Fire Engines Photos

Lovely shot Andy,a classic Clwyd pump. The engine was blown on this at Rhydymwyn whilst on reserve at E9 Mold,it was towed back by 376ALC the Bedford RL/AFS Breakdown lorry. She was repaired but I don't know where she is now.I last saw her in somebodys garden at Lawnt near Denbigh. I made an offer but was told someone from Prestatyn had commited to buy her and I never saw her again.

Added by Gary Simpson on 18 March 2010.

Think you'll find it was the FoT's engine that blew on the way back from Johnstown's open day. NEY286R was never towed into workshops.

Added by Andy Middleton on 18 March 2010.

I think you will find that it WAS NEY286R that was towed back to E9 by 376ALC,it was in fact the last tow done by the RL Wrecker. By then the E division at least were using the Clwyd highways workshops at Mold (Ponterwyl) fitters moved from Wrexham to there. She expired on Denbigh Rd near the Rhosesmor turning,on the way back from an AFA at Coed Ddu Hospital in Rhydymwyn. Control asked for Molds crew to "check your Dipstick" which brought forth much childish laughter,much to the chargrin of SDO Coles who heard it over the radio whilst at Corwen for drill inspection.After they coaxed him out of his orbit he demanded to know what was going on. I could dig the date out but offhand I know it was about 3 weeks after PB ripped the sump plug out of Flints Volvo on a "dolly bollard" on the Aston Hill(A494). 376ALC could not tow the Volvo and Thomas Hardie dealers towed it in. She was replaced by NEY289R until we had our Volvo F888AKC back.

Added by Gary Simpson on 18 March 2010.

Back in 2003 I spotted NEY in Greenfield scrap yard, the near side rear locker had been ripped away and it was minus an engine. After speaking with the yard owner he just wanted scrap value for it, he quoted about £80 at the time.
I e- mailed Merseyside museum but got no reply. A month later it had been scrapped.
The pump blew on a couple of occasions whilst we had it at Prestatyn.A great machine though.

Added by Ian Herd on 18 March 2010.

Having spoke to Pete Edwards and Steve on monday they both assured me that the FoT was blown up and not NEY286R.

Added by Andy Middleton on 18 March 2010.

According to the OiC at 44 it was the FoT.

Added by Andy Middleton on 19 March 2010.

Pete Edwards was driving, Graham Frost was OIC, we did not have the FoT then it had moved to Deeside. It was late 1992/early 1993. Malcolm from fitting shop did a 3 page report about 376ALC after this and its suitability (to put it politely.) Ask PE about "checking your dipstick East 9"

Added by Gary Simpson on 20 March 2010.

With so much Clwyd history going would anyone be interested in trying to help save some of what is left. Email me if interested.

Added by Gary Simpson on 21 March 2010.

I've just been checking your comments about saving what is left of Clwyd fire history. I am a member of Merseyside Fire Museum & we have the Simonitor on long term loan. At the present time Clwyd are asking for it to be returned for showing at an anniversary in May. Unfortunately the head gasket has blown,so we have got some work to do before it can be shown. An earlier comment about an E-Mail to merseyside fire museum.A t the present time we have no computer, so are unable to receive E-mails, Sorry about that. We would certainly taken the machine NEY 289R of your hands.
Regards Bill Parrett

Added by Bill Parrett on 27 March 2010.

Andy, we had RJC 918T at Prestatyn, worst appliance I have ever driven.

Added by Ian Herd on 31 March 2010.

Remember her well Ian. Saw her turnout a few times. YFM675W was a nice turnout too. Stan the Man pulled her out to photograph. How is he anyway?

Added by Andy Middleton on 01 April 2010.

Certainly the nicest Appliance to have run out of W7. Remember it coming trhough the traffic lights on the wrong side of the road by the TA centre in 1989, brilliant memory for any kid to have. If only it was saved!

Added by Michael C. Smith on 17 May 2010.

Andy, RJC916T:Wrexham,Corwen,Abergele. RJC917T:Colwyn Bay, Wrexhan Retained. RJC918T:Cerrig, Prestatyn. RJC918T is still extanct, supposedly in Netherlands,perhaps editors know? Did my EFAD on YFM675W and it was underpowered. R types had heavy steering but were class and better than RS. Remember NEY288R and LJC487R very well, the Rolls Royce still sings in my ears now, thundering past in Buckley when I was a kid. Thank god for nursing homes with AFA's!

Added by Gary Simpson on 18 July 2010.

Loved these machines, we had batch in Hereford and Worcester in between Ford 1114's and the later RS's. They had the Perkins engine fitted with Alison auto boxes. Always thought they were the last of what a proper fire engine should look like before the square box RS's appeared. I would dearly love to own and preserve one but can't find one for sale. So if anyone out there knows of an R series for sale please let me know!

Added by Matt Ireland on 19 July 2010.

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