12V system... but for the PFs (and not only)

[Gabry Check]

Hello everyone,

this is my post on an international forum! I have already published on Italian forums, particularly on ItLug. What I would like to share here are the same things I have published, but in English.

What I "deal with" is, as per the title, replicating the old and unforgettable 12V system from the grey era and adapting it to PFs trains. This project has been ongoing for about 3 years and is constantly evolving as things have "escalated" into automating train movements, activating level crossings and switches, operating railway signals, etc. I'm sharing a video I just made. Feel free to check out the channel:

If you have any doubts/questions/curiosities, don't hesitate to ask, as I would be more than happy to answer you!😀 

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Amazing system ...beautiful signals first explained and then applied! 

[Lok24]

Hi, nice work!

 

Perhaps I missed: how to the trains signal their position? Reed contacts in the blue/grey boxes in the rail?

[zephyr1934]

Wow! That's an impressive control system. Great work

[Gabry Check]

5 hours ago, Lok24 said:

Hi, nice work!

 

Perhaps I missed: how to the trains signal their position? Reed contacts in the blue/grey boxes in the rail?

There are reed switches on the track that detect the magnet in the train engine. The main controller manages the signal to be displayed

On 5/31/2025 at 11:54 AM, LEGO Train 12 Volts said:

Amazing system ...beautiful signals first explained and then applied! 

 

46 minutes ago, zephyr1934 said:

Wow! That's an impressive control system. Great work

Thank you. I need to integrate other signals. I'm taking infos from this site: https://www.segnalifs.it/sfi/it/sa/2016_sa_immagini_1ctg.htm

[Feuer Zug]

Quite the accomplishment in making this work. Thanks for sharing.

[LL1982]

Wow cool system, indeed the 12v age had some pretty sweet play features. Nice to see this combined with the new bluetooth.

[Gabry Check]

On 6/5/2025 at 9:36 AM, LL1982 said:

Wow cool system, indeed the 12v age had some pretty sweet play features. Nice to see this combined with the new bluetooth.

I don't use Bluetooth because it would have latencies that are a bit too high for this application and then it has a fairly limited range. Using ESP boards I used a proprietary protocol (ESPnow) that is perfect for this type of system because it guarantees high speeds, good coverage and low energy consumption (essential if you use batteries)

[LL1982]

Yeah sorry, mistyped that one a bit. I meant with the BT trains (the new trains). 

[Gabry Check]

Hi everyone! Sorry for disappearing, but I had to give priority to my studies. Anyway, at the last fair where I showcased my project, many visitors asked me for information about the sensor used to detect the passage of the train. I decided to share here a sort of tutorial on how to build it. Here is the video tutorial: 

 

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask 😊

Best regards,

Gabriele

[zephyr1934]

On 2/10/2026 at 4:22 PM, Gabry Check said:

Hi everyone! Sorry for disappearing, but I had to give priority to my studies. Anyway, at the last fair where I showcased my project, many visitors asked me for information about the sensor used to detect the passage of the train. I decided to share here a sort of tutorial on how to build it. Here is the video tutorial: 

Nice! Thanks for sharing

[Gabry Check]

Hi!

I recently set up a simple layout to test a new section of code for my main controller. Specifically, I followed a state-based methodology that allows me to make future changes, even major ones, without going crazy. The video shows how the "alternate 2" mode works, meaning two trains alternate on the same route, with the main controller taking care of signaling, starting and stopping the trains, and communicating with the switch controller (the yellow, black, and red-roofed tower in the video). Enjoy!

I'm now workin on some sort of ERTMS/automatic distancing with RFID antennas and tags.

Let me know waht do you think!

Gabriele 

[boformer]

Very nice! Using RFID tags for the distance measurement sounds intriguing.

I am also thinking of ways to automate a mix of powered up and 9V trains, ideally with only Mindstorms components. It's very challenging.