Running TOMIX trains on KATO tracks

[changkh]

I have always been buying KATO trains and tracks but recently, I bought a TOMIX JR 500 Hello Kitty Shikansen since KATO is not releasing them.

Is there anything to take note when running TOMIX trains on KATO tracks and power system?

[Yavianice]

It works fine. But sometimes TOMIX trains don't play well with Kato Power Pack SX. As discussed in the Kato Power Pack SX thread. Though of all the TOMIX trains I own, only 2 TOMIX trains make a noise. The rest works fine. And I still have to see if I can silence them by insulating them a bit more. I'd say don't worry.

 

 

Edited February 14, 2019 by Yavianice

[railsquid]

Track-wise, nothing to worry about. I have stock from 26 (!) different manufacturers running just fine on Tomix track.

 

I have a couple of Tomix trains which make a slightly buzzy noise when running with the standard Kato controller (but not with Tomix ones), no idea why.

[Yavianice]

27 minutes ago, railsquid said:

Track-wise, nothing to worry about. I have stock from 26 (!) different manufacturers running just fine on Tomix track.

Twenty-Six! Woa! I only have 17-18 or so 😄

[Kiha66]

The buzzing tomix trains have interested me for a while because I have a few of the same set (kiha 66 of course) and while some make the noise, others don't.  It seems to be a build quality issue with the motor rather than any specific design problem.  I suspect its due to the motors not being held securely and instead just sitting in the frame, which when coupled with an unbalanced armature and a noisy DC power can cause them bounce around.  IIRC the tomix controller uses PWM while the kato one uses filtered retrified AC.  I hooked one up to an oscilloscope years ago and the kato controller put out a very noisy DC while I expect the tomix controller is more smoothed.

[railsquid]

8 hours ago, Yavianice said:

Twenty-Six! Woa! I only have 17-18 or so 😄

 

 

arnold
bachmann
brawa
dapol
endou
farish
fleischmann
greenmax
hobbytrain
kato
kawai
lifelike
lima
lux-modellbau
microace
minitrix
modemo
piko
revolution
rivarossi
roco
tetsukore
tgw
tomix
union-mills
world-kogei

 

Actually maybe I shouldn't count the sole Lifelike loco as it's made by Kato.

 

I also have some ancient LoneStar OOO stuff, which is not quite N gauge, while it runs on normal track it can't go through pointwork.

 

I have actually been pleasantly surprised by how well overall such a wide range of stock from different manufacturers and production years runs; there will always a few problem cases but those are usually solvable with a bit of fiddling.

[cteno4]

What no atlas?!

 

wow going down your list I realize I have like 20! Never would have thought that.

 

jeff

[railsquid]

Actually I do have an Atlas loco, that's the one made by Kato; the Lifelike one is one of those sold in Japan under the MicroAce brand. My American stock is purely random, stemming mainly from job lots or random rule 1 purchases, so I forget what's what.

 

Anyway that list is cribbed from my folder with photos so is incomplete - I'm sure I have some US wagons from manufacturers not listed there.

 

[changkh]

thanks all for the replies. i will try it tomorrow. am still using KATO power pack standard S.

[Yavianice]

1 minute ago, changkh said:

thanks all for the replies. i will try it tomorrow. am still using KATO power pack standard S.

Then you should have no problems as long as you adhere to the minimum turn radii, straights between curves and switches etc.

[changkh]

i was learning how to join the trains together. but the gaps between them are not consistant. is this normal for TOMIX trains or am i doing it wrong?

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0_Ddv-EYN6WOydEmeP3IBXbOw#Home

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0-7s4eQvJhotJX3ULFJjjCsbw#Home

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0fUr8v5gAgtiXrFR7Bf8SMP8Q#Home

 

P.S. okay, i think i never push hard enough to lock the couplers.

Edited February 16, 2019 by changkh

[JR 500系]

2 hours ago, changkh said:

i was learning how to join the trains together. but the gaps between them are not consistant. is this normal for TOMIX trains or am i doing it wrong?

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0_Ddv-EYN6WOydEmeP3IBXbOw#Home

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0-7s4eQvJhotJX3ULFJjjCsbw#Home

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0fUr8v5gAgtiXrFR7Bf8SMP8Q#Home

 

P.S. okay, i think i never push hard enough to lock the couplers.

 

The Hello Kitty 500 series uses Electric couplers, hence you have to ensure that they are securely locked together with the pin into the gap, otherwise they might dislodge during the runs... 

[changkh]

1 hour ago, JR 500系 said:

 

The Hello Kitty 500 series uses Electric couplers, hence you have to ensure that they are securely locked together with the pin into the gap, otherwise they might dislodge during the runs... 

 

yeah, noticed the electrical contacts. what are they for? my KATO trains don't have these.

[katoftw]

all wheel pick up.  so all pickups and brass strips are connected.  allows for dead spots in the tracks.

[changkh]

does that mean even if the motor car lost conductivity, it can still draw power from the tracks via other cars? that applies to interior lighting i suppose.

[Yavianice]

It means slightly better pickup when you have for example dirty track.

 

To connect tomix trains I usually put the cars on the track, slightly lift the cars up, put my finger on the coupler so it won’t move, and then gently push the couplers together until I hear/feel a click, and then put the train correctly on the track.

[changkh]

do KATO trains have these electrical couplers? mine don’t. it might help with the interior lights flickering problem for me.

[Yavianice]

Kato trains don’t have electric couplers, though it is rumored that the upcoming ICE 4 will have electric couplers to support its (confirmed) double motor, the first Kato train ever to have that feature in an EMU.

[katoftw]

10 hours ago, changkh said:

does that mean even if the motor car lost conductivity, it can still draw power from the tracks via other cars? that applies to interior lighting i suppose.

Yeah power is pulled from all eight cars at once.  So yes power for motor and directional lighting some from eight car for example on your hello kitty 500.

 

Tomix seem only to do it for their Shinkansens.  Although they did do it for their latest E001 release.  And it rumoured for their upcoming Twilight Express release also.

Edited February 16, 2019 by katoftw

[cteno4]

The power couplers are a really nice feature. Really does help on dirty track and cabin light flicker without having to add caps! I love it. Allows us to be a bit lazier at shows cleaning the Shinkansen tracks when using the Tomix all wheel pickup shinkansens.

 

jeff

[kenjidm]

sorry to bring up an old thread but was searching to find an answer.  Does Kato trains run on Tomix tracks?

[railsquid]

Yes, and vice-versa.

 

Pretty much any N gauge model from any manufacturer will run on track from any manufacturer; the only models which may be very problematic are very old ones with deeper flanges in combination with the finer types of N gauge track (Code 55 or Code 40), but Tomix and Kato are Code 80.

[bill937ca]

The only other issue might be an extremely tight track radius like R103, R140, R177 or R183. Generally R280 would be the minimum radius for mainline railway stock. and Shinkansens would look better on a wider radius.

[bill937ca]

Running Kato trains on Tomix track works but if you want to connect Tomix track to Kato track you need a connecting piece. Both companies offer connectors now, but I have not tried the Tomix piece.

 

Kato 20-045   https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10003037

 

Tomix 1530      https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10429138                                          

                         https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10429137/20/2

 

Tomix 1529      https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10429137

Edited November 26, 2022 by bill937ca

[roadstar_na6]

Tomix turnouts don't like Kato's slotless motors