I ran my 2037 or similar, w/smoke, freight, bulb lit caboose and Marx set on the batteries.
No whistles 
Nothing modern.
On ac it was a 700w(1400w peak) Vector or larger Colman (1000w cont. 1500w(?) peak)
The Vector actually worked better; cut out less if quickly overdrawn say by starting a hard drawing hand tool and batteries lasted longer. The Colman had a better continuous high amp nature. If using a grinder, Id use the vector to start it and quickly move the plug to the Colman before the grinder slowed. The Colman would trip on startup, the Vector under use(amp draw rises when the cut happens) I don't trust much in spec sheets anymore because of things like that. Meters don't fudge to fill a label.
The converter is definitely a point of loss, but hard to say how much. So iz the transformer. It all comes down to the sounds and whistles on whether to use battery or AC. (does lionel command work with dc like MTH-modern? I don't think so, know Ive asked, but can't recall for sure)
That 1,000amp max peak.without more info is kinda scary. Id worry about reading the manual closely and following to a tee. Likely has a HUGE capacitor in its design. Those 2lb caps are no joke.
Hook it up in the wrong order and no telling what could go wrong with electronics in the late ZW. Maybe nothing because its its amps, but that assumes everything is done a certain way and all is ok.
Some of my seemingly irrational thoughts are based on when something is wrong.. Of course it's ok when working Hence, my overkill tendencies and baulking. I also had a building full of kids to worry about cooking so had to think "worst case scenario" as a constant.
