On 05/04/2021 12:52, Tony Galloway wrote:
> There were MCB variants of the Brill 27 truck with drop equalisers for interurban cars as well

Yes - these featured the big Brill selling point - solid forged frames.

The MMTB probably decided to save money by using fabricated frames with a forged equaliser bar.

Here's a pic of an ALCO version of an MCB from Charlton's book. As far as I can see it's a dead ringer for an MMTB No 1A truck.

Notes on the W history say that the pattern trucks were imported from New York and that fits with ALCO.

The MMTB's faith in the design seems to have been justified with these trucks being used in Melbourne passenger service for over 60 years - and still in use wherever a W2 runs.

Mal Rowe