Thanks Russ,
We would be there and we are busy hosting the OMLET 25th Anniversary event. This is the Ontario Model Locomotive Efficiency Trials. For those that have never entered one here is your chance - Locomotive requirements : 3.5 or 4.75" gauge Live Steam engine. Conditions: all the water you can drink and pour into your tender or boiler, a precisely measured ration of coal, 20 minutes of nail biting, heard pounding, adrenaline action.
(caution not for the faint at heart) How it works : You need to know your engine and time your start - you are allowed to use any preferred method of starting your fire in the firebox EXCEPT coal. Once your slotted time has arrived you must immediately switch your fuel to coal - the alloted amount provided to you.
(advice: Do not drop even the smallest crumb as this could make the difference between winning and whining) dd
Time keeper tells you to go and you have 20 minutes of track time. This is where the pulse starts to rise. DO I carry five skinny people as weight or six of the largest I can find, do I carry two etc...etc.. People loaded everyone happy crowd on the edge of their seats, and to the sound of applause you open the throttle and set off into the event. Twenty minutes later sweat pouring down your brow blackened by soot and coal dust you are told to stop. An official runs over to measure your exact distance covered and carefully you hand over the remaining coal
(hopefully you saved some) being carefull once again to make sure not a crumb falls to the floor. The crowd is now silenced by eager anticipation of the final result, as the judges calculate your score.
Score = (passenger load)weight X distance travelled ÷ weight of coal used. Now you see why the coal is so important. Up for the challenge be there Sep 16 2007 -
http://www.ghls.ca/
