Tiverton MES 2025

Text and photos by Bill Edmondson, Tiverton & District Model Engineering Society

LittleLEC is the locomotive efficiency driving competition for small locomotives weighing 50lbs or under, devised by the late Peter Langridge who was a member of the Guildford Model Engineering Society as a companion to the larger IMLEC competitions. LittleLEC spot-lights those small designs that were oncethe introduction to the hobby for many but now eclipsed by larger models capable of greater distances and speed. Locomotives are run around a track completing as many laps as possible within 20 minutes, the amount of coal used is recorded and efficiency calculated from this coupled with the weight of the engine, trailing load, track gradients and distance. The locomotive driven the most efficiently being the winner.

A new venue this year, the Tiverton & District Model Engineering Society hosted the competition on Sunday 14 th September. There were six entries, but unfortunately one had to withdraw due to illness, so five competitors made their way to Worthy Moor, the location of the club track. It is no understatement to say it is hidden away in the rolling hills of north Devon. The 925 foot long track is deceptive; two gradients of approx 1:45 are there to challenge the unwary.

Each competitor has two runs spaced apart by about two to three hours so that the loco cools down.

Here’s how they got on:

Les Pritchard with his 3½” gauge Juliet to the LBSC design

Completed by Les at the age of 21; he has in recent years reboilered the engine. And this locomotive won the first ever LittleLEC in 2008 – driven by Paul Tompkins. This time, Juliet was sulking; Les managed two laps, but then retired. He decided not to have a second try.

Image. Les Pritchard preparing his Juliet loco for its first run

Sean Pritchard (grandson to Les) with his 3½” gauge Mona to the LBSC design

Originally constructed around 1970 by the late Alan Hall of Harlington MES, bequeathed to Les. The tankside lettering ACHR stands for: Alan Charles Hall Railway. Both runs by Sean were excellent; keeping up a good speed, with safety valves often close to lifting, his only problem was the coal truck “tender” derailed a couple of times which lost him valuable time.

On his first run Sean did 7 laps in 24 minutes and used 269gms of coal, achieving an efficiency of 0.197%

On his second run, a couple of hours later in the day, he did 9 laps in 22 minutes, averaging 4.4mph, using 232gms of coal with an efficiency of 0.215%. His efforts brought him second place overall.

Image. Sean Pritchard out on the track with his Mona locomotive

Freya Powell aged eleven. Daughter of Will who is well known in LittleLEC circles

She drove the family 5” gauge loco which Will acquired in recent years; originally built somewhere in the Birmingham area in 1960. He reboilered it in 2016 and describes it as being in the style of LBSC and with some aspects of the Maisie design. If Freya was at all nervous at having a go, she certainly did not show it. Both her runs were full time; she chose to stop in the station when needing to add more coal and check all was well – given that every lump of coal counts, that’s a plan worth emulating where drivers are prone to scatter coal all over the footplate! At the prizegiving she was well applauded for her efforts.

Freya’s first run covered 4 laps in 19 minutes, using 289gms of coal. Efficiency was 0.050%. Her second run covered 7 laps in 23 minutes, averaging 3.3mph, and she used 365gms of coal resulting in an improved efficiency of 0.070%.

Image. Freya Powell out on her run with Dad, Will, topping up the water

Will Powell running his 3½” gauge LBSC Mona locomotive

He has competed in LittleLEC many times so is well versed in how to manage his loco to best effect. Both runs were a masterclass in how to win – which indeed he did! Will also completed with this loco at this year’s IMLEC at Fareham where he came 13th.

Will’s first run covered 12 laps in 22 minutes, using 263gms of coal, giving an efficiency of 0.397%. Second time out – 13 laps in 23 minutes, averaging just over 6mph, he used 275gms of coal giving him the highest efficiency figure of 0.412%.

Image. Will Powell with Mona

William Musselwhite with his 3½” gauge Rob Roy to the Martin Evans design

Now aged twenty, he has been a member of Swansea SME for some years; a club that has previously hosted LittleLEC. The late Bill Roebuck was a member there. He competed several times over the years; the last being at Illshaw Heath in 2021 with this locomotive. Bill knew his life expectancy was limited so gifted this Rob Roy to William who is clearly enjoying running it. He made two successful runs; although the axle pump decided not to work, so disrupting his usual driving technique. But he coped very well with the track and came in at a creditable third.

William is now in his third year of an Engineering Physics degree at Aberystwyth University – perhaps he will be applying his studies to getting the best out of his Rob Roy!

William manged to do 4 laps on his first run, but sadly ran out of time. On his second run, William achieved 5 laps in 21 minutes, averaging 2.6mpg, and he used 245gms of coal giving him an efficiency of 0.122%.

Image. William Musselwhite looking very pleased with his Rob Roy loco

Summary of the results in efficiency order

In the lead up to the day, club members had kidded themselves that the dreadful weather forecast was showing signs of easing off – oh no; it came down like the proverbial stair rods. After the heatwaves of only a couple of weeks before, this made the day challenging; not least of all trying to keep cameras dry. Several members looked like they were dressed to step on a fishing trawler at Brixham. But, determined not to be put off, everyone enjoyed the day, fortified with lots of tea and cake.

Tiverton MES are pleased to have put SW England on the model engineering map; one of several thriving clubs hereabouts. Here’s to the next time!

Please see all pictures from the weekend here:

Postscript from Bryan Finch, LittleLEC Co-ordinator

The coordinators of the LittleLEC (now under the stewardship of Guildford MES) wish to express their thanks to Paul Tomlinson and the team at Tiverton & District MES for hosting this year’s competition, and also to all the competitors without whom there would be no competition.

Next year, LittleLEC will be hosted by the South Cheshire MES at The Peacock Railway near Nantwich, over the weekend of 20th and 21st June 2026. Details will be published early in the new year.

For more details about the LittleLEC competitions, its concept, guidelines, efficiency calculations, and past runners and results, please take a look at the LittleLEC website https://www.littlelec.co.uk

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