Fire Engines Photos

Has this machine definitely been scrapped? Just interesting to note that its still shown as taxed on DVLA website.

Added by Phil on 13 January 2011.

Not sure to be honest Phil. I haven't seen it for about 8 months now, when I did see it last it had no ladders on it, nor its blue lights. I'm just hoping its somewhere in the Brigade or its been preserved by Volvo.

Added by Michael C. Smith on 13 January 2011.

As far as I'm aware North Wales Fire Service crush all their appliances at end of life - its to determine they don't get used for Limos and the like - not my policy - theirs !

Added by Rick Loudon on 13 January 2011.

If what I'm told is corect, they even told Volvo it would have to be crushed when the company wanted it for their own museum due to its being the first Volvo pump in the UK.

Added by Ian Moore on 14 January 2011.

What an absurd policy!

Added by Michael Feldman on 16 January 2011.

They admitted to the local paper (Evening Leader) that Both D999TFY and E499UTJ had been scrapped as it is "Brigade policy" an article was published on it and a number of letters were published. E799VWM which was to have been scrapped had a repreive, possibly with training.

Added by Gary Simpson on 16 January 2011.

Fully Agree - Ridiculous indeed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Added by Ian Moore on 16 January 2011.

It is 'Absurd' Michael and due to this some historically important vehicles will be 'lost' however whilst North Wales appear to be the only brigade taking it this far 'others are close or have similar views' their reasons are primarilay twofold - limousines and terrorism !

Added by Rick Loudon on 16 January 2011.

Rick - I can't help thinking that the terrorism claim is being used as a get out clause. After all, the police sell their old vehicles, the ambulance service sell theirs, and it would be easy enough to make either look serviceable should terorists so wish !

Added by Ian Moore on 16 January 2011.

Well said Ian, I couldnt agree more with you. If D999TFY has been scrapped then this was a very BAD descision. Even if the Service have kept it they wouldnt say, but I shall keep my eyes out for it.

Added by Michael C. Smith on 16 January 2011.

Ian

You have a fair point - however if you care to email me I'll explain a little more - (nothing sinister !)

Added by Rick Loudon on 16 January 2011.

What a waste!

Aside from the historical interest -- unless that vehicle had been irreparably damaged in an accident, it could have had a second career fighting fires.

This website has many photos of secondhand engines. Many seem to be in poorer countries, donated by the Dutch and others.

Certainly here in the States, many smaller companies run secondhand trucks. There must be dozens of former FDNY trucks doing good service for small volunteer companies.

RE: former police cars -- in the US a substantial percentage of our taxicabs are ex-police cars bought at police auctions.

Added by Mike Feldman on 16 January 2011.

Guys just point a point on these comments a purchased appliance was used to ferry illegal fuel over here in N.I. in the past few years.maybe that could be an angle for not selling ???

Added by Bobe on 16 January 2011.

Avon send all of their old machines to The Gambia.

Added by Bristol Bob on 16 January 2011.

Bobe, can see your point totally for activities like that, such things are discraseful and shouldnt happen. But if a reasonable request was put into NWFRS Fleet Department by the company who built this vehicle for there museum, and NWFRS declined it, then thats just ridiculous, I hardly think Volvo would do anything dangerous with it, Im sure you agree there.

Added by Michael C. Smith on 16 January 2011.

What made the fuel illegal? Were they just evading taxes?

Here in the US, each state assesses its own fuel, alcohol, and cigarette taxes -- the differences among states can be quite large. I haven't heard of fuel smuggling here, but certainly cigarette and booze smuggling is an ongoing issue. Fill up a big truck with low-tax cigs in a southern state, sell the cigs at a profit in New York City. Sometimes they get caught at it, mostly they don't.

But I don't think anyone would consider banning the sale of used trucks because they might be used in bootlegging.

Added by Mike Feldman on 16 January 2011.

I'm guessing it wasn't the fuel that was illegal but rather transporting it in a former fire appliance, their are specific legislative requirements for road vehicles transporting fuel.

Added by Scots_Firey on 29 January 2011.

Were they carrying that fuel in the water tank? Yeah, that would be bogus.

But it's still no reason to destroy perfectly good fire engines, especially those with some historical value (or overseas export value).

Added by Mike Feldman on 29 January 2011.

As an aside to this, Clwyd/North Wales first FL6.14/Fulton&Wylie WrL E799VWM(Ex Chirk) was looking in fine fettle at the rear of Wrexham fire station today (30.1.2011) refurbished by the look of it.

Added by Gary Simpson on 30 January 2011.

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.