The GOcontroll Moduline Mini automates complex model railway environments, controlling lighting, motion, and special effects with real-time precision.

The art of model railway design has evolved far beyond simple train movement. Modern enthusiasts and museums demand interactive, synchronized environments that behave like real railway systems. The GOcontroll Moduline Mini delivers exactly that — a flexible, modular automation platform for controlling not just the trains, but every element of the miniature world around them. From station lighting to moving cranes, the controller enables complete Model Railway Infrastructure Automation with industrial-grade reliability and creative flexibility.

Traditional railway control systems focus primarily on train speed and direction. The Moduline Mini expands this by managing the entire environment — integrating lighting, motion, sound, and mechanical infrastructure into one unified control network.

Examples of controllable features include:

• Drawbridges and barriers that operate automatically as trains approach.

• Turntables and transfer platforms synchronized to locomotive routing.

• Station lighting and building illumination that respond to time schedules.

• Sound effects like announcements, bells, or ambient city noise.

• Landscape motion, including cranes, elevators, and cable cars.

Each of these elements can be sequenced, triggered, and coordinated for lifelike, immersive operation — turning a static layout into a living, responsive miniature system.

The GOcontroll Moduline Mini provides a compact yet powerful foundation for model railway automation. Its modular I/O design allows users to tailor configurations for different devices and layout sizes.

A typical setup includes:

• Digital inputs for train detection via IR, reed switches, or current sensors.

• 6-channel input modules for analog feedback from sensors or potentiometers.

• 6-channel output modules for driving LEDs, motors, servos, or relays.

• PWM outputs for smooth dimming and motion control.

The controller’s compact aluminum housing fits neatly under tables or within control cabinets. Its low-voltage operation ensures safety and easy integration with model-scale components.

With the Moduline Mini, automation is both intuitive and powerful. Using Node-RED or Simulink, users can create custom logic flows that define how trains, signals, and accessories interact in real time.

Example automation sequences include:

• Lowering a drawbridge automatically before a train enters the approach zone.

• Activating station lights, ambient sounds, and crossing signals as the train passes.

• Triggering tunnel lighting and sound effects on train entry.

• Adjusting scene brightness and ambient audio to simulate time-of-day changes.

Complex interactions are easy to build using visual programming — ideal for museum exhibits or educational environments where real-time feedback and reliability are essential.

Large model railway installations, such as exhibition or museum setups, often span several meters and contain dozens of interconnected systems. The Moduline Mini’s CAN, Modbus, and Ethernet communication interfaces make distributed control simple and scalable.

Controllers can coordinate over a shared network, enabling:

• Synchronized operation between distant sections of the layout.

• Centralized supervision via a single control interface.

• Real-time logging of activity for maintenance or demonstration analysis.

• Expandable design, allowing new modules or zones to be added seamlessly.

This distributed communication design mirrors industrial automation systems — giving model railway builders access to robust, professional-grade infrastructure.

With the GOcontroll Moduline Mini, model railways become interactive, intelligent, and alive. Lighting transitions, bridge movements, ambient sounds, and traffic coordination all respond dynamically to train position and schedule.

Whether used by hobbyists, museums, or educational institutions, this approach transforms miniature railways into hands-on demonstrations of real industrial control concepts — offering both creativity and technical authenticity.