ET127: turn radius?

[Sheffie]

I’ve been looking at this “Echigo TOKImeki Railway Series ET-127 (2-Car Set)”

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/m/10547723

It’s good looking (to my mind), it’s a decent sized train for a compact layout with no major stations, and if I read the map right it doesn’t run too far from the Banetsu Monogatari. 

 

So far, so good. 

 

One of the listed features is “KATO coupler stretch tight closure type as standard equipment”

 

Can anyone with experience of these tell me what they’re like? Tight closure sounds good, but I’m not sure what radius they would handle. I have R249 on my inner loop, which is tighter than usual. 

[Kiha66]

Most of my newer kato emu and dmus use these sort of coupers.  They seem to work quite well, I don't imagine 249 would be a problem.  When I get home later today I can run a test train and let you know how they work.

[bill937ca]

The prototype is 20m. That and the close couplers usually means R282 minimum. If it does do R249 it may turn so tight it looks toy like.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E127_series#Future_developments

[Sheffie]

I’ve taken another look at my second choice EMU, the E127 in Niigata livery (https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/m/10116424) and it looks like it has the same type of couplers. 

 

Bah

[disturbman]

They are the same train.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E127_series

Edited February 9, 2019 by disturbman

[katoftw]

Inside the booklets that come with all Kato trains, it lists the length and minimum turn radius allowable.  You might be able to find it online.

 

I have many Kato EMUs with shibata couplers, I'm pretty sure all are listed as R249 as the minimum.

[Lina_Blue]

According to my Kato Catalogue, the E127 has a minimum radius of 249mm.

Edited February 10, 2019 by Waisneed
typo