1996

For IMLEC 1996, the competition was held for the first time in Delapre Park, home of Northampton SME. Part of the track site was formally the Allchin factory and is in the grounds of a former Abbey. With no John Heslop this year, the favourite tag fell on the previous years runner up, Alan Crossfield with his GWR Manor "Barcote Manor". Alan delivered with a fine run to take his third IMLEC title exactly 10 years after his second. Ted Joliffe gives us the details of his winning run:

"Alan Crossfield is no stranger to winning awards: he has won I.M.L.E.C. twice before and several major exhibition awards. This year his mount was his superb 5in. gauge 4-6-0 G.W.R. Manor, No. 7803, Barcote Manor built largely to Martin Evans' design, with extra embellishments such as scale backhead fittings and extra finishing details taken from works drawings. Alan represented Leyland SME. His chosen load was 12 passengers plus observer Andy Waller. The engine showed a small amount of slip at the start, and then accelerated away and ran for a consistent 23 minutes when it came to a stand at the station, shy on steam. As insufficient time had elapsed for the run to end, Alan put a small measure of coal on the bars, and that was about all he had plus red hot bars, discharged all his passengers and took off for a final lap with just himself and Andy on the train. He judged it well, for on his return there was the merest glimmer of fire on the bars. Even this had gone out by the time the engine reached the steaming bays!"