The Ce 6/8 II No. 14270, built in 1920, was returned last Monday to its place of origin, the former Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon (MFO). There it will now be a memorial to the golden age of Swiss locomotive construction and find its peace of old age in an exhibition space under a roof.
Delivered in 1920, it served as a freight locomotive in Switzerland for a long time until 1969. At that time it was a monumental testimony to Swiss locomotive technology and engineering know-how. In 1920 it was definitely ahead of its time and was designed especially for the heavy freight train service on the Gotthard. Thanks to its double-sided front ends, the crocodile was able to negotiate the gradient without any problems despite its length of around 19.5 m.
From 1971 onwards, the locomotive weighing around 128 t served as a monument in Erstfeld and spent a miserable existence. Exposed to wind and weather on a concrete base, the locomotive rusted over the years before it was bought by the association in 2012 and prepared for the journey to Oerlikon. There it underwent a general overhaul, during which the rust was removed and repainted. However, it is no longer able to drive. After several years of refurbishment, the time had come on 15.06.2020 and the locomotive could be transported by heavy haulage to what is probably the last place in her career. The association OERLIKON Industriegeschichten collected enough money to build a dry and protected shelter, which from now on serves as a home for the once proud locomotive. Altogether there are still 9 pieces of these locomotives, some of them even still fit for driving.
