Fire Engines Photos

By far the nicest of all the DDC1s.

Added by Davey G on 25 January 2011.

hello mr moore, have you any pics of grangetown fire station machines from the early sixties, the old foam tender ex atv I think and the albion pump regards ian mc

Added by Ianmc on 25 January 2011.

Thats absolutely wonderful Ian! thanks very much for posting it.

Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK on 25 January 2011.

Regarding the Grangetown machines, I have those that passed into Teesside on its formation, but not the ex-ATV, nor the Albion - which I believe was GLM 578, and served there when it was a North Riding of Yorkshire station.

Added by Ian Moore on 25 January 2011.

Thanks for the info mr Moore, Ian mc

Added by Ianmc on 27 January 2011.

It is interesting that people rarely took notice of or photographed the ATVs. Anywhere!

Added by Neal Glover on 27 January 2011.

Hi Mr. Moore have you a photo of the Teesside crest or brigade lettering on door? Thanks Ian mc.

Added by Ian Mcpherson on 03 February 2011.

If this is indeed an F12, this appliance was updated in the 1960s by extending the water tank to 250 gallons, when the brigade learned the value of having larger tanks on their dual-purpose appliances. The F7, which was its stable mate, had its tank increased to 200 gallons, with its shorter wheelbase affording a bit less space to extend its tank. Middlesborough's third Dennis at the time was the unique low-profile F15, with a 900 GPM rear mounted No 3 pump and a 400 gallon tank. This unit, finished in aluminium cladding instead of red paint, is I believe preserved.

Added by Rob Johnson on 31 July 2012.

Rob it depends on your definition of "preserved" it was "donated" (on long term loan) to a private museum by stockton borough council. Its currently sat out in all weathers with nothing being done to it (as appraently they cant) However the museum in question is struggling and may close. I fear by the time the council finally sell it/dispose of it to someone who can do the work it will be too far gone to be done.

Added by Davey G on 01 August 2012.

I hope somebody can persuade them this is a unique one-off appliance, which deserves preservation or restoration as much - or more - than any other! I was totally gobsmacked when I first set eyes on it, more than fifty years ago, and there must be someone in the "Dennis Fan Club" in Britain, who has the persuasive skills to save it.

Added by Rob Johnson on 01 August 2012.

The council don't want to know. They don't want any work doing to any of their vehicles.. (there's a Leyland Cub, A Heavy Unit and that one all in the same boat). They're still owned by the council and they wont let anyone do anything to any of them..

Added by Davey G on 01 August 2012.

Rob: Regarding your talk of wheelbases, the F7 in fact had a larger one - 13' 6" - as opposed to the F12 which was only 12' 6". The F7 is instantly recognisable by the length of the side locker. When the F12 came into being, the manufacturers listened to the many brigades who said the 13' 6" wb was too long.

Added by Ian Moore on 02 August 2012.

Ian- Thanks.
I realised I had it backwards almost as soon as I sent in my comment. I remember Middlesborough usually ran their F12 as the PE, because they also thought the F7 was a bit too long. But it did have space for a bigger tank.
You seem to be the World's living expert on Dennis. Do you have any idea what can be done to rescue Middlesborough's unique F15 (I think!) low profile PWT, which seems to be in danger of just rotting away at the Shildon lorry museum?

Added by Rob Johnson on 02 August 2012.

If we can get someone who will take the project on to save the unique appliance, The Dennis Society will be only too pleased to give support to any application to the local authority who owners the manchine




Added by Barrie Green on 03 August 2012.

Its not for sale Barrie, Nor will Stockton B.C. take an offer on any of the vehicles. They're on long term loan to the museum, I don't know what will happen when/if the museum closes. I presume they will go back into storage.

Added by Davey G on 03 August 2012.

There's a but of a story to FXG 300, the ex-Middlesbrough half-cab. This has a 400 gallon tank, and is consequently a WrT. It's thought that this was intended to be the one and only Dennis F13. However, this was not to be, and it's plated as an F12, even though it's far outside the specification of one in many ways.

Added by Ian Moore on 04 August 2012.

Hi out there! On OiC side, is a small window with a searchlight behind! What is purpose with it???

Anders F. Sweden.

Added by Anders Fallström on 17 August 2014.

The house directly behind this machine is where I lived at Middlesbrough Fire Station till my Dad retired.

Added by Colin Burns on 30 April 2016.

Hi Colin Burns do you have any pics of the machines at Middlesbrough

Added by Ianmc on 04 May 2016.

Hi Anders. I must apologise for my comrades not having the decency to answer your query. I have only just seen seen it today so feel duty-bound to reply - such is the etiquette generally expected of a forum such as this, albeit two years late!

If you are still interested, this lamp is called an 'address light'. It is used by the OiC in the dark of the night to identify house numbers and business names when responding to a call. Dennis RSs and SSs had these fitted too. Not sure about Sabres and Rapiers; or today's Scanias and Volvos for that matter. It might have been a Dennis thing. Maybe in two years time somebody might tell us! Hope my input helps!

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 04 May 2016.

Pretty much a Dennis thing, I think, Yelp, but Darlington's Commer Whitson water tender also had a circular window cut into the front cowl with a swivel light behind it - and it predated their F12. Perhaps it did not prove too useful, because their next water tender, a Commer Carmichael, did not have one.

Added by Rob Johnson on 10 May 2016.

Both Commers ended up at Teesside Airport...I crewed both when I was there.

Added by Barrie Green on 13 May 2016.

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