Tomix Model Railway Control Systems

Tomix Model Railway Control Systems by R. D. Kerr

Tomix is the model railway product line of Tomy of Japan. Tomy does not actively export its N-gauge product line, so information on these products in English is scarce. This page is intended to be an English language resource, with images and basic descriptions of these products. Using the internet, its auction sites, credit cards and PayPal, Tomix N-scale model railroad products are readily available to the individual hobbyist. Power packs are called "power units" by Tomix. To use Tomix power units safely in the USA, you will need a 120 VAC to 100 VAC converter that plugs between your 120 VAC outlet and the power unit. Because Tomix power units are made for their domestic market, they do not bear UL approval markings. Note that all Tomix control systems do not require any screwdrivers or other tools to install. The successive generations of Tomix control and wiring systems are described below. Controls and cables for turntables, working railway signals, TCS input sensors and so on are generally not included.
Original Control System Since there is series named "New" (described below), it seems likely that there was a previous generation of control system. I have no information on such a system at this time.
"New" Control Series The "New" line of controls have green cases. Connections are made by inserting stripped and tinned wire ends into push-release terminals. Tomix uses green 2-wire cables for AC and brown 2-wire cables for the DC track power. Points (turnouts) use an AC 3-wire system (red, blue and yellow) from the control box to the points. Extension cables have bare wire ends at one end and a push-release terminal block at the other.
	5001 New Power Unit - A basic power unit in a small green case with a black sloped top. Contains an on/off rocker switch, transformer, reset circuit breaker, bridge rectifier, wire-wound rheostat, and two red directional indicator LEDs. Input: 100 VAC 16 VA 50-60 Hz. Outputs: 0-12 VDC 0.3 A (dial control, center off) with tan push-release terminals, and 17 VAC 0.3 A with green push-release terminals.
	5002 Point Control Box - Compatible green-cased control for electric points/turnouts. These boxes stack outward in a row from either side of the power unit, held in place by black plastic clips that mount under the cases. Each box has two green push-release input terminals and comes with a short two-wire green cable. These cables "daisy-chain" down the row of boxes to finally reach the AC output of the power unit. Each box has three push-release terminals for attaching wires from the points/turnouts (red, blue and yellow to match the cables). The toggle handle is made to look like a real switch throw handle with a mounted circular target.
	5003 Universal Switch Box - This piece is similar in appearance to the Point Control box, but has a regular toggle handle, two tan input push-release terminals, and two red and two blue output terminals. It can be wired to provide control for block reversing, block on/off and reverse-loop situations.
	5004 DC Feeder - Connects power unit 0-12 VDC output to track. Features a brown two-wire cable with bare wire ends at one end and a clip with two unequal-length prongs that slide under and contact one rail each on track pieces molded with recessed ballast near the center of the piece. This version has miniature round-handled push-release terminals for the lead wires.
	5006 DX Power Unit - Similar to 5001, but housed in a longer small green case with black sloped top. Differences include a power indicator LED built into the on/off rocker switch, pushbutton direction control, a continuous control dial without center off position, and a seven LED (5 green and 2 red) power level indicator bar above the dial. Input: 100 VAC 16 VA 50-60 Hz. Outputs: 0-12 VDC (dial control) with tan push-release terminals, and 17 VAC 0.3 A with green push-release terminals.
	5011 DX Power Unit - I have no further information on this piece. It looks similar to 5006, but it appears to have a push on/off power switch with a separate green LED power indicator light.
	5014 NEW D.C. Feeder - Connects power unit 0-12 VDC output to track. This version has small square push-release terminals on the two-prong track clip.
	5801 Extension Cord 2P - Extends the 2-wire track power connection. Features a 1.5 meter brown two-wire cable with bare wire ends at one end and a putty-colored terminal block with tan and brown push-release terminals at the other end.
	5802 Points Extension Cord 3P - Extends the 3-wire connection from points/turnouts to control box. Features a 1.5 meter three-wire (red/blue/yellow) cable with bare wire ends at one end and a putty-colored terminal block with red, blue and yellow push-release terminals at the other end.
NECST Control Series NECST, pronounced like "next," is an acronym for "New (or "N-gauge" -- I have seen it both ways) Electronic Control System of Tomix." Introduced in about 1989, the NECST control system offered much-improved power units over the "New" system, but retained the same basic cabling methods with bare wires and push-release terminals. The cases are larger and squared off, but still have a sloped top. The cases are putty-colored with black tops with silver accents. NECST units and packaging are marked with a stylized "N" logo with "NECST" below it.
