IMLEC 2025 - 20th - 22nd June 2025
With just one week remaining until IMLEC returns for another year, we preview the premier event in the model engineering calendar and take a look at what may happen in this years competition.
​
​
​
​
​
​​
​
​
​
​
(Photo 1: ME editor David Carpenter presents Les Pritchard with the Martin Evans Challenge Trophy at IMLEC 2006)
IMLEC returns for a second time to the Fareham & District Society of Model Engineers. Having previously hosted the competition in 2006, this year sees 28 entries from a wide range of societies across 3 days, beginning with Run No.1 of Peter Wardropper from SMEE at 11:30am on Friday 20th June 2025.
​
Amongst the entrants are six former champions; 4-time winner Steve Eaton, 2-time winners John Cottam and Kevan Ayling and 1-time winners Glyn Winsall, Ben Pavier and Marcus Peel. The three most experienced IMLEC competitors of all time are in the field, with Glyn Winsall and David Mayall entering their 23rd IMLEC (24 counting Bristol 2023), and Steve Eaton entering his 21st. Regular IMLEC competitors Roger Holland and John Williams return for their 11th and 8th attempt, looking for a personal best finish. The field also includes 7 competitors making their debut at IMLEC, with Callum Christie putting the "International" in IMLEC as he travels from Ireland to compete with a loco built by his Great-Grandfather over 80 years ago!
​​​​​
​
​​
(Photo 2: Steve Eaton returns for IMLEC 2025 having taken victory at IMLEC 2024, but this year he brings along his 3 1/2" WD Britannia
​​
Fareham's track should offer a good challenge to the drivers. From the start line the gradient is down hill until the first right hand bend, the track then climbs at 1:107 before levelling through the tunnel and descending all the way round the inside curve. After this the big challenge begins, as the locomotive begins a 1:77 climb which eases to 1:107 as you past the boating pond. The final part of the lap descends around the top curve and down the straight back to the start/finish line.
​
Looking back at IMLEC 2006, the winner that year was Les Pritchard with his L&Y locomotive, although Les is not in the field this year, his grandson Sean is taking the regulator of his B1 "Gemsbok" and will be hoping to emulate his Grandfather's success around this track.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
(Graphs shows the number IMLECs the competitor has entered, including Fareham 2025)
​
Unusually for recent IMLECs, there are no previous winning locomotives in the field, whilst 6 entrants have won the competition before, they are all driving different locomotives than when they won the competition. As we all know, anyone in the field of 28 could come out on top, the weather can play a big part, mechanical failures can happen at anytime. Will drivers choose a suitable load for their locomotive? There are so many variables, which is part of what makes IMLEC a great entertaining competition.
​
Whatever the outcome may be, it is sure to be a great weekend, with traders and BBQ style food available and evening entertainment on the Saturday night. IMLEC 2025 offers the chance to see the finest miniature locomotives put through their paces by the best drivers around.
​
​
