N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: EtchedPixels on May 22, 2026, 11:37:03 AM

Title: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: EtchedPixels on May 22, 2026, 11:37:03 AM
Does anyone happen to have a full length Kato Eurostar to hand they can measure. I have a pretty good guess at the length from the real one scaling 1:160 but could do with a more exact number.

Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: ntpntpntp on May 22, 2026, 11:54:38 AM
How many coaches in a full set?     I have a couple of eurostar sets in my late friend's collection.   
Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: EtchedPixels on May 22, 2026, 01:51:38 PM
Full length is 20 coaches including the two power cars.

Thanks
Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: ntpntpntp on May 22, 2026, 04:21:48 PM
OK, so my friend had 2x. 16 car set.

Measurements in old money :)

1) power car + first coach  = 11"
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/159/5885-220526161452.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=159909)

2) string of 4 articulated coaches = 18.5"
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/159/5885-220526161546.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=159910)


3) String of 4 coaches as 2x (articulated + bogied coach)) = 20". Presume these form the middle of the set?
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/159/medium_5885-220526161809.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=159911)


I'm afraid I'm not an expert on Eurostars - European N is my thing - but does that give you enough to extrapolate to a full 20 coach set (is it just another 4 articulated coaches half-and-half into the two half-sets?)

That would make it
11 + 18.5 + 18.5 + 20 + 18.5 + 11 = 97.5"  or 2476.5mm
Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: woodbury22uk on May 22, 2026, 07:29:33 PM
My working length assumption has always been 2500mm from when I measured one about 25 years ago and found it was 1/160 of the full sized 400 metre train.
Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: njee20 on May 22, 2026, 07:56:16 PM
Yep, I remember mine being 2.5m, but never needed to know to the mm. How accurate do you need? There's a bit of slip in the couplings/bogies, so it shortens a bit when pushed.
Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: woodbury22uk on May 22, 2026, 08:08:12 PM
Quote from: njee20 on May 22, 2026, 07:56:16 PMYep, I remember mine being 2.5m, but never needed to know to the mm. How accurate do you need? There's a bit of slip in the couplings/bogies, so it shortens a bit when pushed.

And being Kato you can push 19 cars even round curves and at suicidal speeds without derailment!
Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: njee20 on May 22, 2026, 08:21:21 PM
Yep! Astonishing performance!
Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: Newportnobby on May 22, 2026, 09:52:13 PM
Quote from: woodbury22uk on May 22, 2026, 08:08:12 PM
Quote from: njee20 on May 22, 2026, 07:56:16 PMYep, I remember mine being 2.5m, but never needed to know to the mm. How accurate do you need? There's a bit of slip in the couplings/bogies, so it shortens a bit when pushed.

And being Kato you can push 19 cars even round curves and at suicidal speeds without derailment!

My ex would push me round the bend at each opportunity :laugh3:
Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: EtchedPixels on May 22, 2026, 10:02:12 PM
Thanks folks. That means it would fit with a few cm spare  :claphappy:
Title: Re: Kato Eurostar Length
Post by: Bealman on May 23, 2026, 02:22:27 AM
Fit what? :hmmm: