Bandai produced and sold the Mini Mini Rail (ミニミニレール) series of train toys in Japan from 1975 until around 1982. The range features fairly small trains about the same size as N scale trains and aimed to be a more toylike alternative to N scale, which was more expensive and primarily imported into Japan in the 1970s until ranges and makers like Tomix and Gakken began to expand Japanese N scale production and the Japanese N scale market, leading to the N scale boom and the surviving prevalence of N scale in Japan. Bandai had released a similar series of battery powered cars as the Mini Mini Car series the year before - the small size of these cars relative to traditional diecast cars which are often referred to as "mini cars" (this is where the mi and ca in Tomica come from - Tomy mini car) seems to be where the "Mini Mini" name comes from. Other toys like Tomy's Super Rail also aimed to offer an N scale alternative toy train system, and lived on for longer than Mini Mini Rail, and Bandai released the B Train Shorty series of toy trains even closer in gauge to N scale trains in the 2000s. Bandai also released the "My Rail" or Myrail series in 1975 which was slightly larger but far less fleshed-out, featuring only a few types of train and rail before it was discontinued in favor of Mini Mini Rail.
An archived version of an old Japanese website that covers many other Mini Mini Rail products can be found here.
Mini Mini Rail trains are typically three-car sets, with the motor and batteries located either in the locomotive or the intermediate car of the train. Mini Mini Rail trains use pin-style couplings which are easiest to assemble off the track. The original trains were simply on-off with a metal power switch protruding out the side, with the Action Series introduced in 1976 introducing trains that would reverse when a protruding lever hit reversing signs near the rail.
Earlier style power cars used two N-size batteries, with the first Action Series trains still using two N batteries. Many trains use the same style of chassis for all three cars, just with different coupling configurations. Later Action Series types used a single AA battery. On the Action Series chassis, a side-mounted rotating switch causes the train to change direction when it hits special reversing posts trackside. A sliding power switch through the train's body turns them on and off and two pegs hanging down from the bottom of the train cut power to the motor when held up into the chassis, meaning stop rails properly shut off the motor and fully stop motion. Trains were sold in sets and individually early on in boxes and later in carded packs in three-piece trains.
Mini Mini Rail track has a gauge measuring around 10.5mm, slightly wider than the 9mm track used for N gauge trains. Earlier track was a simple grey but when the range was all converted over to AAA-powered Action Series trains the track changed to a blue plastic with grey painted rail.
The "standard" straight rail, measuring about 216mm long.
A straight rail measuring 154mm.
Eight-to-a-curve "standard" curve rail with a radius of about 280mm, equal to a long straight rail and a quarter.
16-to-a-curve curve rail with a radius of but half the length of the regular 807 curve. Two of these curves in an S bend forms the standard for running parallel Mini Mini Rail tracks.
Mini Mini Rail points were produced in both a "Fixed" style that always sends a train straight through and a "Manual" version with a switch that actuates the decider section of the rail bed. You can see how the base tooling is the same and then it either has the static insert piece riveted in place or the lever, actuator arm, and decider rails installed.
The curved branch is the same length as the 808 Short Curve Rail and placing two together matches the parallel track width used on the 822 Double Curve Rail.
Left points, also produced in fixed and switchable versions. Pictured is the static version that always sends an incoming train straight through in the older grey and newer dark blue styles.
This straight-rail length section has a raising platform that will press on two pegs under the power car of a passing train and disconnect power to the motor, stopping it. Flipping the lever lowers the platform and lets the train carry on.
This 801-length straight rail has two flip-up cross-head posts on either side of the track that will trigger the reversing lever on the side of the train. The posts can be flipped down to let trains pass.
Parallel double-track curved section with inner radius matching the regular curve rail and second set of rails displaced over 43mm, the same difference as a short-curve or turnout S bend.
Mini Mini Rail sets ranged from basic oval sets up to large branching sets with double track sections and elevation. Early sets with the two N battery trains were generally smaller with later sets having larger layouts and more track varieties
Year | Set name | Description | Photo |
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1975 | Mini Mini Rail No. 2 Hikari Set | Earlier oval with passing loop set with Hikari 0 series Shinkansen |
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1976 | Action Series Mini Mini Rail No 3 EF65 Electric Locomotive Set | Early Action Series set with EF65-led freight train with a reversing loop and siding | |
Action Series Mini Mini Rail No. 2 Blue Train Set | Action Series number two set with reversing loop, double rail section, and blue train sleeper express |
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I have thus far come across one Mini Mini Rail catalogue dating to 1976 around the introduction of the Action Series.
Year | Name | Description | Photo |
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1976 | Mini Mini Rail For You | 1976 Mini Mini Rail catalogue |