Mountaintop tight radius tourist train advice

[Hayashi]

One section of my layout will have a mountain. I've decided I want to place a very small Showa-style village or shrine near the top and have a tourist train run through it via a small oval. Part of the oval will be tunneled.

 

What is the smallest radius Unitrack I can use for a 1-car or 2-car excursion trains?

What are some recommended modern-style 1-car or 2-car trains that would be appropriate for a tourist train and can negotiate the tightest curve possible? I assume I would leave on the Rapido couplers.

[katoftw]

It is dependant on the train. Most Tomytec with rapidos will do 150mm radius minimum.

 

Most Kato and Tomix with close couplers will only do 280mm radius minimum.

[Hayashi]

I just spotted Kato 10-500-1 and -2. Two-axle steam locos pulling two 2-axle passenger cars. Although steam, they definitely look touristy. Not overly detailed, but cute. Any experience with these?

[bill937ca]

I'm not sure about coaches but the C12 is R150 rated and will do R140. The C56 is R183. The C11 requires a larger radius. A tourist line might use a converted gondola as a passenger car. Eizan and Hakone Tozan are tourist oriented lines.

 

Kato C12   https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10315912

Kato Eizan 900  https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10489157

Kato Eizan 900  https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10489156

Kato Kumoha 12 50 https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10330654

Kato Kumoha 11 400 https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10367126

 

HS doesn't say:

Hakone Tozan Railway Type 2000  https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10316278

Hakone Tozan Railway Type 3000  https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10292247

Edited February 7, 2019 by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

My Kato 10-500-1 is powered by a 11-103 power unit in the coach. My experience is that it runs at breakneck pace and stalls on turnouts. 

[katoftw]

The type 2000 has the mini logo on the box in the pics. So R150 safe. Cannot concirm but pretty sure the other Tozan trains have this also.

[bill937ca]

One more suggestion.  All the Thomas Tank Engine sets are now mini rail compatible.  

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/search?typ1_c=104&cat=rail&state=&sold=0&sortid=0&searchkey=Thomas+the+Tank&spage=1&Make=Tomix

[Hayashi]

Great suggestions, all. I was hoping the 10-500-1 or -2 might be a good solution, but it sounds like it isn't geared well for a more prototypical operation. The idea of a steam tourist train is interesting. Does anyone have any recommendations for a passenger car or two that can negotiate R150's? Or, an open top or awning-covered gondola? Nearly all of the curved track is hidden in tunnels, so the appearance of a longer car won't really be a factor.

[defor]

I've had some mixed results with the bogies as well, couplers aside- at least for freight, tomix engines seem to be able to achieve a far tighter radius than anything from kato...

Not sure if this is a bad generalization or just another instance of the tolerances being wider on tomix