Fire Engines Photos

Great to see "3 BBL in use, albeit as a showmans tractor who always keep their rigs in good order. The body from the front of the drivers and o i c, s door was unpainted aluminum whilst in service, it carried a Merryweather 45ft(13.5m)ladder with tormentor poles which 440 imp lbs was referred to as a"Gutbuster" Pat from Canada please note.
It was designated a Water tender ladder and stationed at Caversham rd fire stn Reading all its service and nicknamed "Telstar" .
On a personal note I drove her on my first "fire run" to Malone Rd Woodley. Thanks for the memories.


Added by Alan Jones ex Sub O,B R F B Stn,s 1,2 & 10 on 27 September 2008.

This was 3 BBL a WRL stationed at Stn 1 Caversham Rd, Reading of the then Berkshire&Reading Fire Brigade all of its service. It carried a "Merryweather" 45ft(13.5m)ladder with "tormentor poles" weighing 440imp lbs Pat from Canada please note.The body from the doors rearwards was unpainted aluminum the first of its kind in the brigade, all appliances still in same style to date!
On a personal note I drove her on my first"fire run" to an address in Woodley
happy memories, The nickname"Telstar"springs to memory

Added by Alan Jones ex Sub O,B R F B Stn,s 1,2 & 10 on 27 September 2008.

see picture 5767 for 3 BBL story and a magnificent picture of it in service.

Added by Peter Williams on 28 September 2008.

Hello Alan:

Yes, did take note of the 45-foot "Bangor" Ladder - "Gut-buster" - I am sure that there were a bunch of names for it, over here, given by the users, and some not-too-polite at that......

That Picture 5767 is quite the Night-Shot of your Station - enjoy your memories with these great old machines - brings them to life.

Hope 3 BBL finds a good home.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 29 September 2008.

Many New Zealand firemen of the old school will identify with the bodywork of this machine but for them on the Karrier cab chassis, , , ,

Added by Pavel on 07 October 2008.

There seems to have been some progress in the design of ground ladders. Most German pump and rescue pump appliances in major towns and cities carry a 14 meter (45.85 foot) three-section aluminium ladder, and these are advertised by local manufacturers as weighing only 75 KG, which is 165 lbs.

Even so, our German brothers usually prefer scaling ladders, which are carried in sets of four on all urban pumpers, along with the 14 meter extension.

In Paris, where a 15 meter extension ladder is carried on every major pump, the hook ladder (which was invented in Paris) is still very popular and widely used. But both scaling and hook ladders seem to have disappeared from the UK, along with the iconic wheeled escape!

Added by Rob Johnson on 22 November 2013.

Sorry I am not convinced that this vehicle has been re-registered from 3 BBL to MFO 813, I have seen another photo of this vehicle by Dave Strickland, someone indicated that it was a Carmichael bodied WrT in 1962. So who's correct.

Added by Adrian Carmichael on 05 May 2022.

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