Actually flawed, yet still desirable: LEGO Crocodile Locomotive in review! 10277

An independent look at LEGO's third Swiss Ce 6/8 II "Crocodile" or Krokodil locomotive release, this one in the "for adults" range. Available at amzn.to/3grZjeE -- If you use my affiliate links I may get a tiny commission to help keep the channels going!
See my easy fixes to derailing & gap issues at • LEGO Crocodile Locomot...
⏩ LEGO speed builds: / jangbuilds
▶️ Chill real-time builds: / purebuilds
🟠 Patreon: / jangbricks
Become a supporter & join my community for exclusive chats, your minifig added to New Jang City, & more rewards!
More places I shop: jangbricks.com/where-i-shop
LEGO news & set research: www.Brickset.com
All comments are moderated to maintain a safe, positive environment. Bad behavior is rejected, abusers are reported & blocked. jangbricks.com/commentpolicy
✔️ TOP VIEWER QUESTIONS answered: jangbricks.com/FAQ
🏙 My LEGO city: youtube.be/channel/UCdgkQ55cD...
🌐 www.JANGBRiCKS.com
📷 / jangbricks4real
👤 / jangbricks
🐤 / jangbricks
All of my verified media accounts: jangbricks.com/verified
(Assume anything else is fake!)
The opinions I express are mine and mine alone and not for sale for any price. Ads, when shown, are selected & placed by KZbin itself.

[@JANGBRiCKS]

See my easy *fixes* for derailing issues & unsightly cab gaps at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYSuop-tjauHrrc In stock at MSRP/RRP as of the time of this upload at amzn.to/2ZEH8v8 (Affiliate link -- if you make a purchase I may get a tiny commission to help keep the channels going) Yes a *momentary visual glitch exists* near the beginning which everyone sees; the glitch is not there in my source project file and cannot be fixed now. As always, all comments are moderated per the policy linked in the video description. Spam like "first" is removed before anyone sees it to keep the focus on real discussion!

[@stupidstickman]

ok

[@wakspacific6928]

Are you going to make the loco shorter so it could go around bends?

[@seantreacy6190]

Try and shorten the length of the wheel position as it will be more stable as when you look at where it is positioned on the tracks it has an awkward time on getting to stay there

[@ujo5682]

Ok

[@awes0men0b0dy9]

That’s to bad about the wheel base I was going so ask for this for Christmas (I’m 12) but now if it does not go on the track no I wont ask for it :(. Jang what do u think about the new technic Bell Boeing MV 22 Osprey? I thought is was pretty cool :) have a good day Jang

[@garrisonkunst3645]

Jang goes into train dad mode, "i'm not mad, just disappointed...." Engineer cap wilts visibly

[@PetersPieces]

When JANG is upset, should we call it Jangry?

[@laughingbulbasaur3291]

He seemed to be QUITE jangry with this set.

[@jeanmilleisen9378]

Hahahahaha yes

[@ujo5682]

Ok

[@roshasensi2220]

Maybe

[@_henryd_]

Yes! Lol

[@levic.7811]

The aspect I really admire about Jang is his constructive criticism. Unlike other Lego youtubers who complain and whine about Lego flaws, Jang points out the bad, but doesn’t let it take away from a good Lego set. Thanks Jang.

[@ReturnForRefund]

"I even got a hat for the occasion and I can't even wear it" that cracked me up haha. Thanks for the review Jang. Was waiting for your review of this set

[@joevictor53]

Disappointment

[@v1mja]

A shame the torsos resemble that of American train personnel and not period appropriate Swiss uniforms.

[@ujo5682]

Ok

[@zenjii1]

I agree!!!

[@maticstudios]

Probably due to the fact that it’s cheaper to find a pre-existing torso that works perfectly fine than to design and print a new one.

[@grootsyt]

@@maticstudios but it doesn't work perfectly fine; that's the point.

[@lokologico]

Mod it so it doesn’t derail? Maybe more weight at the ends? There must be a solution. Nevertheless an amazing display piece.

[@jacobkilby]

Completely agree - Emerald Night has similar issues with the fake wheels around curves which are solvable using quite well known mods in the AFOL community, don't see why this couldn't happen here

[@stevemacdaddy23]

Ive seen people already do it and their setups have lots of turns in tracks also #youcandoitjang

[@JANGBRiCKS]

Fixed! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYSuop-tjauHrrc

[@stevemacdaddy23]

I knew u would #legolegend. #jangforreal

[@stevemacdaddy23]

@jang lets see it in action choo choo

[@voice6760]

this is seriously the most devastating moment on the channel. Dude even bought a hat, my prayers go out to you man

[@Legomyegoorj]

Again, thank you for the anti-clickbait titles! Love that this is the standard practice now.

