For the last 18 years, each time 'Engine Wood' has been set up, it's been necessary to align the track over the baseboard joints by eye, tightening up the bolts between the boards as you do so. Yes, there are some relatively primitive alignment aids but it generally involves kneeling down and carefully adjusting each baseboard joint by hand, whilst a friend watches the alignment of the rails from a different angle.

I've got fed up with this and have decided to fit C&L alignment dowels between the three main scenic boards.

Today I've fitted the 'female' halves to the two outer boards, and the centre board will have the 'male' halves fitted next weekend.

I bought the two Draper trestles a few months ago, but only assembled them this morning, and they've proven to be very useful:

Fitting the 'female' halves to the main station baseboard end:

The same was then done to the station-end of the third board:

I really don't want these to shift, so they are secured by the screws provided and a generous amount of epoxy.

I'll be using some 30 minute epoxy when fitting the 'male' counterparts, to allow sufficient time to carefully line the baseboard joints up before clamping together. The plan is to glue the 'male' parts in their recesses, and when the glue has gone off, to drill and screw them as well.