	5015 Transistor Controller DU-1 - This is a sophisticated solid state controller that simulates an actual single-handle train control. The lever handle has seven positions, each with a LED next to it. The center position (yellow LED) is neutral, maintaining a steady voltage level. Pulling the handle down from this position, there are three levels of acceleration (slow, medium and rapid), with one, two or all three green LEDS lit. Pushing the handle upward from the neutral position, there are two rates of deceleration (braking), with red LEDS acting similarly. The third upward position is an emergency brake; in this position, only its red LED is lit and the voltage goes immediately to zero. In operation, you accelerate the train at a chosen rate, then return to the neutral position to maintain that speed, then select a braking rate to slow or eventually stop the train. This controller has a white nylon plug receptacle for 17 VAC input from the 5040. It includes a putty-colored plastic plate with round lugs that holds the box from underneath to the side of the 5040 box, and a reset circuit breaker. Outputs: Two 0-12 VDC, each with forward/off/reverse toggle switch (for handling reverse loop polarity situations) and tan and brown push-release terminals, with a total 1 A capacity.
	5016 Transistor Controller DU-2 - If the DU-1 is sophisticated, then the DU-2 is even more sophisticated. It is a long three-box unit with replicas of older separate controller and brake handles at the left and right sides. Like the DU-1 it has a 17 VAC input from the 5040 Adapter Unit and two DC outputs with separate forward/off/reverse toggle switches, total 1 A capacity. It has four controller handle positions, with a small dial for setting min/max simulated momentum on acceleration, and four brake handle positions including emergency (immediate stop). Unlike the 5015 DU-1, when in "coast" position the train will gradually lose speed. LEDs indicate power (green), coast (yellow) and braking (red).
	5017 Operation Unit-CL - I have no further information on this piece, but it appears to be a simpler transistorized control unit with a dial control instead of a lever or handles, with two DC outputs with separate forward/off/reverse toggle switches and a small dial for adjusting momentum.
	5020 Speedometer MU-1 - This compatible box contains a voltmeter, with alternate dial scales provided from 0-15 V, 0-160 Km/h and 0-300 Km/h (for shinkansen fans), plus an adjuster thumbwheel. It comes with input (red and black) and output (tan and black) push-release terminals, a putty-colored case, attachment plate and a short 2-wire brown cable, so that it can be inserted into the output cabling between a controller and the track to indicate voltage or "speed."
	5024 DC Feeder - Connects power unit 0-12 VDC output to track. This version has the track prong clip permanently attached to the 2-wire brown cable.
	5040 Adapter Unit - This unit is the basis for all other components of the NECST control system. It houses a transformer and converts commercial power into various outputs. Input: 100 VAC 25 VA, 50-60 Hz. Outputs: 17 VAC 0.4 A with green push-release terminals, two 12 VDC 0.6 A with white nylon receptacles, and an unswitched 100 VAC receptacle.
	5041 Junction Box - This box contains an AC to DC converter and allows up to six railway block signals to be plugged in.
	5042 Divider - This unit has a DC input and allows up to four railway block signals to be plugged in.
Neo Control Series The current Neo line was introduced in 1997. It is identified by light blue cases with rounded edges. The "Neo" line uses a further-refined cable system with small connectors at both ends (no more bare wire ends held in push-release terminals). Therefore the "Neo" is not directly compatible in connections with the earlier "NECST" and "New" systems. Further, the connectors for DC track, the new 2-wire DC electric points/turnouts, and TCS (Train Connector System of sensors and controls for railway signals, level road crossings and so on) differ in both configuration and color, so that they cannot be accidentally cross-connected. White connectors are used for track power and black connectors for accessories. The Neo generation of controls and cables are identified by the same "N" logo as NECST, but with "Neo" instead of "NECST" below it, on the packaging and larger units.
	5500 Converter Box - converts earlier AC output to DC for the Neo DC 2-wire points/turnout control system. The Neo control boxes plug together in a stack into the left side of this converter, just as they can do on most Neo power units. This unit has a green 2-wire cable with tinned bare wire ends for AC input from an older pre-Neo power unit, thereby making the cabling conversion.
	5501 Power Unit N-500 - Input: 100 VAC 50-60 Hz. Outputs: 0-12 VDC 0.5 A (dial control, center off); and 12 VDC on left side for stackable points/turnout control boxes. This unit also has an on/off power switch and a power/fault indicator LED.
	5502 Power Unit N-1000-CL - Input: 100 VAC 50-60 Hz. Outputs: 0-12 VDC 0.7 A (dial control, forward/off/reverse toggle) with CL constant lighting outer ring adjustment dial; 12 VDC 0.2 for TCS; 12 VDC 0.3 A on left side for stackable control boxes. This unit also has an on/off power switch and a power/fault (green/yellow) bi-color indicator LED. It contains no transformer, being fully electronic, and has quick-acting fault protection, reset by turning the unit off and back on. Its actual output is reportedly 20 kHz 12-volt square pulses with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to control the average voltage level. This power form can light the train while stopped, while still providing speed control. It provides excellent slow speed control, but reportedly can damage some DCC decoders.
