Marklin 31859 150th Anniversary Swiss Crocodile Set - Modellbahn Collectors
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Märklin 31859 150th ANNIVERSARY
THREE-PIECE SWISS CROCODILE SET

 

 
H0 Scale              Era II & III
 
Limited Edition - 1859 Sets Produced in 2009

- SOLD OUT -

Märklin 31859 150th Anniversary SBB Crocodile Set

Märklin 31859 SBB Crocodile Set
Special Edition Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Gebr. Märklin & Cie


Summary
:

Three different class Ce 6/8 III Swiss "Crocodile" freight locomotives, each with Winterthur diagonal drive rod propulsion:

  • White version lettered for the New York Central Lines, based on a hand sample produced by Märklin as a unique item in the Thirties for the USA.

  • Brown version lettered for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) as it originally looked around 1930.

  • Pine green version lettered for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) as it looked in early Era III before 1956.

  • All three locomotives have articulated metal chassis and bodies

  • All three locomotives have mFx Digital decoders

  • Set includes a wood and glass display case

  • Limited edition of 1859 sets.  Each set is consecutively numbered.  A matching consecutively numbered certificate is proof of the authenticity of this exclusive set for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Gebr. Märklin & Cie (now Märklin GmbH)

  • Similar to Märklin 31860 Triple Crocodile Set that is included in 150th Anniversary Dealer Deko Set that is limited edition of 500 sets. The only apparent differences in the 31859 and 31860 sets are the road numbers on the locomotives.

 

Individual Model Details:

White Crocodile:

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - White

The locomotive has an mfx digital decoder. It has controlled propulsion. The locomotive also has a large, centrally mounted motor. 6 axles and 2 jackshafts powered. Traction tires. The locomotive has articulated running gear for better negotiation of curves. It has a 3-part metal body with hoods that can swing out. The triple headlights will work in conventional operation and can be controlled digitally. The locomotive has the Swiss headlight / marker light changeover. This locomotive is a heavy metal version based on the legendary Märklin model 3015. Length over the buffers 26.6 cm / 10-1/2".

 

Central
Unit
Control
Unit
Mobile
Station
Central
Station
Headlight(s) o o o o
Direct control

 

o o o

 

Brown Crocodile:

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - Brown

The locomotive has an mfx digital decoder and a sound generator. It has controlled Softdrive Sine propulsion and , a maintenance-free compact design motor. 3 axles and a jackshaft powered. Traction tires. The locomotive has articulated running gear for better negotiation of curves. It has a 3-part metal body with hoods that can swing out. The locomotive has detailed roof equipment. The headlights / marker light are maintenance-free, warm white LEDs. The triple headlights will work in conventional operation and can be controlled digitally. The locomotive has the Swiss headlight / marker light changeover. Length over the buffers 23.0 cm / 9-1/16".

 

Central
Unit
Control
Unit
Mobile
Station
Central
Station
Headlight(s) o o o o
Marker light(s)

 

o o o
Locomotive whistle

 

o o o
Direct control

 

o o o

 

Green Crocodile:

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - Green

The locomotive has an mfx digital decoder. It has controlled propulsion. The locomotive also has a large, centrally mounted motor. 6 axles and 2 jackshafts powered. Traction tires. The locomotive has articulated running gear for better negotiation of curves. It has a 3-part metal body with hoods that can swing out. The triple headlights will work in conventional operation and can be controlled digitally. The locomotive has the Swiss headlight / marker light changeover. This locomotive is a heavy metal version based on the legendary Märklin model 3015. Length over the buffers 26.6 cm / 10-1/2".

 

Central
Unit
Control
Unit
Mobile
Station
Central
Station
Headlight(s) o o o o
Direct control

 

o o o


Display Case:

Marklin 31859 Crocodile Set - Display Case

The set includes a display case with one wood display track with brass plaque, two glass shelves, and a black & white background photo.

 

Additional Photographs:

Scroll down to bottom of page for additional photos of the set box and the three locomotives in this set.

Marklin 31859 Crocodile Set - Individual Photos
 

Additional Information:

The Swiss mountain locomotives that pulled heavy freight trains over the Gotthard grades were known as "Crocodiles". The design (articulated hoods, extended shape) and the color green was the source of the name. When traversing combinations of turnouts and "S" curves, these locomotives "snaked" through the curves like a reptile. "Six-axle full gauge locomotive, only for large curves, true reproduction of the 'Crocodile locomotive' ...", this was the way the reproduction of the latest Swiss locomotive was presented in the 1933/34 Märklin catalog. The design and the pulling power of the original locomotive impressed people so much at that time that it became a synonym for progress and power. A mystique that henceforth lingered on in the history of Märklin. This legendary piece of motive power was offered by Märklin in all scales. First in 1 Gauge and 0 Gauge, then H0 and even in Z Gauge Mini Club. It was the top product offered everywhere in the assortment and thus became the unofficial "heraldic animal" of Märklin. The color green dominated over the longest period of its service life on the Gotthard grades and left the original color brown almost forgotten. Märklin did not bring out a "Crocodile" in brown on the market until 1984 in a limited quantity in 1 Gauge as an offering for the 125 anniversary of the company. There never was a white "Crocodile" in reality. Despite that, a large Märklin dealer in New York ordered single samples of large 0 Gauge locomotives in special paint schemes. He chose the color white, which is totally atypical in the prototype. It can't be denied that the locomotives in this fantasy paint scheme had a special effect on observers. Despite this, there was only the one order for some unknown reason. These locomotives were thereby one-off pieces seen by only a few people. Amazingly, they became very well known in collector circles. Perhaps, because who could imagine a "Crocodile", the Swiss mountain locomotive, which was typically green, in a white paint scheme?
 

Text excerpted from information published on Märklin's Internet sites:
https://www.maerklin.com          https://www.maerklin.de

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are copyrighted property of Modellbahn Collectors:
https://www.modellbahn.com

 


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Specializing in Märklin Trains and Toys
Post Office Box 6225 - Charlottesville, Virginia 22906 USA
  
How to Order from Modellbahn Collectors.   
 

Additional Photographs of the 31859 Set

Marklin 31859 Crocodile Set - Outer Box
Set Box

Marklin 31859 Crocodile Set - Top Layer Inside Box Set
Top Layer Inside Set Box

Marklin 31859 Crocodile Set - Bottom Layer Inside Box Set
Bottom Layer Inside Set Box

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - White

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - Brown

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - Green

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - White

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - Brown

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - Green

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - White

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - Brown

Marklin 31859 Crocodile - Green

Marklin 31859 Crocodile Set - Front Lights

Marklin 31859 Crocodile Set - Rear Lights

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are copyrighted property of Modellbahn Collectors:
https://www.modellbahn.com

 

Announced: Released: Catalog(s):   Discontinued:
Summer 2009 December 2009 H0 2009 / 2010   2009
        (One Time Series)
Related Items:  
Black Crocodile
39564
31860 Set


Specializing in Märklin Trains and Toys
Post Office Box 6225 - Charlottesville, Virginia - 22906
collect@modellbahn.com

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