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Fire Engine Photos
Photo of ex Somerset FB Dennis F28 Water Tender
This is an ex Somerset Fire Brigade 1961 Dennis F28 Water Tender registration 25LYD. It was delivered to the brigade in 1961 and issued to Station C2 Bridgwater as the wholetime first way appliance. Unfortunately whilst on its way to a shout it collided with a set of stone steps in South Petherton and was extensively damaged. It went to a company in Bristol to have its chassis straightened and it was then rebuilt by the brigade workshops at Underwood Quarry, Wells by an engineer called Fred Sage who I had the pleasure of chatting with a couple of years ago. It then went back to Bridgwater but they were not happy with it and it was reissued to the one pump retained station at Radstock where it remained until the early seventies when it finished up at Station B7 City of Wells as the water tender. After being sold by the brigade it appeared on Jim'll Fix It masquerading as a London Fire Brigade Appliance and for this it was sprayed Red all over. It has since been loving restored by the present owner Richard Murrell and this is a recent picture of it.
This is an ex Somerset Fire Brigade 1961 Dennis F28 Water Tender registration 25LYD. It was delivered to the brigade in 1961 and issued to Station C2 Bridgwater as the wholetime first way appliance. Unfortunately whilst on its way to a shout it collided with a set of stone steps in South Petherton and was extensively damaged. It went to a company in Bristol to have its chassis straightened and it was then rebuilt by the brigade workshops at Underwood Quarry, Wells by an engineer called Fred Sage who I had the pleasure of chatting with a couple of years ago. It then went back to Bridgwater but they were not happy with it and it was reissued to the one pump retained station at Radstock where it remained until the early seventies when it finished up at Station B7 City of Wells as the water tender. After being sold by the brigade it appeared on Jim'll Fix It masquerading as a London Fire Brigade Appliance and for this it was sprayed Red all over. It has since been loving restored by the present owner Richard Murrell and this is a recent picture of it.
Can anyone tell me is this beautiful Dennis is still owned by Richard Murrell? I would like to visit and take pictures in June while visiting from the Netherlands.
Added by René de Caluwé on 04 May 2019.
Added by René de Caluwé on 04 May 2019.
Paul:
Thanks for this interesting history.
I have noticed in this and other photos of 25 LYD that it is carrying fourteen cans of foam compound, which does not quite qualify it as a foam tender - but is a lot more than most water tenders ever carried on a regular basis.
Did it have a role as a backup foam unit at one of its assigned stations?
Added by Rob Johnson on 08 May 2019.
Thanks for this interesting history.
I have noticed in this and other photos of 25 LYD that it is carrying fourteen cans of foam compound, which does not quite qualify it as a foam tender - but is a lot more than most water tenders ever carried on a regular basis.
Did it have a role as a backup foam unit at one of its assigned stations?
Added by Rob Johnson on 08 May 2019.
Yes it is still with the same owner and still immaculate. The amount of foam cans is likely to just be a brigade preference, it has been restored as original so nothing has been added that wasn't on it in the first place.
Added by Michael G on 12 May 2019.
Added by Michael G on 12 May 2019.
I should add that there were a couple of high risk premises in the area including a power station which is why this carried an increased amount of foam cans. It is not designated as any type of back up foam tender. Just a water tender with extra foam.
Added by Michael G on 16 May 2019.
Added by Michael G on 16 May 2019.
Michael:
Thanks, it makes so much sense
Added by on 16 May 2019.
Thanks, it makes so much sense
Added by on 16 May 2019.
This was the standard amount of foam cans carried by Somerset FB appliances at the time regardless of where they were stationed. Possibly because its predominately a rural area and if you turned up at a job and committed to using foam you needed to have enough compound to be effective before further appliances arrived with more supplies. Richard Murrell does still own the appliance although it is being a little troublesome at the moment. He has just spent a lot of money having a reconditioned B61 engine fitted but has problems with low oil pressure at the moment.
Added by Paul Pickford on 18 May 2019.
Added by Paul Pickford on 18 May 2019.
Oil pressure sorted rubber o ring failed. Its running as when new sounds great. Sadly nowwhere to take it - lets hope this year will be better.
Added by R MURRELL on 01 January 2021.
Added by R MURRELL on 01 January 2021.
Dennis
Added by John Stott on 08 February 2009.