[@teakr]

we always know when JANG has something to say when he finishes showing us the minifigs and we aren’t even halfway through the review 😅

[@yackablejohnson1485]

I would really like to see you modify this train to run on your layout and a vid showing what you did. I'm really curious.

[@maartnnn0507]

Me too!

[@brickguy0486]

Yaa

[@JANGBRiCKS]

Done! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYSuop-tjauHrrc

[@yackablejohnson1485]

@@JANGBRiCKS awesome.

[@aarphotos5]

Maybe if you put a weight in each articulated section of the train it would help with stopping derailments?

[@Unbrickme]

mine never derailed, I use a fairly large track and full speed

[@JANGBRiCKS]

Here are my fixes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYSuop-tjauHrrc

[@brockstar5696]

JANGBRiCKS I got the wierd spare brown piece aswell that you were talking about at 7:08, i thought i had assembled it wrong but kinda glad to see someone else has it too!!!!!!

[@AndyRaffle]

They're still putting it in the sets. I hope the idea is that for pieces which are commonly used in pairs, giving an even number of pieces makes it easier to use them in MOCs. I'm almost certainly wrong, but it would be nice if they did.

[@alberttetley]

that is a good-looking locomotive

[@revhead1001]

While watching this in Bed my wife says "Wow his voice is so familiar to me, he is like the third person in our marriage"... :S

[@Hippienolic2]

Been waiting for this review since the set was announced!

[@TheLegoPorg]

I have this, love it ever since I first saw the picture, I knew I wanted it so got it day one, I am surprised it went on out of stock so quickly

[@vladimirchervenkov6949]

Have you tried running it around a train track loop?

[@BlueToad6456]

See, this makes me want to set up an entire table of LEGO trains. Unfortunately I cannot as I’m about to go to college, but maybe one day! Great review as always Jang!

[@replicaoflife4963]

Hey Jang, great review. As a bit of a train buff, I was blown away when I saw this. Is there actually a way to connect all three driving wheels with rods, or does the Lego geometry not allow it at all? (obviously just for display, I'm aware that it won't go around Lego tracks then). Btw, the locomotove from set #4551 you showed most likely was not modelled after this locomotive (swiss crocodile), but after the 'german crocodile' (DR classes E94 / E93, DB classes 194 / 193, which also ran in Austria after the war as class 1020), which has a much more angular and boxy design, and a more modern drivetrain without big spoked wheels and connecting rods.

[@Giraffiti]

I totally agree, I immediately noticed the mis-arranged driving wheels with rods. It’s definitely possible to connect the wheels for display with a long enough beam. I plan on developing a way to swivel the two noses along an axle which is powering the driving wheels under the cab in LDD to hopefully achieve more realism.

[@maxwellmark]

Happy 4th Jang

[@ujo5682]

Ok

[@Bercyable]

Well, through all your reviews...the cadence and timbre of your voice seems to inspire one with a sense of absolute credulity. The honest impressions and suggestions to alleviate or remedy certain possible negatives are something that are no found on most other reviews. Decided to get two of these before retirement. Thanks for all you reviews.

[@SolihullTrainspotter]

I’ve come back to this channel from about a 1 year break and it’s such a pleasure t sour use to see jangbricks face in the videos now from just having his hands in view!

[@crazymotionride]

I think it needs more weight over the very front wheels.

[@JANGBRiCKS]

Even easier: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYSuop-tjauHrrc

[@noob.168]

I really respect your accurate explanation regarding the cab controls and dials.

[@eternalmiasma5586]

I’d love a LEGO train series in the vain of Speed Champions, one of my favorite LEGO series ever. Actually, real life models

[@samszeto7303]

Jang, I don't known if you've seen it but your review was discussed on Eurobricks and apparently the derailments happen reguarly on 9v track. This is because the metal plates on top of the track are bumpier than RC track making it more uneven. The derailments happen because the train uses ball joints which have 3 axes of movement and realistically it only needs 1 (maybe 2 for steep inclines). This extra movement allows it to bounce off the rails. One suggestion was removing the rubber bands and the driving wheels that are not powered.

