Minitrix manufactures several different operating devices which use solenoids. These devices contain coils of wire that when a current is passed through them, a magnetic inductance force is created. A slug of metal is inside the solenoid; it is the movement of this slug by the magnetic inductance which operates the solenoid device. In the case of a track switch (called a turnout), two solenoids are inside, and the metal slug is linked to the switch points, the two moveable rails which guide the trains to one side of the other. Activating the coil of the switch machine causes the points to move to the opposite position.
It is important to remember that solenoid devices are momentary, which means that the electric current cannot flow through the solenoids for long periods of time. If it were to do so, heat would build up and the coil would burn out. Momentary push buttons such as the 6595 or 6596 can be used, and in other cases, some switch machines have a set of limiting contact that disable the solenoid once the turnout has thrown and also enables the opposite solenoid to be ready when needed.
You can operate track switches remotely in the Minitrix system. These switches also have a manual control on the switch motor. Here, a basic schematic: