Before and After

Over the engine bay the cant rail was bad. The new front header rail, the side one, the ceiling and the gussets are now resplendent in cream.


Meanwhile on the driver's side the story was much the same. I admit that the mirror is not of the 1930s pattern: it is the larger post-war one, but much the safer for it, yet still about 50 years old in design. (instead of 70).


Soon after arrival at Turramurra from Tempe in 1996, the bare frame, engine and chassis was steam cleaned prior to beginning major frame repairs. Now the headlight is back in its 1937 position, and somehow the red livery looks far more dazzling than any black and white photo of that era.


With the cab floor out it was easy to stand on the ground to attend to all the many aspects of the drivers cab: wiring, controls, stripping of paint, and the drivers seat.


Upstairs, viewed from the stairwell, the distinctive pre-war corrugated kick plates now cover all the repairs to the framing, and the massive angled brackets holding the top deck down to the floor are now painted in their correct brown.


On the back platform all traces of post war green have gone, and the panels await nothing but the black lining below the windows and between colours.