	5503 Power Unit N-ES - Input: 100 VAC 50-60 Hz. Output: 0-12 VDC (five-position dial, forward/off/reverse toggle) with power switch. This unit has no power output connection for points/turnout control boxes. It is a basic "starter" power unit with limited capabilities, designed for Thomas the Tank Engine and starter sets. This unit has an on/off power switch and a power/fault indicator LED.
	5504 Power Unit N-1 - Input: 100 VAC 50-60 Hz. Outputs: 0-12 VDC 0.5 A (lever-handle control, forward/off/reverse slide switch); 12 VDC on left side for stackable control boxes. This unit also has an on/off power switch and a power/fault indicator LED.
	5511/5512/5513 N-DU202-CL Power Unit - Input: 100 VAC 50-60 Hz. (5513 is 230 V input). Outputs: two 0-12 DC outputs with separate forward/off/reverse toggle switches, total 1.2 A capacity with CL constant lighting; 12 VDC for TCS; 12 VDC on left side for stackable points/turnout control boxes. This is a Neo-generation two-handle power unit replicating a real electric train cab control. Like the earlier 5016 DU-1, it has four controller power positions, with a small dial for setting min/max simulated momentum on acceleration. It has five braking positions, with a separate adjustment dial, including emergency (immediate stop). When in "coast" position, the train will gradually lose speed. The unit also has on/off switch, power indicator LED and green/yellow/red (power/coast/stop) indicators.
	5521 N-S2-CL TCS Power & Sound Unit - Input: separate input supply. Output: two 0-12 VDC outputs with separate forward/off/reverse toggle switches, total 1.6 A capacity with CL constant lighting; 12 VDC for TCS; 12 VDC on left side for stackable points/turnout control boxes. This is the top-of-line simulated control stand with power control lever, brake handle, voltmeter ("speedometer"), ammeter, simulated air brake pressure meter, and so on. Plus it adds sound effects including door closing, actual prototype horns (with foot pedal actuation), tunnel effect, bridge effect, crossing sounds, flange squeal, etc., using the built-in speaker or headphones. There is even a recessed round area for the engineer to place his personal pocket watch for time-keeping. Sounds can be activated manually or using TCS sensors on the track.
	5531 Point Control Box N-S - This control box attaches to the left side of most Neo power units, making electrical input connections at the same time. It has a single output receptacle and controls a single DC-powered points/turnout.
	5532 Point Control Box N-W - This is similar to the 5531 above, but has two output receptacles and controls a pair of DC-powered track points/turnouts, which is useful for a double-ended siding, crossover, double-crossover and so on. (Note: With the earlier "New" control boxes, you could simply insert two or more bare wire ends at once into each push-release terminal to control multiple AC-powered points.)
	5533 Universal Switch Box - This control box has two track power input cables and four output cable receptacles (two switched and two unswitched). It is used to manage two power inputs going to tracks at double-crossovers, and to simplify wiring and operation of return loops with reverse-polarity issues. Its instruction sheet illustrates these uses. A joiner piece is included that covers and connects two adjacent control box toggles so that a points/turnout and the reversing function can be changed at the same time. It and the other "Neo" track power control boxes listed below still require daisy-chaining of their cables to the power unit, as in the "New" control series, but with connectors replacing bare wire ends.
	5534 DC Feeder N - This version of the Tomix DC feeder track connector has a Neo-style connector at the power unit end and a permanently-connected two-prong track clip at the other end.
	5535 Reverse Switch Box - This control box is used to separately reverse polarity of a track section, such as a return loop, reversing wye and so on. It has a Neo track power input cord and two output receptacles (switched and unswitched).
	5536 Selector Switch Box - This control box hase a Neo track power input cord and receptacles and two track outputs. It turns one or the other track outputs on, but I do not believe it provides a "both on" or a "both off" capability.
	5563 Automatic Operation Unit - A TCS-based controller that can provide nine different automated train operations, plus allows manual operation. Patterns include back and forth, back and forth with intermediate stop, zigzag through points/switchwork ("Z"- or "W"-shaped pattern), loop rotating among three trains, loop with station stop, loop with alternating trains (in same direction and in opposite direction), and loop with random stops. The unit provides adjustment dials for stop duration, acceleration rate and deceleration rate.
	5812 Divergence Cord for DC Feeder - A 1.5 meter extension cord with white Neo connectors that splits to feed two DC Feeder cords. (Note: With the "New" system you could just insert two bare wire ends into each push-release receptacle.)
	5813 Extension Cord for DC Feeder - A 1.5 meter extension cord for track power with white Neo connectors at both ends.
	5814 Extension Cord for points/turnout - A 1.5 meter extension cord for points/turnout leads with black Neo connectors at both ends.
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