Method for operating DC and AC locomotives on model railway systems, and apparatus for carrying out this method

摘要

In order to operate DC locomotives and AC locomotives equipped with movement direction switches on a model railway system which is designed especially for operation of the latter, the speed of movement for both types of locomotive being varied by the magnitude of the output voltage of one and the same transformer and the direction of movement being varied by producing an excess-voltage pulse in said transformer, it is provided that the voltage extracted from the transformer at its movement current output is emitted rectified in one operating condition from an intermediate apparatus connected between the transformer and the rail system, that the excess-voltage pulse causes a change in the polarity of the rectified voltage, and that, during the occurrence of this pulse, on the one hand the emission of DC voltage is suppressed and on the other hand this pulse is emitted in a form which is suitable for operating the movement direction switch. Operation of DC and AC locomotives on one system is thus possible without locomotives having to be re-equipped - apart from matching one type of locomotive to the respective other rail system with respect to the current pick-off from the rails.