Switching device for a toy railway

A switching device arranged in a junction element (1), which is to be used in a toy railway and which has two opposing, parallel flat sides and is reversible so that it can be placed on a flat surface, with either of said flat sides facing upwards, each flat side being formed with track-like depressions (2, 2', 2"), which in pairs form one incoming railway track (2) and two outgoing railway tracks (2', 2") extending therefrom for a toy train, characterised in that it is provided with a switch plate (6) at each flat side, said switch plate being arranged in a recess (7), which is formed in the respective flat sides and in which the switch plate (6) is pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the flat sides between a first position, in which it produces a track connection between the incoming railway track (2) and the one outgoing railway track (2'), and a second position, in which it produces a track connection between the incoming railway track (2) and the other outgoing railway track (2"), that the two switch plates (6) are interconnected by a connecting element (12), which extends through a profile hole (16) formed in the junction element (1) and which, when the switch plates (6) occupy the first position, engages a first portion (16') of a wall delimiting the profile hole (16) and, when the switch plates (6) occupy the second position, engages a second portion (16") of said wall, and that the switch plates (6) can be pivoted by axial displacement of an operating rod (17) which with force fit extends through a hole (18), which is formed in the junction element (1) and is essentially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the switch plates (6), from the outside of the junction element (1) into the profile hole (16), where it is connected to the connecting element (12).