Special Auction Services is extremely proud to announce that we will be offering a Marklin "Millennium Crocodile" for auction in Trains Galore on 12th December.

The estimate will be in the region of ?30,000 to ?35,000 as the Marklin Millennium Crocodile is made largely from Platinum.

The precious metal model 32000, is an operating model using a platinum housing. When they were offered in 1999 they were approximatley 32,000 Euros.

The entire superstructure and buffer beams are solid, investment-cast (lost wax process) platinum. In all, about 15.27 oz (475 grams) of platinum 950 are used. The 950 indicates that the material is of 95% purity. The side rods are titanium. An inset ruby gleams as a switching light at each end. The wheels are injection molded powder metal parts. The axles run in ceramic bearings. The Indusi magnet is real. The frame is a zinc alloy casting and plated with ruthenium, also a precious metal. To process the zinc parts prior to ruthenium plating, there is an initial plating of copper, followed by nickel and gold before the ruthenium is deposited. The roof conductors are gold-plated, as are the grab irons. The roof walks are wood. The roof insulators are ceramic. Any plastic parts are ETPU (engineering thermoplastic polyurethane). The cab windows are real glass.

According to the company, the casting process had to be developed and refined especially for this model. Countless experiments and tests were necessary in order to determine the feasibility of the project. The authenticity and purity levels of the parts were documented on each individual part to protect against falsification.