[@MrMewMan]

I got mine a few days ago and really like it. It adds quite a bit to my layout and has quite a bit of power using the Powered Up Large Technic Motor. I haven't had any derailment issues, but my layout is not as advanced as his.

[@GJBricks]

I think the derailing is the ball joints. It needs to be something like the arm used on the Hogwarts to handle any slightly off angles. Oddly, when I did my review it didn’t come off, even with aftermarket crossovers. But, as soon as I’d finished it did a few times. Lol! Timing is everything!

[@louisvanpanhuis1215]

Just wanna say that i love your videos, especially the ones like this (and all the train vids) please keep up the good work!

[@rexsoloman6874]

That background music brings back memories. Thank you Jang, I really do like the new format.

[@PatrikStarFunk]

A total surprise with a new train set on this level. More trains LEGO! It’s clearly a display set first and foremost, despite efforts to make it more playable. It’s a very beautiful LEGO set too, one of the best I’ve seen says a LEGO fan since the 70s😄 Great review as always👍

[@harrytodhunter5078]

I still think this is an amazing set, despite the flaws. Thats the great thing about LEGO, you can take it apart and modify it, removing any flaws. If this was a normal Model Train (such as a Bachmann Loco), it would be harder to fix, especially for a child or non-modeller.

[@gloriaborger5760]

Very cool. Thank you jang!

[@yakacm]

Flange, lol, I know I'm a kid, 55 and it still makes me laugh. Flange is the part of the train wheel that Jang was looking for, or more precisely flange means, " first created the effect by slowing down tape by putting his finger on the part of the tape spool called the flange, I also assume as they were big kids too they probably liked the word for it's slang connotations too.

[@lbricks7631]

I am learning so much about trains today. Thanks Jang!

[@despator1851]

Another really good video from my favourite KZbinr. 😁

[@tomogotchi9140]

I got this train when it came out, I am pleased, although I haven't run it yet because I don't have the motor. One problem I had whilst building it, typically when things need to be repeated I do both simultaneously so I can get ahead, and as a train fan I take it for granted that trains although look mirrored have minor details that stick out making each side different, but the instructions did not indicate that I had to repeat the process with the noses until the last panel and that was irritating to me a little. I don't regret getting it, I do love it, I am sad to see it has problems on your layout, and thank Awdry you got that same extra piece I did, that bugged me for a while as to what I was missing xD!

[@astralflick]

This looks very cool, great review jang

[@koolbrix]

Great to hear your thoughts JANG! Thanks for sharing!

[@willc236]

I think the ends keep derailing because they are so light; there is not enough force to keep them glued to the track around curves. I am not familiar with the specific design of this set, but if there is a way to add some ballast (fishing sinkers, BBs, etc.) to the front ends it might help with the derailing issue.

[@thevaultdweller4709]

Was waiting for this review before I purchased it! Certainly will pick it up now

[@deadtrim9500]

Oh wow this is the first I’ve ever seen your face in, *years!* ....Like I mean back sense 2012! Your voice will always be a memory in my head

[@timwaycaster7538]

As a train fan I’m excited to see this set and I hope LEGO does more trains!

[@arduous1914]

Happy Fourth of July I love trains and LEGO so your videos are the perfect combination!

[@yerboichips6138]

Great review as always, Jang!

[@jaihmate4236]

Thanks for such an honest review mate. Please, please make a video about modifying this and fixing the problems you have and put it on your city Chanel, thanks mate

[@PhoenixFyre]

I'm still kinda perturbed I missed out on the Emerald Night. I really want a lego steam locomotive and I like the green of the Emerald.

[@luisemoralesfalcon4716]

Happy 4th Jang and thanks for the review.

[@dankerthanclanker]

@JANGBRiCKS at 9:29 the term you were looking for is "Flange". Though we'll often refer to them as "blind wheels". Just looking at the set and the ball connectors I was a little concerned with the build and it's ability to stay on the rails, as often lack of weight can be an issue with model train derailments.

[@remus_lupin]

First thing I'd try, to sort out the derailment problem, is add weight to the problem areas. See if that helps. Next thing I'd try is to swap the balljoints with just side-to-side joints, to see if the vertical movement is the problem. If all your other trains, of various builds & lengths work, I'd guess one or both of those factors is the cause.

[@thejonguy3248]

Again Jang I love it when you use that song! Idk it reminds me of when I first started watching your channel and loved it and I bought more legos. But I’m planning to buy the Mandalorian set. So im psyched for when that vid drops!!!

