IMLEC 2021 at Maidstone

[dhamblin]

Looks like IMLEC is going ahead this year at Maidstone MES Mote Park track on 20th - 22nd August 2021.

Website - bridges82.uk/imlec/

There is a good entry list on all three days. Might pop down on Saturday to watch some of the action.

Regards,

Dan

[dscott]

We have put it down on our events list.

We spent some time with friend Tom Parham at the Oxford track, the family are very involved at Maidstone.
51 years since my first visit there.

David and Lily.

[Deleted]

I was hoping to attend but it seems that I will now be away for most of that week, Tom and his dad Martin, are great model engineers and their loco's have paid many visits to my club track.

Pete

[manofkent]

Aug 3, 2021 0:19:01 GMT dscott said:

We have put it down on our events list.

We spent some time with friend Tom Parham at the Oxford track, the family are very involved at Maidstone.
51 years since my first visit there.

David and Lily.

David. Its about 50 years since I last was at Moat Park, Maidstone.  I was lucky enough to drive a few laps on a superb 
Heilien Lassie built by Fred LaRoche. We were visiting as a club from Tonbridge MES. 
Aanyway, looking at the track on YouTube now there is no tunnel. I was sure there was once a tunnel about half way round - on a curve if I recall correctly.
Do you remember there being a tunnel, or was it wishful thinking on my part?

John

[dscott]

This is the only structure on the line so this is probably what you are remembering.
The plaque tells of its rebuilding in 1992.
1970 I was there with mum Dad and Brother.
1976 met up with Alan Wilson at School and the rest is history.

David and Lily.

[johnhale]

Are visitors welcome? As am holidaying nearby and if I can convince my wife and children to a visit I might be able to attend.

[Cro]

Yes John they are, visitors = bums on seats/loads for the runs! More
Park is amazing and lovely place to wander and spend the day with a cafe the other side of the lake.

I should be there Sunday with the old man.

Adam

[dhamblin]

I see the Friday runs have been added to the website above. Been called away to other duties today, but might be able to make it tomorrow instead. Hopefully the forecast rain today won't have a big effect on the results.

Regards,

Dan

[Cro]

The winner of IMLEC 2021 was Billy Stock with his ex Model Works Britannia previously owned by Barry Purslow.

Billy’s highest finish before today was 3rd and he blew all the seasoned veterans away. David Mayal in 2nd with his 15xx and John Cottam in 3rd with his P2.

Next year there is currently no host club for the event so if anyone thinks their club may be interested get in touch with Martin Evans (I think).

Good to see some familiar faces again as always.

Adam

[dhamblin]

Had an enjoyable day down at the Mote Park track - lots of friendly people and some very impressive models and engine driving / firing skills on display. Met Adam and David too for a natter. Seemed to me that Maidstone MES did a great job of running the event, despite the weathers best efforts. A few photos below along with the top three presentations.


IMLEC 2021 5" Evening Star by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

Day 3 first run was by Dave Kerry from the Chesterfield & District MES. His locomotive is a 5" gauge BR 9F 2-10-0 No. 92220 'Evening Star'.


IMLEC 2021 5" City of Birmingham by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

Second run was Paul Tomlinson of Maidstone MES with his 5" gauge Duchess No. 46235 'City of Birmingham'.


IMLEC 2021 5" William Wordsworth by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

Billy Stock of the Urmston & District MES climbs the curve out of the station area with his 5" gauge Britannia No. 70030 'William Wordsworth'. This was the third run of the day.


IMLEC 2021 5" 15xx by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

David Mayall of the Bracknell Railway Society with his 5" gauge 15xx No. 1506, on the fourth run of the day.


IMLEC 2021 5" Wildebeeste by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

Judith Bellamy setting out on her run with 5" gauge B1 No. 1010 'Wildebeeste'. This was the fifth run of the day.


IMLEC 2021 5" 4MT Tank by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

Ben Pavier of the Southport MEC with modified Kingscale 5" gauge 4MT tank No. 80079. This was the sixth run of the day.


IMLEC 2021 5" Wolf of Badenoch by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

John Cottam of the Chesterfield & District MES with his 5" P2 No. 2006 'Wolf of Badenoch'. This was the seventh run of the day.


IMLEC 2021 5" Pairie by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

Alan Crossfield of Leyland SME on the eighth and final timed run of the competition with his 5" Prairie No.4156.


IMLEC 2021 Third Place by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

John Cottam receiving his third place prize from organiser Tom Parham.


IMLEC 2021 Second Place by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

David Mayall receiving his second place prize from Tom Parham.


IMLEC 2021 Third Place by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

Billy Stock receiving the winners trophy from Tom Parham.


IMLEC 2021 5" Polly 6 by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

Duncan Stagg of the Derby SMEE steamed his 5" Polly 6 'Bluebelle' to provide public rides having competed the previous day.


IMLEC 2021 5" King Edward II by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

5" gauge 6023 'King Edward II' being taken for test run.


IMLEC 2021 5" Kitchener by Daniel Hamblin, on Flickr

Danny Hayward driving 5" Austerity 2-10-0 No. 601 'Kitchener'.


Regards,

Dan

[dscott]

Lovely to meet up with you Dan. And Thank you for capturing us in the middle of the first train of the day?
Lily in Yellow hat with trains on it. Me behind.

NO The first Trains of the day were a Jinty Built by Tom Parham, and the Blue King.
We have no Idea just how EFFICIENT they were and we couldn't even count the cans and bottles consumed by the drivers and passengers.
5 Pizza Boxes were left by Ben Pavier's Mob and cleaned up by Tom at around 1.30 AM!!!

The Battery Drill Driver did 9 laps in half an hour and did not consume any coal on the track.
The 3 battery's used were charged from Solar Panels on our roof.
1 passenger carried with smile on her face.

20 mugs of tea. The Evening meal. 2 packets of scones. Several of Courtney's home made Biscuit's. A breakfast cooked roll with Bacon egg and sausage. and 5 slices of various cakes consumed also need to be taken into the final scoring.

David and Lily.

[Deleted]

Thanks for sharing the photos Dan, looks like a great day was had by all...

Pete

[dhamblin]

Thanks chaps, a pity I couldn't report on all three days as I heard there were various stories to tell from Friday and Saturday. For instance the loco entered when it was literally just a set of frames but was finished enough to just make its run. Then you had Nick Taylor's 2-10-0 Austerity that pulled the greatest load over the weekend with 16 adults. One loco threw a rod and another required rescuing using a passenger trolley because it's valve gear seized up during the run.

There is certainly no hiding place once a driver has committed to competing and it is a small win just to get out on track (see the rules on lighting up for instance and David's story about the B1 smokebox). I can see why there are drivers who keep coming back to enjoy the challenge. That round of applause when trains start and finish a run, even if retiring early, is well deserved.

Regards,

Dan

[dscott]

Saturday also saw a Martin Evans trying very hard not to be recognized and enjoying a spectators view.
That is until I chatted with him for ages and later he joined in with a drive of the D Class.
Yes as you can see from the Blue King several of us had locomotives with us and got them out later for some Fun Runs???
Some of us staying up till 1.30 Sunday morning and enjoying the warm August night to steam through.
Tom Parham's Jinty doing a superb job. The valve setting producing a purely magical sound in the silent night.

I knew about 15 people there and indeed after several years of visiting various tracks we have all become a big happy family.

David and Lily.

For all who do not get Model Engineer Martin is the Editor and a builder of a Pannier Tank.

[Cro]

For anyone who couldn't attend IMLEC you can watch it back here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYiVhVhV21U&t=3584s