Fire Engines Photos

So, the new Bedford Crew Safety Vehicle RYJ424X is on the right....now gotta ask an "obvious" question, on behalf of we who are not in GB.....

Does "Crew Safety" refer to its design features as a Pumper; or, to its duties on the fire-ground?

Thanks for the great photos of an era.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 05 October 2009.

Pat, it refers to having a very high strength crew cab fitted to it, far ahead of it's time it offered a massive improvement in crash safety and excelled in a roll over, sadly it was very expensive and was not bought in vast numbers .

Added by John Johnstone on 05 October 2009.

Hi Pat, from memory and I'm no expert, the crew safety vehicle (CSV) relates to the construction of the vehicle, a steel safety cab, so if the vehicle was involved in an accident while travelling at speed, the crew would be protected. Rather like having a roll cage fitted. I might be wrong, but weren't some of the Dennis's made of wooden frames and glass fibre panels, that would break up offering little protection to the crew in an accident? Hence the newer safer CSV's. Safer they may off been, but no style - the Dennis looks better from every angle! (Offside or nearside!!)

Added by Mike G on 05 October 2009.

I can remember seeing one of Strathclyde's CSV's totalling a couple of parked cars after having to swerve to avoid a car that didn't see it coming along on blues and twos. The crew were fine as was the CSV however the ford and vauxhall were not feeling good after the impact for some reason.

Added by Stevie Murray on 05 October 2009.

Thanks, John & Mike for the come-back.

picture 9476 , where, our Pete M. has posted a very good shot of Crowborough's 1980 Bedford CSV plate BUF 995T, taken from...ahem... the off-side...I'll get the hang of this.

Anyway, East Sussex; AND it is in preservation.

Some of the Airport Crash Rescue Trucks have the same idea. Very impressive.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 06 October 2009.

I'm currently restoring 2 of wadhurst's pumps WTL YAP 485 Bedford J5 and WRT SAP 201 Commer Karrier, some comments be great shall need equipment for the 60's- 70's needed another ajax wooden ladder and 2 wooden short extentions old ebgo cutting gear, as much help in any euiptment in general required. And anything else that be of interest

Added by J. Hemsley on 16 October 2009.

An additional safety benefit of the CSV design was the low cowl and enormous windscreen, which - along with the big side windows - greatly improved the crew's ability to see out.

Nicely contrasted with the Dennis D series in this photo...

I know which of these I would have preferred to ride in on a shout!

Added by Rob Johnson on 25 July 2017.

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