[@christophernearing3774]

Really appreciate the Emerald Night comparison! Thanks

[@Dgjserffft]

Aww I was really looking forward to putting it on my track

[@benjaminhaugen5759]

Great review bought this Tuesday and still haven’t built it but great job

[@markpoynter5761]

If there's room, it might help to experiment adding weights over the axles and see if this reduces the derailments. In the UK as plastic railroad models are relatively lightweight, they add steel weights to help with the traction and also negotiate tight curves.

[@DZstudios.]

Can’t wait to by this one! Will add it to my city!!!

[@kristiankristensen2487]

Hey jang, a fix for the Train could be to make it heavier. Put some stones or metal in the two engine compartments, that could possibly help. It forces the wheels to always have contact with the tracks😃 -sorry if my English isn’t the best, I don’t know the technical terms are for it

[@numbera1136]

I'd like to hear what Jang said within that minute break and have a whole on rant about it

[@dmvideos7913]

This is the reason why I always wait for your review ! What in the world about the curves

[@trevordevis1971]

Finally got my hands on this. Fixed the gap issue, and also fixed what was a major problem for me - the drivers from the electric motors (the discs between the wheels of the drive units) should turn at wheel speed, not be stationary. Have yet to run it, hopefully my track is flat enough to avoid the derailing issues Jang experienced.

[@JustJayGaming]

Mabe more wheight on the front axis would help with the derailing.

[@stefan_brix]

Your review resembles my opinion about this set. I think you got the exactly the point. Your explanation of the differences between model and real thing was perfect and unfortunately for Lego necessary. Just some additional remarks: The 4551 is not a "crocodile", but the German DR E94 or (later) DB 194 or the Austrian ÖBB 1022. A "crocodile" in the proper sense is just the Swiss SBB Ce 6/8 II or SBB Ce 6/8 III, but yes the term "crocodile" got somewhat "watered down" nowadays. The things that makes a wheel a railway wheel is called "flange" (Spurkranz in German). The scale of standard(!) Lego locomotives is of course wrong when it comes to length: The standard Track gauge is 1435 mm (in Lego around 5 studs) the width of a locomotive is around 3100 mm (this would be nearly 10 studs!) and the length of a locomotive is nearly 20 m, the SBB Ce 6/8 III is 19460 mm to be exact and that would be 60(!) studs for a Lego model. And the 10277 ist quite good with 56 studs (buffer to buffer). That is the reason for the "not so good" driving characteristics. But the locomotive runs better when it is driven by a motor and has some railroad cars to pull. It still derails sometimes ... you can add some extra weight to the front section (two bigger nuts for example) in step 165. At least this works for me. ... until I will rebuild it as a "nearly MOC" ...

[@agent6412]

Amazing as always

[@weekendrailroader]

Railway wheels that built without the lip/flange are often referred to as "blind" wheels. Many full size steam locomotives had blind drive wheels to help them take curves more easily.

[@ggj1987]

I didn’t expect this train to be that big! That’s a nice surprise for sure. Too bad it doesn’t work well on rails but the model, price and volume are fantastic! This just might be my first Lego train :)

[@DZstudios.]

Jang small rant is really funny!

[@RyanPumpkins]

The hat reveal broke my heart. Enjoyable video as always Sir!

[@devon8419]

I guess we were wrong when we thought it would be able to handle elevated track during the live stream. Bummer

[@chillpeter9067]

Great video

[@jeffflank2193]

Thanks Jang Happy J 4 🤠

[@stut2061]

Hey JANG I love your videos and God bless u man😊

[@lbricks7631]

HE EVEN GOT A HAT. Dedication!

[@rayarmy6946]

A way of putting this in your city could be as a memorial with the train on display because of its history. Kind of like what they have at train museums.

[@mickeli7155]

It is kinda funny, how I grow up as an Märklin boy, and now as Im nearing 60, im in to Lego train set. The boy inside you, never goes away.

[@stefanstolarchuk5766]

I figure this makes more sense to say here instead of the video on the derailment fix- aside from the issues, I hope this is something Lego keeps doing! There's a pretty sizable community of train and lego fans, and personally, I'd love to see them do more collector-level locomotives.

[@jacobstudios9567]

I’m totally planning to get this!

[@TamiyaPhilippW]

11:00 you may can add a spring (from a ballpoint) on each front end to push down the front wheels at the track.

[@kiko_meeko]

My wife and I just finished building this set and we too had an extra 28192 reddish-brown slope piece. Its such a large extra piece i had to revisit your video to make sure it was meant to be an extra. Perhaps lego is including more than indicated in the instructions. I won't complain.

