Geometry: R40 System – MattzoBricks

The layouts on this page use both standard LEGO and TrixBrix tracks.

All track layouts were created with Bluebrick and the TrixBrix track library for Bluebrick.

Switch Generations

The original LEGO switches have developed over many decades. With the introduction of the 9V system, the standard track spacing changed from 0 to 8 studs. Parallel tracks without space in between could be realized only with difficulties from this moment. In 2020, TrixBrix introduced the “Zero Gap Switch” and made track without gaps possible again.

Switches for all applications

The TrixBrix Switch System — The TrixBrix Switch System. At this time (April 2024), only the R88 switch is missing.

The R40 Railyard System

The R40 railyard system uses a special railyard switch. The base of that R40 railyard switch has the ground throw on the outer side, and it has a slightly shorter straight track in their split track segment than a standard switch. The advantage is, that no additional special adapters are needed to build R40 railyards.
The R40 railyard system was designed by Mattzobricks and then adopted by Trixbrix.

Railyard R40 vs. Standard Switches

A parallel track that is initiated with a railyard switch directly from an R40 curve is 3 standard tracks longer than a parallel track that is built with standard switches. As an additional advantage, the trains do not derail so easily when entering the track via the railyard switch, because the abrupt curve change within the standard switch is omitted.

Loops

There is a variety of possibilities to create loops. The track plan shows six different options.

Parallel tracks with 4 studs distance and R40 switch

The picture shows a TrixBrix 4 Stud Gap Switch (top) and a 4 stud combination that was built with a standard R40 switch, also from TrixBrix (bottom).

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