In order for Albert to be mobile again, the engine was removed for overhaul and after re-installation, No. 2004 was to be independently mobile for the first time in 30 years.
The engine comes out for overhaul
The only Albion engine to have been from Britain to Australia five times. Paul Adams, Scottish owner of restored Sydney Albion no. 1877, watches
In every Albion diesel, the engine side plates and their bolts are rusted from the cooling water. Andy gets into some skilled fitting work drilling out the bolts and threading them for new bolts.
Friends, and Albion experts, John Rentoul and Derek remove pistons and connecting rods.
Cleaned, parts laid out, Derek, John and Davie make it look easy.
In the finest traditions of Scottish engineering: Peter Burt, John Rentoul and Derek Ferguson machine engine valves to a perfect finish
Reassembled: the engine is started for the first time in perhaps 20 years, in a cloud of smoke (and deafening noise?) from the exhaust . Note the makeshift oil gauge, battery leads to the starter, and a pipe at right to stop the engine itself spinning around! John Rentoul and Cliff Martin feel quiet pride.
Up top, the valve gear clatters in a satisfying sort of way. John's hand is on the exhaust manifold so it can't have been running long!
The rebuilt engine and gearbox at rear is readied for installation. In a double decker you need lifting gear which can reach under the top deck overhang. The piece of orange tube along the bottom casing is where the dynamo should be: more of that later.
This mobility then allowed the rear end overhaul to begin, including a back platform, stairs, rear wheel arches and the rear chassis.
Independently mobile: the engine is back in, running, a lot of new bodywork has been done, but that roof, my dear!!.... Well it had to be made like that to fit under bridges in India, and is to be remade with Andy's skills having matured over the last 35 years!
The engine refitted, running, and a temporary radiator from an Albion truck in place. Andy couldn't wait for the original to be finished off in Glasgow before he could take Albert for a run, however brief.
Paul Adams and Derk Ferguson in Glasgow this time, work on Albert's original bus radiator: different in some ways to the truck ones. At left to confuse the issue is another Albion, a truck, under restoration.
The original radiator, polished, and with new gaskets and rubbers throughout, fitted. All the Sydney Albions had a 'Venturer' badge once, but they were souvenired or just left off by staff, and to find one now has been lucky.
The dynamo presented a challenge as the original had been taken sometime during the 2002-2009 era. An original Chullora (NSW) dynamo was donated by friends of Albert, which resolved the problem. Shipping from Australia was a challenge but Roy Bartlett of Freightbiz, himself a Pom, gave us a pretty good deal on the 5okg. crate. Off it went by air, then, just when everything seemed to be going well, the dynamo was ‘hijacked’ by a handling agent wielding ‘red tape’ and imposing amazing import fees at Edinburgh Airport! A nice little earner for an unscrupulous Customs man, referring 'clients' (i.e. victims) to his mate. A direct appeal to a commonsense UK customs official finally saved the day.
An original CAV 24 volt dynamo (generator) in amazing condition for its 50-odd years, gets a cleanup at Turramurra Works.
A thing of beauty (in the eyes of some beholders) is a joy forever: the rotating armature from the dynamo polished and ready to be assembled.