[@shameless2992]

Thanks on the vid man love trains and legos emeerald night is my favorite and i actually ended up buy 2 after people jacked the price up and i love them. Ik it doesnt stay on the tracks but its just so pretty and only 100 bucks so im going to buy it anyway

[@Nikioko]

12:01: Oh look, it still has the old DB logo with the Antiqua letters. I had the old 7720 and 7710 as well as the 7745. My favourite was the 7740 but that was EoL by that time so I didn't have it.

[@museumtallerlij5571]

I have the Emerald Night, and I really didn't expect the crocodile to be bigger than that steam engine!

[@MayoHosko]

With all it’s problems like the oversized looking pantographs I love this locomotive. All for more LEGO trains and I can’t wait for the next cargo train

[@shawty_mati2883]

Yessss next video from best youtuber

[@outsider238]

Very nice set! I just finished building it yesterday. Those front wheels are just loose on a ball joint and have no weight to them so I can see how they would derail. I'm just going to display mine like a model so I'm good with the way it is.

[@Teehee-ue9nq]

Nice

[@willunkraut2613]

I realized also when I put my old power functions in it, you can’t put the roof back on completely, it can’t stud into place and it hits the connector

[@NCXDesigns]

the proper term for a wheel that doesn't "touch" is flangeless. Lionel has done this with their trains for years and the first time we saw this on a Lego train was the Emerald Night. It allows for tighter turns, the wheel without the flange does touch the rails but it doesn't hug the rails like the wheels with the flange does. as far as the derailments, there isn't enough weight on the lead truck.

[@flyingbeaver57]

The brown finish is very prototypical on many of the first group of Krokodils, built by Oerlikon between 1919 and 1929. They also run in a dark green livery, depending on the region and the build series (A, B, C, etc.). The design is over 100 years old (102 as of 2021), and quite a few were built. They've stood up well, and with regular maintenance have kept running on the Gotthard sub, and probably elsewhere. They're not doing daily mainline service (officially retired in 1985), but still can be seen doing yard switching some days and they're a favorite locomotive on railfan excursion trains. I've also seen them running as motive power behind snow blowers or snow plows. The raised plate on the top of each end is similar to the top side on the prototype - there's a great big cooling fan underneath that sounds like a jet engine spooling up.

[@JonatanGronoset]

Hi Jang, sorry to see the sadness. A possible fix would be to make the ends independent cars connected to the center section with articulated drawbars like the Emerald Nights front truck? For custom builders, if you remove the nose ends you get a pretty neat fictional euro-styled boxcab electric. ;)

[@frgproductions6165]

Hmm maybe if there was more weight on the nose it wouldn’t derail as much? I think the forwardmost joint for the little wheels doesn’t really need the up and down articulation because it’s so light that it likely just jumps off the track (I suppose at least) perhaps coupling some cars on the rear could solve it for one side at least

[@user-rv1co2gd2p]

Man, I lost it when you showed the hat LOL! Great review of the good and bad with this set.

[@evaspartan2282]

It seems like the ball joints in the noses could be allowing them to roll around turns due to a limit in weight, perhaps try adding a Lego Ballast piece into the noses (or under the noses if there's enough room) and see if the added weight allows noses to pitch properly?

[@casperhansen826]

Sad that you could not make it work in your layout. I will buy that set anyway, I know I would regret it if I didn't. Great review, I could almost see the tears in your eyes.

[@maxinefinnfoxen]

me: "which way is the front?" Jang: "Yes."

[@davidlewis3969]

I'm sure you'll sort it Jang will be interesting to see what Alex Nunes makes of it

[@ZGBrickfilms]

That’s a real shame that the train derails, I’m surprised they let that pass on Lego’s part. The train looks beautiful, and I really love the track display base, but what’s the point of a train that can’t run. Great review Jang, it’s too bad the train doesn’t work well.

[@4.99dollarchickenstripbask7]

If LEGO is now basing their trains off of real ones now, that's great! I'd hope to see a UP 4000-Class locomotive or a Santa Fe F-7 unit!

[@tkatt3405]

I have a layout that includes some of the types of imperfections you're talking about. I'm betting it would not go all the way around mine without derailing. I'm looking forward to LEGO doing more of these display type trains though.

[@mrcrazeboi5038]

I had the same problem with the derailment, but after I added freight Cars I can drive it full speed over turns.

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Awesome,design.