Fire Engine Photos

No: 17476 Contributor: Paul Pickford Year: 1970 Manufacturer: Dennis Country: United Kingdom

Dennis F28 21FYD Radstock Fire Station

Dennis F28 21FYD Radstock Fire Station

Ths picture was taken by Bristol Bob and is published with his permission. It shows Dennis F28 index 21FYD outside Station A10 Radstock when it was on the run there. Because Radstock was a one pump station this appliance in addition to the wheeled escape also carried a metal ladder. Its sister appliance 22FYD was only ever a pump escape and then a Wrl as it was stationed all its life at Wells which is a two pump station. 21FYD was latterly converted to a Wrl and was transferred into the County of Avon in 1974 along with Radstock Fire Station.

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Picture added on 07 June 2009 at 09:24

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add commentComments:

I love these old black and white photos? Was this taken around the time the station was built? Is that the drill tower in the back ground?

Added by Andy on 07 June 2009.

Andy yes that is the drill tower in the background. The station was built in 1960 I would guess this photo was taken in the late sixties/early seventies because in the other photos of 21FYD the firemen have yellow leggings.

Added by Paul Pickford on 07 June 2009.

The station was built in 1960,yes it is the drill tower,the photo was taken late 1960's early 1970's
Nice to know that you like the old pictures.

Added by Bob on 07 June 2009.

Andy,the fire station was built in 1960,whilst the Dennis F28 Pump Escape(21 FYD)is before the vehicle lettering registration come in,the first of course being the letter(A)back around 1962/63 so this picture could have been taken around about that time.
Reference the tower,this was typical of the time with the siren on top to call the retained(part-time)firemen to the station and that ugly old fire bell in the house to let the wife know you had a call and to keep your dinner warm-Bless her.

Added by Pete Matten on 07 June 2009.

Thanks Gents,

I've never seen a tower shapped like that before, up here in the north east of Scotland all the steel frame towers are straight and 4 sided. I think in most cases the siren was on top of the station rather than the tower.

Added by Andy on 07 June 2009.

A lot of strong winds in Somerset,it used to be straight!LOL

Added by Bob on 08 June 2009.

Somerset obviously was happy with this design of fire station building as they built many others like it but with different front wall finishes. I know that Castle Cary was built in 1959 and is a mirror image of this one and with the front finished with different stone. Other stations like it are Street, Somerton, Wiveliscombe and Ilminster.

Added by George A'court on 12 June 2009.

I think the tower is still there now, unless my memory servers me to well!

Added by Andy on 24 July 2009.

This tower design was supplied to a number of Somerset stations in the 50s and 60s. They were manufactured by the Metal Agencies Co. at their Ashton factory in Bristol. I don't know whether any survive because they suffered with severe corrosion.

Added by Avonmouth on 02 April 2016.

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