LCC Fusion Project

A Complete Open-Source Automation Platform for Model Railroads

Welcome to LCC Fusion — an open-source ecosystem that lets you build, automate, and integrate every part of a model railroad using inexpensive hardware and NMRA LCC standards.

Whether you want to automate trains, run signals, control turnouts, add sound, detect trains, or build a full dispatcher-style system —
LCC Fusion gives you the building blocks.

View Features Getting Started

New to LCC or Feeling Overwhelmed? Start Here.

LCC Fusion is designed to make advanced layout automation approachable — but the concepts are different from traditional wiring-based systems.

Before jumping into hardware or wiring guides, many users benefit from understanding how Fusion is structured and why it works the way it does.

Understanding LCC Fusion
A guided, plain-language introduction to Fusion’s architecture, hubs, cards, wiring model, auto-discovery, and planning approach.

This section explains:

why layout wiring usually gets out of hand
how Fusion replaces wiring complexity with structure
how hubs, cards, and breakout boards fit together
how Fusion scales cleanly from small layouts to large systems
how configuration stays manageable as systems grow

If you want the “big picture” before building anything, this is the right place to begin.

What You Can Do With LCC Fusion

1. Automate Trains & Operations

Control speed, direction, and lighting using the DCC Card
Trigger sounds, effects, and actions through LCC Events
Full Automation Scheduler planned:
- Timed departures
- Station stops
- Circulation patterns
- “Driverless subway” operation

2. Build Interactive Signals & Interlocking

Create multi-aspect masts
Define if/then/else logic (32+ logic statements)
Automate turnouts, routes, and interlocking
Use the LibreOffice CDI Generator to configure signals visually

3. Detect Trains & Layout Conditions

Block Occupancy Detection (BOD)
Low Voltage Detection (BLVD)
Reversing Loop Detection (BRD)
Ultrasonic detection (UOD)
IR/phototransistor presence (POD)
NFC tag reading for train identification

Automation becomes easy when your layout knows what’s happening.

4. Control Real Hardware

Turnouts (stall motors, servos, twin-coil)
Frog relays (TQ2-L2 and others)
Structure lighting, motors, fans, accessories
High-current devices using:
- Output Card
- PWM Card
- Digital I/O Card

Everything is powered through Node Cards and Node Bus Hubs.

5. Add Sound, Announcements & Audio

Sound Card: plays MP3 files (ambient, industrial, station sounds)
Audio Card: speaks TTS announcements using LCC Events

A great way to bring a layout to life.

6. Use Voice Control (Alexa / Hue App)

Control layout devices from anywhere in the house — no extra hardware required.

7. Create Panels & User Interfaces

Button Card for fascia buttons and route control
Digital I/O Card for lamps, indicators, switches
Sensor Card for touch sensors, IR, Hall, ultrasonic, HTTM modules

8. Build Scalable Layout Networks

Multiple Node Cards and Quad-Node Cards
Auto-terminated CAN network
Managed inter-card communication
Remote Node Bus Hubs

Scale from one module to an entire layout.

9. Integrate Computers, JMRI, and Custom Logic

RPI-CAN Card connects a Raspberry Pi directly to the CAN network
Enables JMRI, Python automation, dashboards, and logging

Who This Is For

The documentation is structured around four roles. Most users fit more than one.

• Builder

Assembles PCBs and hardware.

• Planner

Designs automation, detection, and logic.

• Installer

Mounts hubs, runs cables, and connects devices.

• Configurator

Uses CDI to define behavior and interactions.

Why LCC Fusion?

Most commercial solutions are:

expensive
closed-source
difficult to expand

LCC Fusion is:

Free
Open-source
Modular
Expandable
DIY-friendly

Built around NMRA LCC standards and inexpensive ESP32 hardware.

Getting Started

Not sure where to begin?

New to LCC?
Start with Understanding LCC Fusion
Ready to build?
Build your first Node Card
Planning automation?
Read the Planner’s Guides
Installing hardware?
Follow the Installer’s Guides
Configuring behavior?
Use the Configurator’s Guides and CDI tools

Explore the Documentation

Builder’s Guides — Assembly
Planner’s Guides — Automation concepts
Installer’s Guides — Wiring & layout integration
Configurator’s Guides — CDI setup
Hardware Index — All cards & breakout boards
Firmware Docs — Doxygen reference
Quickstart Paths — Beginner-friendly tutorials