Getting Started

The first 3 or 4 Wednesdays I showed up was a bit of an eye-opener...here was this big rebuilding project yet there were very few tools to work with. The second thing that disturbed me was the lack of documentation, blue prints or any thing else to help in the rebuild.  Things had been started to be dismantled and forgotten about.  Some parts were tagged most of the others were not.  I remember find one "tagged" piece, the label read, "partly restored".  The label did not even say what the part was or what exactly was partly restored!  Yes,quite the mess...a sane man would have walked out.

But the thing was everyone was so nice and seemed to be able to work together.  Rhéaune was there, so was Mike Mueller who I had dealt with many times before at a local hobby shop, Peter Joyce who's son had worked for me.  There were new people like Jim Stitt, "Freddie the Welder" who was actually a retired Ottawa Police officer, George ------, Sebastien, Bruce Dudley, the father and son team of Gilles and Kevin Lafreniere and Barry Thomas, one of the "spark plugs" of the group.

In all it was an interesting bunch of individuals so I thought it would be a good group to stay involved with and help out.  The question was where would be the best place for me to help. The group was nowhere near the point of starting to rivet, (the prime reason for me joining the group) so I had to find something else to do.  Assessing the situation it looked like this group needed a mechanic. I would let the others handle what was needed above the floor of the car and I would preform the needed work below the floor.

No one in the group except  George, had any experience with railway appliances such as air brakes, so this is where I decided to apply myself.  George had already taken on a large project, this was the rebuilding of 696's two trucks.  George was set up on the east end of the building and I on the west, 696's car body separated the two of us.

My first workbench, I think someone in the group brought this old magazine stand in from their grandmother's rec room!  I told the guys I need something a little bit more substantial.

Next on my list "to do" list was find a work area, a place I could leave things and be certain they would not be disturbed. I also wanted a steel workbench. This was one of the things that impressed me about this group, you just had to ask and you received. Within a week or two Mike, Rhéaume and Jim built for me a steel workbench complete with a 4 inch vise.  Now I had a place to park my hat.

My new workbench, I just have to install the vise and I'm ready to go, thank-you Mike,Jim and Rhéaume.