Actuating device

A coupling device for mounting on a first model railway vehicle to couple the first model railway vehicle to a second model railway vehicle also having a device for coupling, comprising:

• a main housing;
• an electromagnetic drive comprising a stationary member fixed on the main housing and an actuating member connected to the stationary member for relative displacement with respect thereto along an axis, the drive further including first and second magnetic members spaced a distance apart along a direction parallel to said axis and a third magnetic member disposed between the first and second magnetic members, at least one of the magnetic members comprising a magnetic-field producing component in the form of a coil for generating a magnetic field when current is supplied through the coil, the first and second magnetic members being mounted on one of the stationary and actuating members and the third magnetic member being mounted on the other of the stationary and actuating members, the three magnetic members being arranged such that activating the drive causes a magnetic repulsion force on one side of the third magnetic member and a magnetic attraction force on an opposite side of the third magnetic member so as to effect the relative displacement between the stationary member and the actuating member;
• and
• a magnetic closing plate arranged about an outside of the magnetic members and operable to concentrate magnetic field lines thereof toward the third magnetic member;
• whereby activating the electromagnetic drive causes a pivot lever of at least one of the model railway vehicles to be displaced.