IMLEC 2024 - 19th - 21st July 2024
With a little over a month 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: Paul Tompkins' victorious Britannia "Couer-de-Lion" on the steaming bays at IMLEC 2017)
IMLEC returns for a third time to the north-west coastal town of Southport. Having previously hosted the competition in 2008 and 2017, Southport have gone all out for this year with a 3-day event and a bumper schedule of 34 entries, equaling Nottingham (2015) for the most entries.
Amongst the entrants are four former winners; 7-time winner Lionel Flippance, 3-time winner Steve Eaton and 2-time winners John Cottam and Billy Stock. There is also a lot of IMLEC experience on show, with David Mayall entering his record-equaling 23rd IMLEC, still chasing that elusive first win. Fellow IMLEC veterans David Kerry and Roger Holland enter their 16th and 11th IMLECs respectively. The field also includes a large number making their IMLEC debuts, with 13 drivers hoping to upset the odds and take home the Martin Evans Challenge Trophy on their first start. On a personal note, I'll be making my 11th IMLEC start (starting to feel old!).
(Photo 2: David Mayall will be aiming for victory having placed 2nd at IMLEC 2017 at Southport)
Southport Model Engineering Club's track lies at one end of Victoria Park, just outside Southport town centre. The raised track used for the competition has a total length of 1,733 ft and gradients of 1:156 and 1:185. The run will start in the platform near the club house and drivers will navigate a long left bend through the station before entering a small S-bend which takes you onto the long back straight where the gradient of 1:156 will be the first real test. After travelling round the top loop, the journey continues past the model boat pond with a gradient of 1:185 down and then returns to the start/finish with a right bend.
Looking back at the previous two IMLECs to be hosted by Southport, neither winner returns for 2024. Brian Remnant took victory in 2008 with his highly modified Sweet Pea, and Paul Tompkins won in 2017 with Britannia "Couer de Lion", itself a former winning loco when entered by Len Steel at Llanelli in 1997. David Mayall has the most Southport experience, having entered his "Speedy" in both the previous competitions to be held here. Placing 7th in 2008 and narrowly missing out on winning in 2017 when coming home in 2nd place.
(Graphs shows the number IMLECs the competitor has entered, including Southport 2024)
Favourites for the title must be Lionel Flippance, with his BR Proposed 2-8-2, a loco which won IMLEC in 2016, John Cottam with his LNER P2 "Wolf of Badenoch" (victorious in 2014 and 2015) and Steve Eaton with his Black Five, the winner in 2013. Others who I believe could be in with a shout are David Mayall, having placed 2nd here last time, Tom Parham, after two excellent performances with A1 "Tornado" in 2022 and 2023 and Billy Stock, someone who knows how to win IMLEC, but entering this time with an LMS Duchess "Duchess of Abercorn". As we all know, anyone in the field of 34 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 some many variables, which is part of what makes IMLEC a great entertaining competetion.
Whatever the outcome may be, it is sure to be a great weekend, with traders and a craft fair expected throughout the event, refreshments and evening entertainment on the Saturday night. IMLEC 2024 offers the chance to see the finest miniature locomotives put through their paces by the best drivers around.
Running Order:
