Mountain Crocodile Photo

Photographer’s Note

Gotthardbahn (2/5)

Swiss have been pioneers on electric railways since late 1800's. They don't have their own coal deposits, but there's plenty of water for power generation. And travelling through long mountain tunnels weas not comfortable behind hard working steam engines.

Classes Ce 6/8" and Be 6/8" 'Crocodiles' were the real masters of Gotthard. Powerful motors and double articulated constuction that bent around tight track curves made them especially suitable to the line crossing the Alps.

This Ce 6/8" number 14270 built in 1921-1922 is on a static display at the station of Erstfeld. But SBB has also some working crocodiles available for nostalgic rides.

Davids, vinicio, Buin, Deepforest, bakes888, xuaxo, claudeD, Hormon_Manyer, padeg has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Davids (48) 2007-10-02 2:58

Kari,
Having seen your name often on TE, I never had the pleasure of writing a critique to one of your photo's. (I've turned names and points of in the gallery)
As a boy I played with trains, and this was one of the have-to-have's, a strange locomotive with even more stranger name. Well, I don't have one :(
Technically, it's a simple straight forward composition, the mountains are impressive in the background, the softness of the grass is a nice contrast with the crocodile.
But I'm not so thrilled about the color. Either the colorversion, or a real B&W would have my preference.

regards,
David

I use the full range of smilies, I hope you don't mind. The color of the smiley is a reflection of all aspects of the photo, nothing personal :)

r021251 (3917) 2007-10-02 4:42

Ah ta boy , v».la utrain original. J'ai été très surpris à l'ouverturede l'image , fabuleux cette netteté et l'originalitée de cet engin Le noir et blanc s'applique à merveille ici. Chapeau j'aime en maudit cette image.. Réal.

stefanocer (10416) 2007-10-02 4:55

Lovely shot karj just great and full of atmosphere .
Stefano.

vinicio (22502) 2007-10-02 4:58

Beautiful piece of art indeed, its charm is emphasize from your B&W treatment of the image, very good feeling of old things, well done Kari, compliments.
Have a nice day
Ciao
Vinicio

Buin (38600) 2007-10-02 8:10

Hallo Kari!
I've seen this "in full action" on Gotthard line in Ticino!
This view of the locomotive then was an unforgettable experience - and now you show it! Isn't it impressive! I like the many details one can see here! Thank you for showing this one!
Greetings from Germany!
Frank

marioana (2178) 2007-10-02 9:42

Hi Kari.
Wonderful B&W. Great composition. The combination of B&W and the old train give this a timelessness. I like the grass in the f/ground and the mountain setting. Well done.
Regards, Steve.

PerR (1481) 2007-10-02 12:33

Hej Kari.
Nice photo of this old 'crocodile'. Reminds me of my strongest wish (probably because it was the most expensive!) to have such a locomotive in my Märklin railway. The sepia colour really makes it look as if it's taken decades ago. Well done and thanks for sharing.

Regards
Per

lorenzetti (1365) 2007-10-02 13:08

Hello Kari,

Very good choice of B&W for this old Crocodille, a very famous locomotive by all the fans of swiss trains.

Kind regards - Franco

Deepforest (8875) 2007-10-02 23:50

Hi Kari,
interesting capture of the locomotive; I think that sepia colour is good choice in that case. I like composition too.
Best regards,
Andrzej

pally3100 (3077) 2007-10-03 11:28

bonjour Kari
a very good shoot on this powerfull E-Lok who was the best way to travelled swiss and austria
(she had also a sister in german DB but less wellknowed )moutain at the time.Happy to see your monochrom picture Henri Belgium

captainsgirl (3448) 2007-10-04 10:37

Hi Kari,
When I saw the title to your photo in my email this morning I had no idea I was going to see a Train Engine...:o) Great black and white shot of this old hard working Croc. Nicely done. TFS
Donna:o)

bakes888 (18353) 2007-10-05 1:16

Hi Kari. Nice capture. The BW treatment suits the engine and its age well. Good diagonal composition and fine detail. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

UnTrained (0) 2007-10-06 11:51

Hi Kari,
as a child I had together with my brother a model railway, nothing large. But that locomotive was the one even at that time full of interest for all, high price for the model. It is such a fascinating construction, great capture of that. The sepia one here is fine and well done - but I like the green - and thanks for the fine sharpness and good contrasts. Top POV!
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

xuaxo (5911) 2007-10-06 14:20

Hi Kari,
Another post that teach us something more about trains in Switzerland.
About the photo itself, perhaps I'd like more contrast, but it's OK anyway.
Regards,
F

Gregtom (7119) 2007-10-07 23:26

Hello, Kari!
The picture looks as old, as the main object of this scene! Very good choice to show it in sepia tone. I like this old locomotive very much!
regards,
greg

claudeD (11564) 2007-10-10 23:49

Hello Kari,

Wonderful B&W shot which appears to me to be in the year 1921. The combination of B&W and the old train is an excellent choice. Well done.

With regards from Luxembourg

jean-Claude

Hormon_Manyer (354) 2007-10-31 13:35

Terve Kari,
I read a lot about this locomotive type in a book - it's a shame Your photo wasn't printed on a page of that. I like this sepia / antic effect, it gives the impression the photo was done at the time when crocodiles ruled on the Swiss rails. :) Well done, my Friend, congrats and tfs. Best regards from Hungary, László