2009

IMLEC was back at Bristol for the sixth time in 2009, a track that historically had seen some high efficiency scores. It was also 40 years since the first IMLEC.

First place turned out to be run number one, with Neil Mortimer taking his Polly III to the top of the leaderboard where it stayed all weekend long. Bernard North gives us some more details:

"Run 1, Neil Mortimer - Ickenham & District SME, 5in. gauge 0-6-0T Polly III (kit built locomotive)
This locomotive was completed in 1994 from the popular Polly Models kit and has since been much modified to include a new cab, a steam water pump and balanced slide valves. The back head layout was particularly nicely finished including a working vacuum brake system, electric lights and a steam chest pressure gauge. A regular runner at its home club, Neil put in storming run as the first of the competition. The run started with nine passengers but two were quickly dropped part way through the first lap. After this the locomotive lapped the track like clockwork with effortless ease. Neil certainly threw down the gauntlet for others to surpass. However, this was not to be as he stayed at the top of the scoreboard throughout the competition to become the eventual winner, a credit to the locomotive's original design, Neil's modifications and his driving skills - a real cliff-hanger to the end."

Neil's efficiency of 1.35% - the lowest ever winning efficiency at Bristol - made the weekend even more exciting. As a fellow competitor myself, I was expecting the score to be beaten with relative ease, but as each run reached it's finished and the leaderboard was updated, no one could produce a run above Neil's score. Even a late charge from Alan Crossfield could not knock the Polly off the top.