Fire Engines Photos

Interesting to see SEV Marchal (French) beacons on a UK appliance.

Added by Dr. Dennis Stouffer on 13 November 2009.

Marchal beacons were widely used on fire appliances during the 1960s.....not the best!

Added by Barrie Green on 14 November 2009.

Was this a Wrexham based appliance? It looks, after pouring over this photo, to be on Gatewen Road, Caego(Wrexhams ground), further up from Gatewen NCB Coal disposal point and workshops, opposite the present New Broughton school.

Added by Gary Simpson on 05 August 2011.

She was indeed. Her sister was OCA947G and was stationed at Colwyn Bay. This one later found herself I believe for a short while at Flint alongside the Simonitor replacing the Gamcock SDM 926 when Wrexham recieved the Ford D1016/Carmichael OFF939L from Corwen. Maybe Herbie Brick can clarify this?

Added by Andrew Middleton on 06 August 2011.

it seems extraordinary to me that it is 35 years since the amazing summer I had in 1976 chasing fire engines round North Wales. By the way I have recently discovered that my maternal grandfather John Maelor Hughes went to work at the Gatewen colliery just down the road from where this photo was taken at the age of 9 years old in the 1880s. His father has been killed at the Westminster colliery and he had to go out to work as the eldest to support the family. He managed to study theology whilst working down the pits (he looked after the ponies)and later became a Methodist minister. So my interests in family history and fire engines combine in this photo.

Added by Peter Williams on 07 August 2011.

Your photos are a wonderful record of that summer, I was three then, but remember Hawarden golf club where my dad played, and the parched grass everywhere. I was told by an old Buckley hand that the Army were drafted in to Cynwyd mountain, is that true? I did some work at Plas Power colliery, fencing off and making safe, some years ago. Also, I run a facebook group to try and save Bersham colliery bank from oblivion(Savebershambank). Thanks for all the photographic memories, do any of these Dennis appliances survive?

Added by Gary Simpson on 07 August 2011.

I fully agree with Barrie about Marchal beacons - they were certainly not the best, and the ones that Newcastle & Gateshead first fitted (before they saw the error of their ways) had a habit of sticking rather than rotating - and they were certainly not the only brigade to have that trouble !!!!

Added by Ian Moore on 08 August 2011.

Andrew - Nit-picking I know, but with all respect, the Karrier Gamecock you mention was SDM 826, not 926.

Added by Ian Moore on 08 August 2011.

Your right Ian. Must check the database more often, my old gray matter is getting worse.

Added by Andrew Middleton on 08 August 2011.

I hated those Clwyd stickers that covered the Flintshire and D&MJFS crests. Gwynedd did the same but at least they had their brigade crest ready in time for the worst mistake in living memory, 1974.

Added by Andrew Middleton on 08 August 2011.

Again i've committed a fax pas. OCA945G was at Colwyn Bay and not OCA947G.

Added by Andrew Middleton on 09 August 2011.

And the Gwynedd ones had some style. A pity there is not more Gwynedd influence in NWFRS.

Added by Neal Glover on 09 August 2011.

I'll go with that one Neal. I much perfered Gwynedd to Clwyd due to the area being created to look like God's garden. The older appliances were similar, Bedford and Commers but anything pre 1974 was welcome and still is. I don't suppose you saw OCC922M, Bedford TK/HCB-Angus Bangor and Bala did you?

Added by Andrew Middleton on 10 August 2011.

Not knowingly although quite possibly on my way back from Porthmadog some time. I tended not to look at reg nos. I do remember seeing a green EP with red florescent tape up the front of the cab at Bala sometime in the 70s.

Added by Neal Glover on 10 August 2011.

I don't have OCC 922M on my collectiuon, not do I have it with the re-registration WEY 41M which it gained in 1988.

Added by Ian Moore on 11 August 2011.

Saw this appliance many a time as a lad in Bala. It's the only Caernarfonshire Bedford TK/HCB-Angus I never photographed along with KCC512J later OEY323J. Thanks Ian and Neal. According to the DVLA website, she is now blue.

Added by Andrew Middleton on 11 August 2011.

I have a shot of KCC512J in the bay at Pwllheli and PCC324N at Porthmadog if you would like me to post them?

Added by Adey on 11 August 2011.

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