Hi Dan
Faller AMS is basically a slot car system that uses DC in a simple arrangement Transfo, Rectifier, speed controller and track feeder
There is also a trick to control two cars independently on the same slot
In that case the trick is to cable TWO controllers with a rectifier diode in series (one in one direction and the other in the other direction.
Furthermore a special ski (slider with a rectfier) on one car to be installed on the left and on the other car, on the right.

Below is a copy of the pages in the 1969 catalog, regarding power, control, etc


When those components are not available you can:
- make a contact track by soldering wires underneath a track
- use a 14 VAC transformer 15 VA is ok
- use a rheostat instead of the controller (a DC train transfo with controller may do the job

Things I forgot to mention
- If the car runs in the wrong direction, either swap the cables after the rectifier or change the rectifier selenium cell
- since the tracks are easility corroded, a simple sheet metal plate, used to clean the contact tracks does the job in a great way.

Cheers
Jean

You might also be interested in the Faller Contaner Terminal 402 thread here on the forum:


https://www.marklin-user...-Terminal-402#post380238

Yes
No, the two lanes are not connected.

No, I don't know much about the Wiking containers and I don't have Wiking containers.
Perhaps Steve (Cookee_nz) knows, he runs an AMS Facebook group an knows a lot about the Faller container terminal.

Marco

danmarklinman
re the Container Terminal. Be aware there is a very common problem with the driver gears becoming split. I wrote about it here...

https://www.marklin-user...02-containerterminal.htm

It's actually such a problem that I've decided not to incorporate the Terminal into my module for our clubs' modular layout activity.

I have two Container Terminals, and I've looked at various ways to get around the issue without success.

There is a company in Poland that can make the gears, but after initial communication they simply stopped responding to me and that killed any remaining enthusiasm.

https://shop.kkpmo.com/index.php

There are probably other sources of the gears but it's not on my to-do list at present

Can I suggest you review this thread on the FAM, LOTS of good info including both version of the squeeze and the container gears

https://www.altemodellba...Faller-AMS-Reloaded.html

Obviously it's in German but auto-translate should work. If you can't see the images, then I'm afraid you'll need to join the forum, it's easy to join, some topics have the content restricted to members only. Privacy I guess.

I saw a comment that someone in Germany is apparently also making 3D gear sets. If you find a solution, or a source to supply, let me know, I'll add on to your order to get mine working. Might give me renewed interest.

I can't answer about other brands of containers. I know the Märklin containers are a different size, the Faller ones are slightly over-scale so I suspect the Wiking ones may be slightly smaller.

Hope this all helps.

Cookee

Edited by user 21 November 2025 23:49:04(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Thanks guys, appreciate it. My container crane is still in kit form. So no split gears yet. I might try and sauce some metal gears any way. When I eventually build the kit. I have now done some extensive research on the ams system. And I’ve also done some work on my current car system. Part of my issue with fallers current system is the battery’s supplied don’t actually last more than a couple of years it seems before they start to not take a charge. So I’m now having a go at doing a budget diy car system vehicles to see if it works, before I take more of a plunge with AMS which as it turns out has it’s own issues.
Fallers current road system, It works fine. As long as you ok with recharging and also replacing the batteries. I just want to switch the layout on at the plug and go. But as it is with old toys, it may not be that straightforward.
Here the current layout system.
https://youtube.com/shor...Qjg4?si=ceh76g5KqfmAfp6Y