Brief Overview
The first IMLEC took place on the 20th July 1969 at Birmingham Society of Model Engineers track at Illshaw Heath. The track has modest gradients ranging from 1-175 to 1-1475 with running in the normal direction of anti-clockwise.
The first ever IMLEC run was made by Mr Rowley of Glasgow SME with his freelance 2-8-0. The winning run turned out to be run No.4 John Drury with his two-cylinder version of a Royal Scot. The load was 9 passengers plus himself and observer. D.E. Lawrence gives an overview of the run:
"There was a constant leakage of steam from the cylinder drains and the safety valves lifted frequently but not violently. The rest of the engine was steam tight. It had an even exhaust beat and the springing had evidently received careful attention as it was very stable and footsure on the track".
Arthur Bowling's "Green Arrow" was the highest finishing 3 1/2" locomotive in 3rd place. Unfortunately Norman Spink's "Gooch" "derailed with a thump on the east curve and Gooch struck the ground chimney first, dragging a trolley or two after her". Thankfully not to much damage was done to loco or passengers and Norman was able to run again later on and achieve 2nd place.
Interesting Facts
Assuming a calorific value of 14000, John Drury's Thermal Efficiency would be over 5%, the highest ever recorded.
The two lowest amounts of coal used (Ib) during a completed IMLEC run are from the 1969 IMLEC - Bertie Green with a Rob Roy (0.25Ib) and George Williams with a Tich (0.40IB).
John Drury's Royal Scot still survives and is in the custody of The Steam Workshop, view the locomotive here: