| After delivery in 1919, they drove the Bern – Thun – Spiez line, as this line was the only one that was electrified by the SBB. The Crocodiles ran at a voltage of 7,500 V instead of the 15,000 V that was later customary. This was necessary at the beginning because the soiling of the insulators by steam locomotives did not allow a higher voltage. With the electrification of the Gotthard route from October 1920, the Crocodiles were primarily used in Gotthard traffic. There they replaced the C 5/6 steam locomotives , which were only three to six years old. Railway electrification started early in Switzerland, because during WWI we had a shortage on coal, as all had to be imported. |