Disclosed is a method for operating a drive train having a drive shaft (2), a prime mover (4) connected to an electrical grid (12), and a differential gearing (3) having a total of three input and output elements, an output element being connected to the drive shaft (2), one input element to the prime mover (4) and a second input element to a differential drive (5). A work machine (1) is connected to the drive shaft (2) and a portion of the performance of the work machine (1) is dissipated by a choke (22) or diverted by a valve, a flap or a bypass (32).