"Truck"ing with (the way he spells it) Georg

One of the two trucks being moved from the 696 shop to 805 Belfast Road. Photo: Barry Thomas Collection

One of the two Brill 27-FE-1 trucks from OTC 696.

Georg like me, chose a specific job.  He took up the task of rebuilding 696's two(Brill 27-FE-1) trucks.  But unlike me, he was for some unknown reason, banished to another part of the OC Transpo empire, 805 Belfast Road.

Georg's sea container "shop" came equipped with labour! Please don't tell the folks at Citizenship and Immigration Canada .

Over the years, perhaps because of good behaviour he has been allowed to move closer to the rest of the group, first to a sea container outside  our car barn, then finally after his full rehabilitation, into the car barn with the rest of us!

Georg and his truck (frame) has moved in with the rest of the group.

The truth is I do not know why the trucks went to one building and the car body to another, my guess is lack of space in the car barn.  I will find out and add to this chapter later.

 ** I asked Georg and he confirmed, the trucks were sent to 805 Belfast because of lack of working space at the car barn.  This was confirmed by Barry Thomas as well...but I like my version of the story better...sigh!.**

As one can see from the first photo the trucks were in a dire need of a rebuild, the wheels are in fairly good shape but do have chips.  The motors have been sent out to Grant Electric but the shop was closed and the motors were returned to us unfortunately missing a few parts.  We may have to find replacements motors, I will let the readers know what action will be taken when the time comes.

Jim and Georg installing truck bolster to truck                                                                                Photos by Bruce Dudley

If you are thinking that man taped to the lawn chair sure looks like Jim...you would be correct.  Long story, I could write a whole new blog on the "adventures of Jim" but I digress.

Here is a better view of the side frame with elliptical, coil springs and the pedestal wear plates installed  Photo by Bruce Dudley

Georg first had to disassemble the trucks, clean and paint the components.  All the springs had to be rebuilt then re-installed.  The pair of elliptical spring were very difficult to install but Georg managed to find a way to compress them and with the aid of Jim, they were able to set them in place.

Inside view of the elliptical springs and the coil springs. Thanks to Malmberg Truck Trailer Equipment Ltd for rebuilding the actual springs.

Two brake beams being readied to be installed on the truck.

We were able to pick 8 brasses from the Halton County Radial Rly.  These brasses are the correct size for the journals on 696 but have extra protrusions which had to be milled off.  The milling machine given to us also by Halton, first had to be fixed (you guessed it...) by Georg before he could do the work on the brasses.

Next on the list for Georg is to install the journal boxes and wheel sets then it is back to square one, rebuilding the second truck.