Narrow Gauge Locomotive Efficiency Competition NGLEC 2015 Birmingham Society Model Engineers IMLEC

Various Northern Association clubs have hosted this annual competition since it's inception in 1998 at Oswestry. This year the competition returned to its birthplace at Oswestry in glorious weather despite an extremely dire forecast for the whole weekend.
Originally the brainchild of Joe Holdsworth of the nearby Wrexham Society of Model Engineers, the idea was to give the little engines of the narrow gauge railways a chance to show their paces on their own turf, without being overshadowed by the big stuff, as they tend to be at the long established International Model Locomotive Efficiency Competition. The competition rules have evolved over the years and are now pretty much in line with the mainstream IMLEC rules. The main difference is that the load comprises the driver's choice of loaded loose-coupled slate trucks, rather than the more usual passenger trucks, and the speed limit is 5mph, both making for some challenging driving. This must be hauled around the track by the competing locomotive for half an hour, as in IMLEC. The work done, or 'output’, is measured by a dynamometer car, and the coal used is measured and converted into potential energy 'input'. The efficiency of the engine is then calculated by dividing 'output' by 'input' and converting to a percentage. The result rarely exceeds 2 or 3 percent!

[@williamsworkshopuk]

Fabulous!

[@haroldpearson6025]

The little white Garratte type loco never got both ends working together.

[@woobyvr9654]

the wheel slip is real

[@tuxzombie]

it looked like the kid was having a driving test

[@ezgoin1010]

Very interesting. I notice a lot of wheel slippage. This indicates to me that the locomotive is either too light or the rails are slippery. I'm surprised that no-one has created a mini-sander to help with the slippage.

[@ukmodelengineering]

Hi +EZ Goin, thanks for watching. The video is of an efficiency competition where the drivers push their engine to the limit which is why you are seeing slippage; under normal passenger hauling conditions such slippage doesn’t happen. Some engines do have working sanders but is against the rules to use them in an official completion.

[@ezgoin1010]

Ahh, I see. Good thing they're keeping it consistent. I really do like the way they set the whole thing up and it's very interesting to watch!

[@CGT867]

I'd hate to see the guy driving the model of K1 drive a full size Garratt!

[@haroldpearson6025]

I was present, the rear unit was starved of steam.

[@davidunruh9540]

Is pushing down on the cab to gain traction not allowed? That would have been my natural reaction to the wheel slip.

[@ukmodelengineering]

Pushing down on the engine is against the rules, the locomotive has to pull the train under its own power, if extra adhesion is required lead can be fitted between the frames etc but without change the outline of the locomotive.