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Converting Pantograph Powered Locomotive To Rail Power
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?”















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