Having not progressed further with the layout it was about time I started to focus on the layout more...Here's the progress so far. 

I found myself watching a video on You Tube by Everard Junction, in this video he was laying his track to be more in scale to what he was actually modelling. At the time I was using this to make notes and use it to develop my skills base, until he showed that he was using a Peco Code 75 single slip as a place holder for his future bullhead variant, he stated that 'Peco intended to keep the geometry of the slips the same' So he didn't need to worry about the point not fitting into the same space. So because of that very small piece of information I was able to begin, the major kick start for MEP.  As I do not have access to a double slip at home, nor do I have enough money to afford the slip, I went to Peco's website and found there track diagrams, where you are able to print off diagrams for various pieces of point work, following the information by Everard Junction, I printed out the correct Code 75 Double Slip. 

With that said, I began by placing the relevant track in the correct places, marking it and then placing the track in close proximity, once doing that I could begin to work the track down toward the stations. The Up line was the most simple, only requiring a LH near the tunnel entrance and near the end of the board close to Platform 1. Whereas the Down ( Heading towards the platforms) had a LH to connect forming the loop, entering a Double Slip and a second LH Point splitting the track to form P2 and the siding.  Cutting the track was the main aim to get a foothold of what the trackplan was going to look like once the track was together, this was also where the photo of the double slip would come into play as it would give me a guide for the placement for the rest of the track. Simply because the double slip is the most crucial part of the layout build.  Following this I began cutting the track, placing the points roughly where they were going. Cutting the track down was always the fun/ difficult job, but using a rotary saw was great to get the accuracy, as you can see in the photo below I am one RH point missing which splits between the double slip and the Up road toward the fiddle yard. 

From this point (Photo's Above & Below) I was sufficiently happy that the track plan was decided, then began the process for gluing the cork down, once I began I realized after rolling it out that I didn't have enough (which was very annoying) myself and Rob (who's part of the W&RMRC) we cut the cork down so we could build a shoulder and had enough to do the current set amount of track covering the baseboard. Once dry I'll cut some strips to form the shoulder edges as the track moves towards the tunnel mouth. 

Following getting the track to this point we began the plan to lay the cork underlay, following a few photo's from various reference points from the 1930's around the East End, I was able to gain an understanding for the signalling and ballasting, as most track like this tended not to have high shoulders as it tended to be level across an area like this. However the shoulder drops off near the back of the board to allow for the signal box & New LNER Concrete P-Way Hut.

This is as far as I was able to get with the layout that day, I allowed the glue to dry for a good two and a half hours (with some small weights on top) before we put the board into the car, and laid the weights on again. A 30 minute drive home in a warm car (which helped) I carried the board inside the house and waited till the glue had sufficiently dried before I thought about rough placement of the track and back scenes on once again. 

As you can see the difference a good nights sleep makes, the photo on the left shows the glue drying still, though this photo was taken the same evening that the cork had been laid. But waiting till the following day I was able to focus the work and put everything back into place for now before I begin to focus permanently placing the track work, but again I cannot do that until I've bought one more RH point and the Double slip which we currently have in the form of the Peco cut out. 

Finally on mixed note, the Mile End Park Locomotive fleet has come back to full strength, with the return of the '1500' As my LNER B12 4-6-0 returned to the layout from Hornby quite un-unexpectedly. The model returned and sadly didn't operate, bare in mind the model had already gone back to Hornby on 3 other separate occasions , making her return the 4th time!! I got to the end of my tether at this point, so I decided to fix the problem myself, long story short I found the tender or Motor on the engine has been wired incorrectly, therefore the whole model was shorting out. A simple job of swapping the wires and the engine was purring like a kitten, in addition I found engine had been flooded with oil, so I had to clean it up, I mean I know it's a steam engine but it really didn't oil covering the pick ups and wires I did have to wash my hands after all that!! But never mind, she runs, and the 1500 (B12) along with my 2800 ( B17) will be the main 4-6-0's to operate MEP. So I'm very glad to have the layout up to strength, I just need to focus on the LNER N7's now to build up that section of the fleet and hold out for an LNER E4, J17 & J19. 

So until next time folks thanks for reading

Cheers Tom