NARROW GAUGE EFFICIENCY COMPETITION

June 4th & 5th 2011,  North Staffs SME 

After a fallow 2010 when no competition was held, North Staffordshire Model Engineering Society offered to host this year's narrow gauge efficiency competition to coincide with  their own 75th Anniversary,  a creditable achievement on which we extend our compliments. 

The event was held over the weekend of 4-5th June, but your editor was only able to attend on the Sunday, and in the absence of 'official' pictures and results from the club those below are a selection from your editor's modest collection.

The weather was excellent over the weekend and the event was as well organised as we have come to expect, and enjoyed by all, especially the winners of the various classes drawn from the usual select band of high performers.   Happily, many enter just for the fun of the event and it is true to say that a great time was had by all those attending.

Posters on the gate proclaim the clubs 75 years of support for the model engineering hobby.

Early activity in the steaming bays.

Tim Jenkins of Southport drives Southport's club loco, aptly named  'Southport',
back towards the steaming bays.

Past Hon Sec Nigel Thompson takes one of his two 'Betty's' (the other being his wife!) past the steaming bays for another lap.

NAME Boiler Registrar Alan Reid at the same point on the track urges his Sweet Pea along
with a good rake of trucks and a certain evident determination.

..... followed by James Tilbury with father Keith's very capable Polly 4.

Mike Barnett takes Ron Painter's Jess round the overhead section with an
impressive rake of the 50lb loaded slate trucks used throughout the competition.

A sneaky look  under Jess' bonnet showing the very efficient uniflow steam wagon engine and the
front of the locomotive type boiler: a winning combination that always performs well. 
On this occasion Jess returned an efficiency of 1.709%, not the best ever
but a nice reflection on Mike's driving skills and Ron's  engineering.

'Promoting the King of Hobbies'

Page last updated July 2011 by webmaster