Fire Engines Photos

Great Photograph, This was the first fire engine I saw when walking through the daws at Headlam Street when I joining Newcastle and Gateshead joint Fire Service in June 1960.

Added by Eddie Lauder on 28 July 2011.

Was it still "on the run" in 1960? I remember it - or its twin- being used for driver training, but by 1960 NGJFB was mostly AEC Merryweathers.

Added by Rob Johnson on 28 July 2011.

Being the last survivor of the three (EBB 302/303/304), this was also the only one to have gained a blue beacon when in service.

Added by Ian Moore on 28 July 2011.

304 on the run up to 1963 at headlam street.then used as driver training.

Added by Eddie Lauder on 28 July 2011.

304 was withdrawn in late 1967. It had an extension owing to Headlam Streets major pump being written off in an accident. It was never used for driver training? That was 302 with Gordon Bell. 304 was sold to Redheugh Metals, Gateshead. I photographed it in there before it went to Yorkshire.

Added by Ronald henderson on 28 July 2011.

304 was used for a short time with derek dunwoodie at the driving school. could be when 302 off the run for service.

Added by Eddie Lauder on 29 July 2011.

As Ron says, 304 was never used for driver training, and the one that used for that purpose in in 1960 was the rebodied semi-limousine Austin - GLE 878.

Added by Ian Moore on 29 July 2011.

I remember the new concept ERF pump escape at the Commercial Motor Show in 1967. Did NGJFB switch to ERF after that, or did it turn out to be a "one-off"? Did they buy more Dennis-AEC units, like the famous 1965 ET?

Added by Rob Johnson on 29 July 2011.

The ERF (LBB 913D) was the prototype, and as such had single rear wheels. When operational, these were found to make for what's best described as lest than perfect road-holding, so twins were fitted as per the norm. It was also unusual in that it was fitted with the long-defunct flashing amber lights over the windscreen - though so far as I'm aware these were never connected. It ended its days with Moor-Dale Curtis Coaches as a recovery vehicle, but personally I always thought it to have been a good candidate for disposal since it was the very first ERF based fire appliance constructed.

Added by Ian Moore on 30 July 2011.

Further to my last re-LBB 913D, N&G did have a brief flirtation with ERF based appliances, with a couple of nmore pumps, two PHPS, and the 85' HP being so based.

Added by Ian Moore on 30 July 2011.

I think these ERF's were fitted with roof moniters I know that at the time a few other brigades flirted with this device no doubt borrowed from the US where they had been standard fitment for a number of years by then , I think Essex used to fit them to their pumps as well .

Added by Gary Bolton on 30 July 2011.

Rob, The Dennis F107 ET to which you refer (EBB 783C) was a one-off within the brigade, and the only other virtually identical machine was Cardiff's HUH 314D. The F107 that Southend had was different in that it was alloy-bodied and didn't have a front-mounted winch.

Added by Ian Moore on 30 July 2011.

Two questions Gentlemen. Where was EBB 303 based and what was GLE 878, K2 or K4?

Added by Andrew Middleton on 31 July 2011.

GLE 878 Could have been a K3 Heavy Unit.

Added by Neal Glover on 31 July 2011.

GLE 878 was indeed a re-bodied Heavy Unit, I'll post one of the extremely few photographs of it.

Added by Ian Moore on 01 August 2011.

im sure my father learnt to drive in a leyland cub circa 1964 ish

Added by Steve Perry on 26 May 2013.

I drove EBB 302', EBB 303 & EBB 304 in the early 1960s , the Leylands were stationed at Gateshead, Arthurs Hill and Headlam Street. The markings on EBB 304 photo shown are not markings as it was Newcastle and Gateshead joint Fire Service in the 1950s and 1960s, Not Newcastle City. GLE 878 was indeed the driver training vehicle.

Added by Ron Wealleans on 30 July 2013.

Ron - these Leylands look as if most of the bodywork was given over to crew accommodations, with seating for eight or so. Did they have a tank and hosereel? Was there space for items such as BA and a supply of foam?

Presumably they ran with a "normal" crew of four or five after WWII, so were there any postwar modifications to use the additional seating space for other storage?

They had a pretty long service life, so the brigade must have found them to be very useful appliances, even if they were a bit draughty!

Added by Rob Johnson on 30 July 2013.

The appliance is in the pre war Newcastle livery, a police brigade from memory.

Added by Neal Glover on 30 July 2013.

These had a 40gall hosereel tank, there are 2 BA lockers in the back cab each with a Salvus set.

Added by Neal Glover on 31 July 2013.

Hi Rob & Neal,
Yes 40 or 50 Gallon tank for hosereel, 2 x 20 minute salvus BA sets in rear crew cab, the foam equipment was a No. 2 MFG set used AT branch. I understand that the Leylands were commissioned in 1937 for, Newcastle Police and Fire Service in 1937. (There was a picture of them hung in Pilgrim Street Fire Station) They could reach around 60 MPH but braking system not too good, twin ignition systems, coil and mag. backup. Normal crew of five. inc O.I.C. and driver.

Added by Ron Wealleans on 01 August 2013.

Thanks Neal.

I have had a soft spot for these Leyland Cubs, ever since I was allowed to sit in one at Redcar fire station and ring the bell when I was seven years old. My first fire engine, more than sixty years ago!

It led to a lifetime interest in fire appliances and firefighting, which has taken me over the years to more than 200 fire stations in twenty-five different countries. Little did that Redcar fireman know what he started!

Added by Rob Johnson on 01 August 2013.

Hi Neal I joined Newcastle and Gateshead in May 1966. Stationed at Gateshead as a recruit fireman and one of these was still on the run as a reserve appliance and I rode on it many times.

Added by David Alan Graham on 19 November 2013.

then fire engine for sale my name is joel

Added by Joel on 18 March 2015.

I own ebb 304 and on the front cab floor it has a cut out were a second hand brake was fitted I'm told that it was fitted when used for driver training it is on the officers side.

Added by Andrew Marshall on 23 September 2017.

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