Random set of the day: Crocodile Locomotive
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 4551 Crocodile Locomotive, released in 1991. It's one of 12 Trains sets produced that year. It contains 314 pieces and 1 minifig.
It's owned by 675 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
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I loved this set purely because that was my post-code, growing up where I did in Australia. I know, that's weird.
I found one of these, practically mint, on eBay a few years ago, and won the auction for very little. I think I was extremely lucky. It's a gorgeous engine, and I love it.
The box art/ background theme of the train sets of this era is always commented upon when these come up- often in a positive way and sometimes with bewilderment.
Do any lego historians out there know why this particular theme of background/ graphic design was chosen?
Ah the infamous Swiss Crocodile. By far one of the most iconic locomotives. And it translates well to LEGO form!
Gotta get those crocodiles to the volcanic hellscape!
I've only just noticed, but the magnet coupling is on, upside-down, in the photo. Hmm.
Wait, is there a real type of trains that's called "Crocodile Train"?
Upside down magnet = polarising box art
@cody6268: this is more the German E94 crocodile not the Swiss one, although a very nice implementation of it indeed. A real childhood dream set and one of my favourites.
Awesome! I love classic trains, beautiful locomotives, and volcanic moons, so this set is a delight!
I love the name.
Another train from hell
I wish I could buy one someday... It was one of my childhood dreams, just like the grey train or the red freight locomotive from the early 1990s!
Epic set! Love everything about 9v era!
I have always wanted this wonderful set. Unfortunately it's too expensive now.
A childhood dream, I made reality back in 2011... Lately, connected this one with several 4547 and that looks just brilliant.
@Darth Studhilus: Yes, several classes of locomotives with this basic shape have been called Crocodiles, but it mostly it refers to the Swiss Ce 6/8 II and CD 6/8 III.
They got the name from the shape, because the articulated front and rear sections make them look like a slithering crocodile when going around bends, and because they were often painted dark green.
One of the most iconic 90's LEGO train sets in my opinion. I finally got a hold of one of these sets about 10 years ago. Awesome set!!!
Seen this one in catalogs a lot, but I never got an actual 9v train set until 1996.
1991 was the start of the 9V era.
But we did have some older (mostly 12V) train sets in the family LEGO.
Might be because I grew up with 12V trains, but I really dislike the design of the 9V ones. They're just ugly, not classical Lego, yet not realistic looking. Being heavily invested in 12v era, the 9V trains were the one pushing me to my "dark ages". Only with second batch of PF things got back on track.