Converting Pantograph Powered Locomotive To Rail Power

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December 14, 2017

Noel has this question for readers:

“Can, and if so, how easy is it to convert a locomotive from power from the pantograph to power from the rails – DC?”

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2 Responses to Converting Pantograph Powered Locomotive To Rail Power

Mike says:

December 17, 2017 at 3:59 pm

Hi Noel,

You have to refer to loco instruction and read it very carefully. Depending on loco manufacturer sometimes it is a kind of rotary switch, sometimes it is soldered jumper. Switching power to pantograph disconnects all wheels on one side of loco (left or right) from supply voltage – they are isolated. This allows to operate more locos at the same time in DC systems.

regards,

Mike

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Kevin Ching says:

December 18, 2017 at 4:10 am

When I had my Marklin set up they had a switch on the underside of the loco that was on the 3 rail system.

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