "125 Jahre Henry Dunant", analog
3356 1982-2000 metal body, green, analog
0097 1990 Set Technologieschau, include 3356 silver, analog
3359 1988 metal body, green, "snow covered", analog
3556 1988-1993 metal body, green, analog
3556 1990 metal body, silver, analog
3556 1988 metal body, white, "125 Jahre Henry Dunant", analog
3652 1987-1994 metal body, brown, digital c80
3656 1989-1993 metal body, green, digital c80
3756 1993-2000 metal body, green, digital c90
26591 2012 Freight set, metal body, brown "weathered", digital mfx
26730 1998 Freight set, metal body, green, digital c90
29680 2007 Starter set "Gotthard", green, digital mfx
30159 1996 metal body, brown, Insider, analog
31100 2015 double lok set, green, digital mfx
31859 2009 "150 Years of Märklin" Crocodile Set, green brown and white, digital mfx
31860 2009 "150 Years of Märklin" Crocodile Set, green brown and white, digital mfx (same as 31859, except the road number)
32000 2000 Marklin Millenium platinum/titanium, silver, digital fx
36159 1996 metal body, brown, Insider, digital c90
37564 2014 metal body, blue, digital mfx
37565 2013 Double croc set, metal body, green and brown, digital mfx
37566 2013 metal body, green, digital mfx
37567 2013 metal body, "Toy Fair", black, digital mfx
37568 2014-2015 metal body, green, digital mfx
37569 2003 metal body, green, "weathered", digital fx
39560 2001 metal body, green, digital fx
39561 2002 metal body, brown, digital fx
39562 2007 metal body, brown, digital mfx
39563 2009-2011 metal body, green, digital mfx
39564 2009 metal body, black, digital mfx
39565 2011 metal body, brown, digital mfx
39566 2015-2016 metal body, brown, digital mfx
39567 2018 metal body, green, Insider, digital mfx
39569 2001 metal body, snow weathered, digital fx

Edited by user 22 May 2018 09:30:24(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

You forgot the 26591 weathered set from the year 2012.

You guys make me feel like a real slacker. I passed on buying the Insider croc because I already have three others. But now I feel like I am way behind.

Crocodiles are dangerous and danger always challenges the human beings.

The Swiss named their loco Crocodile, because it looks like a living real Crocodile, which has a long dangerous and powerful mouth - and the Swiss one even has two of them! - OK, a real crocodile does not have a reverse gear - but the Swiss one does! For this the croco I do love.


P.S.: Jabez, what do you think about the Big Boy cult?

Next year a refurbished and half rebuilt Big Boy will be released for the tracks in gauge 1:1 again! Wait for the new and next cult!

Of course, most of us do not live Down Under. The home of the biggest crocodiles in the world! Well, a kind of Worldchampions. We only have to be satisfied and can achieve their technique.

P.S.: PJM, but do you have shunting crocs in Down Under too?

I hadn't really noticed one, at least not with the decades-spanning longevity and widespread devotion of the croco cult. Did I say decades, the crocodilians have been around since before the dinosaurs, and are still with us
Jabez

... oscillate sideways ...? Alan, take it humoristic. This must have been on of these very well known permanently derailing crocodiles, which I always was looking for in Switzerland. But I never have seen one. Only "one clamp switcher" clattered before my car, while I was waiting at a railway crossing for reopening bars. I saw no oscillating in any direction. They were straight precise on the tracks - as the Swiss are normally.

Perhaps the seat of the locomotive engineer was not fixed and oscillated in a sinus-shaped curve.

This must be the REAL Crocodile Cult....

3056 year 1980 Krokodil owner here. Yes, it is a cult, like VW TDI engined vehicles here in North America.

I bought mine in West Berlin, summer of 1980 for 212 DM Sonderangebot, and brought her home to the States. It was my high school graduation present to myself. Had her digitized around 2001 or so. She is my prize and I regret not acquiring the Platinum Edition. Love my Kroko. The Krokodil is just plain cool - it oozes cool.

My older croc is a 3356 from somewhere around the early 90's. It was converted to digital with an early, primitive decoder and is currently awaiting its next upgrade. I will add a mSD3 decoder and upgrade the dcm and it should run for many years to come. Although it has a plastic body and is not nearly as detailed as my newer crocs it runs well and looks just as cool on my layout as the fancy new crocs. It is also my first loco that I acquired after my little starter set, which makes it even more special to me.

Thanks a lot!
We can feel the love!

By now, most of my model RR friends here in France have been "infected" too
My grand children too....
Waiting and preparing for the Rangierkrok now: I'm building a time switching mini layout (after the famous John Allen's idea) just for the fun of it!
Cheers
Jacques