Rokal was a technological innovator, and their line of model trains had several interesting control features. Some of these features proved to be influential with other manufacturers. And, the Rokal line of products were evolving, improving upon their earlier designs.

As with other German lines of model trains, there was an emphasis on electrical control of the trains. The innovations developed by Rokal were often a reflection of the general approach to model railroading in Germany. Yet, other aspects of their technology were unusual. In specific, the Rokal modular speed regulator and control box design was not used by other manufacturers again.

 Other train systems, such as Fleischmann, also used a modular approach. And years later, Märklin would use a similar control box design which echoed Rokal with its new Digital command control system. With the Märklin design, each user designs a custom control system that reflects their particular needs by plugging different components into the center control box. In the middle is the Central Control Unit; to the left were Keyboards (solenoid controls for turnouts, relays and signals) and the Memory. To the right were locomotive controls and the computer interface.

     Elements of the Rokal modular design were still evolving at the end of production in 1969. Since model train production had begun in 1947, the methods used to control their model trains had been subtly changing over the years. An elegant design, the Rokal approach was meant to get trains running quickly and reliably, predating "plug & play" by many years.

     Rokal model trains used 12 - 14 volts of direct current (“DC”) for their propulsion.  The trains were controlled by an ingenious speed regulator, the 00051:

     There were several control boxes which plugged into the 00051 that were used to control trains, signals and track switches.  The color of the control box level indicated its purpose.