Fire Engines Photos

I remember this vehicle well, seeing it out on tests on the roads near Guildford. It ended it's days parked outside the gates of a scrapyard near Normandy in Surrey, I went back last summer to try and get a photo but it had gone.

Added by John D on 22 February 2010.

that was a preservation opportunity missed there then !

Added by Rick Loudon on 22 February 2010.

wow that looks smart, out of interest what was the window in the oic door floor for anyway apart to show his boots! as it was never on the drivers side ?

Added by Calvin Fox on 23 February 2010.

Hi Calvin,
Was that little window perhaps there to help the driver identify any potential cyclists next to the vehicle?

Added by Marcel Gommers on 23 February 2010.

Thats always what my understanding of what its purpose was

Added by Rick Loudon on 23 February 2010.

picture 6431 shows that the observation window in the door was not unusual. On the Tyne and Wear FB Dennis's the window was actually an opening little door. Screwed behind the door was the handset for the Storno two way radio. It meant that you could speak to control without climbing back into the appliance.

Barry.

Added by Dr. B.A. Hutchinson on 23 February 2010.

Rick, it would have been quite an challenge as a restoration, not sure it had an engine and certainly all the wiring had been pulled apart, dash missing et. It probably wouldn't have made a great photo either as was parked head on to a wall. Kick myself for not trying before though.

Added by John D on 23 February 2010.

Hi Calvin, I have always been told that the window was there so the driver could see distance from nearside curb, check for obstructions etc, before appliances were festonned with various mirrors. Look at some of the old pictures of West Sussex Dennis appliances and they all have this window from DBP 12G onwards - although having said all your yellow Dennis D at Littlehampton is restored without such a window, but not sure if this is an original feature or something that happened when it was restored. The initial batch of West Sussex Rapiers had this window, but the MK2s did not. I think it was mianly a Dennis feature as i do not remember seeing many other makes of appliances with them - although the 3 West Sussex ERF HPs were fitted - , but i'm sure one of the more knowledgable people can confirm. In more recent times the increase in mirrors, and no doubt strength of cabs/ safety regulations etc have made this feature obsolete. Jon

Added by Jon Godden on 23 February 2010.

Yes Barry, that idea started with the ERFs....the engine noise levels were so high when pumping, you couldnt hear the radio in the cab

Added by Barrie Green on 23 February 2010.

Calvin,the side door lower window in fire engine production goes back many years,and yes it was to assist the driver in seeing what was a black-spot actually on all heavy goods vehicles.
We can go back to the F44's and F49's from the late 1960's,and also the Dennis'D'Series and then the'R'Series.Actually in West Sussex,even the ERF/Simon HP's had the window as a standard fixture.I'm sure there must have been others also long before the Rapier F88 come on the scene.Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 23 February 2010.

Its interesting to note that the rear door is further rearwards on this than the production model. I think Greater Manchester had ordered a Rapier but canceled the order. I wonder if the door was in this position with rear facing seats in mind.

Added by Stuart Purves on 13 July 2012.

They did produce at least one like this, may have been a demo model. It ended up belonging to the fire service collage and was lost during the fire.

Added by Simon Gunning on 14 July 2012.

Please add your comments about this picture using the form below.

Comments

Your Name

Your email address - this will be shown on the page and will allow the system to notify you of further comments added to this picture.