Fire Engines Photos

Paul, nice photo of a classic Dennis F28 from Somerset Fire Brigade.Another one of these Dennis F28's still in preservation today, also from Somerset, is the one that was registered 25 LYD, this once serving at Bridgwater fire station.

Added by Pete Matten on 16 January 2009.

Thanks for your comment Pete. I regularly speak with the owner of 25LYD and he hopes to bring it back to Somerset this year for a visit to its old haunts. 25LYD finished up as the water tender at Wells and the water tender ladder that served alongside it 22FYD, is also still currently in Somerset in preservation. We hope to get four ex Somerset F28's together this year in the county for a reunion, these being 703LYA, 25LYD, 22FYD and 353MYA (ex pump escape Glastonbury. I know 18FYD (water tender Dulverton) is in preservation in Yorkshire, 19FYD (Water tender Shepton Mallet) was awaiting preservation. Does anyone know what happened to 20FYD (Water tender Wiveliscombe)?. It was in preservation and rallied regularly but has not been seen for a few years and I have not been able to trace it.

Added by PAUL PICKFORD on 17 January 2009.

Can anybody advise on the engines fitted to these vehicles please ? -I was always of the opinion an F28 had a Rolls 'straight 8' B80/81 engine and the F24/26 had the B60/61 engine fitted - this appears not to be the case - can anybody give a definitive answer/reason please ?

Added by Rick Loudon on 19 March 2012.

Hello Rick, certainly all the F28's that Somerset had were fitted with B61 Mk70A straight six petrol engines with twin SU carbs.Looking at the original Dennis sales brochure for Dennis High Performance F28 Fire Engines they were all fitted with B61 engines as no other engine option is offered for this model. The brochure offers nine different body options on the F28 with different size water tanks depending on whether it was a water tender or a dual purpose appliance.
Somerset also had some F25 Water tenders which were very similar in appearance to the F28 water tender except for the ladder gantry at the rear and these were powered by a Dodge petrol engine. The F25's had five speed gearboxes whereas on the F28's they went back to four speed boxes.

Added by Paul Pickford on 20 March 2012.

Hi Rick, I like you thought the 6 & 8 signified the B61 or B81 engines and it was the first series to have the option of an automatic gearbox, I suggest we need to find the salesman from the 'Fire Engine Shop' as featured in that classic 'Go to Blazes' where those Surrey F 20 series machines appeared in the showroom and on the streets. He would able to give us the answer!

Added by Brett Clayton on 24 March 2012.

Hi Brett

Yes' that was my first thought - however BT 118 and all the other telephone number websites don't list 'The Fire Engine Shop' so its a dead end there I'm afraid - Pauls answer is pretty comprehensive though and seems to answer the question completely ! Its a good thing there isn't a fire engine shop now though - there'd be some right dubious characters with their noses pressed against the windows I think !!!!

Added by Rick Loudon on 25 March 2012.

Rick- Grimsby's F24 certainly had an B81 engine with auto box. Thanks for your note on Grimsby, s F8 DEE 496 being at Bridlington as reserve. Hope to see you again at Odiham this year.

Added by Royce Treacher on 25 March 2012.

I always got the impression that the last digit in the number was significant generally ie F8, F28, F38, were the smaller machines therefore with the 6 cyl engine. I could of course be completely wrong.

Added by Neal Glover on 25 March 2012.

I also have Dennis sales brochure for the F26 appliances and it shows an option of either a Rolls Royce B80 or B81 in this type of appliance. On the first page it states the F26 is a replacement for the F12 and F15 models.

Added by Paul Pickford on 26 March 2012.

Paul

I think you may have it here - the F24 and 28 with six cylinder engines ? and the F26 with 8 cylinder ? are there any dates on the brochures ?

Added by Rick Loudon on 26 March 2012.

It is dependent on the brigade as to the engines the f24 had B80/81 My old f27 had a B81 but could have had a B80 if desired Surrey had B81'S on all of their f24/27's

Added by Jason Lester on 27 March 2012.

Does width come into it, with the 8 suffix being 6'6"-7'6" wide?

Added by Neal Glover on 27 March 2012.

Dont think its anything to do with width because as far as I know all the F25's, F26's and F28's were the same width as they all had the same fronts on. As I said previously there was an engine option on the F26 models but certainly on the F28's the only option was a B61 which is based on the information from the Dennis sales brochures.

Added by Paul Pickford on 28 March 2012.

Does anyone have any info regarding the history of ex Somerset F28, 826 LYC?

Added by Matt Ireland on 06 June 2013.

As you might know its for sale right now for £2.5K on a well known auction web site.

Added by Colin Duncan on 07 June 2013.

Dennis F28 826LYC was new to Somerset Fire Brigade in 1961 and was issued to the one pump retained station at C12 Porlock. It stayed in service until 1978 when it was replaced at Porlock by a Dodge K registration CYB12S

Added by PAUL PICKFORD on 07 June 2013.

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