Are sanders allowed? How about Jetex assist? (do they still make those?) Sneak a motor drive in the tender? I knew there was a reason I wanted to go there. (VBG) Phil
Diamondhead 2003 Drawbar Pull Results There were twenty-one locomotives entered in the drawbar-pulling contest held from 1:30 to 3:30 on Friday and Saturday afternoons. There were originally six classes but we found we needed to add two to make competition fairer. Classes were as follows: Class 1 - 4 drivered locomotives, Class 2 - 6 drivered locomotives, Class 3 - 8 drivered locomotives, Class 4 - Geared, Class 5 - Heavy Weight (K-27's and the like), Class 6 - Shays (thought there would be many Accu Shays to be entered hence the separate class), Class 0 - 2 drivered locomotives, and Class 1/2 - 1 driver locomotives. Class 0 and 1/2 were added as entries came in that didn't fit the first 6 classes. Class 6 was combined with Class 4 as only one Shay was entered. Here are the results: Class 1/2 1 Driver 1st Jim Sanders Steam Powered Tricycle negative 1 inch 2nd no entry 3rd no entry When the measuring device cable was attached it managed to move the tricycle backwards from the weight of the cable and was never able to overcome the horrific strain added by this. We need more competition in this category next year. Class 0 2 Drivers 1st John Clark Emelia 1 oz 2nd Bill Shipp deWinton 3/4 oz 3rd Peter Foley deWinton 5/8 oz There was another deWinton and a Grasshopper also entered. Class 1 4 Drivers 1st John Woodroofe Riesa 4 3/8 lbs 2nd John Woodroofe Samson 4 lbs even 3rd Chris Wolcott Ruby 1 3/4 lb There were seven entries and the Cheddar locomotives proved to VERY powerful. There were several Rubys and Millies entered. Class 2 6 Drivers 1st Peter Oelschleger Gungadin 4 3/8 Lbs 2nd Chris Wolcott Lady Ann 1 3/4 lbs 3rd no entry Only two entries and the Class 1 winner pulled the same weight with two less drivers. The rest of you six drivered owners need to correct this next year. Class 3 8 Drivers 1st Steve Heselton C-16 5 lbs even 2nd Arthur Cohen C-16 2 1/2 lbs 3rd no entry I guess you C-16 owners were caught napping or something as there was a lack of competition in this class. Class 4 Geared 1st Alvin Sadler WM Shay 5 3/4 lbs 2nd Jim Sanders MiCal Shay 5 5/8 lbs 3rd Joel Neshkin Heisler 4 1/4 lbs I was disappointed in the lack of Shay entries. I had two I could have entered and won with but I know there would have been a cry of foul as the event organizer. Class 5 Heavy Weight No entries. I offered to make special times available for this class due to the difficulties of bringing entries to the line. It would have been interesting to compare DJB's and Accucraft's K-27's pulling power. Class 6 Shay Combined into the geared class and eliminated for next year due to a lack of interest. The next drawbar-pulling contest will be at the Midwest Steam-up this May in St. Louis. I will again have the electronic (accurate to .1 oz) track in operation there. Start tuning your locomotives now. To date no one has displayed any initiative to bend the rules like the NASCAR and Dragster people do. Seriously it's a lot of fun to see what your locomotive is capable of actually pulling and then comparing it to other models of similar configuration. Bruce Gathman [EMAIL PROTECTED]
