Voltage reduction

How about a 12 VDC "wall wart" transformer-- old used one or new from Radio Shack. Will DC work for your application? I use one to power all 17 of my Tortoise Turnout Motors.

You could also pick up a cheap transformer or DC powerpack on eBay for $10-20 and use it for powering accessories. You could then adjust the voltage as you like, and most likely some other lights and accessories would work well on 12v. The switch tower should be fine on either AC or DC. 

Yes, your best bet is to get a small transformer to run accessories.  It you are planing to expand to a larger layout, get a large transformer at Home Depot that runs those outdoor lights.  They are 12 volt too and you can run a whole lot of layout accessories off of it.

.....

Dennis

Thank you all for your responses.  I found an obstruction that was making the swing arm drag.  Cleaning this up, the accessory now works well on the 10 volt output from my MTH Z4000.  By the way, I am using Zstuff sensors to operate this very old accessory.  I really like the Zstuff sensors.  Thanks again.