In 2023, the Mattzobricks Train Automation System 2.0 was successfully used on Dutchbricks “Bricktopia” show in May 2023 in Nederweert in the Netherlands to automate a beautiful LEGO train layout.

Bricktopia 2023 / 2
Bricktopia 2023 / 2

The layout including the rolling stock was provided, built and automated by Joos Buijs.

Bricktopia 2023 / 3
Bricktopia 2023 / 2

This is the track plan of the layout:

Bluebrick Plan Bricktopia 2023
Bluebrick Plan Bricktopia 2023

These are the key figures of the layout:

  • Size: about 2 x 4,60 meters
  • 10 blocks
  • 20 reed sensors
  • 4 light signals with 3 aspects
  • Total track length of over 20 meters:
    • 10 switches (of which 5 automated with Trixbrix motors)
    • 128 straight tracks
    • 40 curved tracks
  • 6 trains concurrently on the track
    • 60197 passenger train
    • 60198 green cargo train
    • 10277 Crocodile locomotive
    • 60051 white intercity train
    • 60336 cargo train
    • 60337 passenger train
  • Automation setup
    • 4 MattzoLayoutControllers (MLC), of which 3 with MCP23017 extensions for controlling layout components (sensors, switches and signals).
    • 4 MattzoTrainController for Bluetooth (MTC4BT) on ESP32’s to control all trains.
    • Private Wifi router setup
    • Laptop running Kubuntu, Mosquitto and Rocrail

This is the Rocrail plan of the layout:

Rocrail Plan Bricktopia 2023
Rocrail Plan Bricktopia 2023

The layout featured a lot of beautiful and well designed buildings from modular LEGO building expert and Dutchbricks board member Frank Derks. This included many custom buildings and even a zeppelin flying at 1m above the layout.

Bricktopia 2023 / 1
Bricktopia 2023 / 1

Video

Check out this video about the show:

We are happy that the Mattzobricks Train Automation System 2.0 is adopted more and more by LEGO train experts and also used very successfully on large LEGO shows and displays.

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