Fire Engines Photos

This had been for sale for a very long time on a certain classic vehicle website, so I'm glad it's going to be saved. It doesn't look in bad condition. What's the front like? Is it rusted through? Apparently all the missing parts were removed for safe keeping, so hopefully you have managed to get the grille, lights etc. Good luck!

Added by Michael G. on 07 July 2011.

Yeah I have every single part all is missing is the 2 francis searchlights, I have had her running and she is smooooooove,
6 cyl petrol about 5.7 litre, some timbers on cab need replaceing as well as all the ply under the aluminum skin on the side lockers,

Added by Simon on 07 July 2011.

Just for the record this appliance was never Maidstone's machine. It served at Dartford, Gravesend and Thames-side, in that order.

Added by Roger Mardon on 08 August 2011.

could you shed any light on the other new appliance I have roger? PKO 556 Commer from maidstone

Added by Simon on 13 September 2011.

PKO 556 was built by HCB on a Commer 21A chassis purchased by Kent FB on 24/12/1952. It was issued into service by the brigade on 10/6/1953 (fleet no. 256) and, to the best of my knowledge, served at Maidstone, Dover and Wye. It was disposed of on 9/1/1969. It then served at Wiggins Teape's Glory Mill (paper manufacturers), Wooburn Green, Bucks where it remained until 1982.

Can you give me the chassis number and, if there is an HCB plate on the back, the body number, please?

Re the TL can you confirm the chassis no. as CX762.83X 6370 and is there a maker's plate with body number? I know we say built by Haydon but I think they probably subcontracted the bodywork as there was hardly room to swing a cat in their premises at Lingard Street, Birmingham. Several Haydon-supplied TLs are known to have been bodied by Brade Leigh, and Wilsdon is another contender. The chassis was purchased on 30/6/1960 and the appliance was issued into service at Maidstone on 21/12/1960 (fleet no. 198), transferring to Dartford on 3/4/1965. I don't know when it moved to Thames-side but I should be able to find out. It was sold on 5/2/1981.

Added by Roger Mardon on 13 September 2011.

Thames-side f/stn, which replaced Gravesend, became operational on 18/3/1969.

Added by Roger Mardon on 13 September 2011.

On the subject of Kent Commer K1's, 163 GKP was stood outside a mower repair workshop near Headcorn around a year ago, i'm not sure if it's still there, but it didn't look too bad when I passed it. Does anyone know the history of this machine?

Added by Phil on 14 September 2011.

Also does anyone know what the pipe under the front bumper is for on PKO 556? Is it for damping down and dust prevention etc? Wasn't sure if it is a modification or factory?

Added by Simon on 26 September 2011.

Hi Simon, it's a sparge pipe, all Kent K1's had them fitted for grass fires etc, not sure how much they were actually used in service though.

Added by Phil on 27 September 2011.

I must have been having a bad hair day on the 13th. TL, 113 LKE, was not issued into service at Maidstone as I then said, but to Dartford, transferring to Gravesend on 3/4/65 and to Thames-side on 18/3/69. Sorry for the confusion, or didn't anyone notice?

Added by Roger Mardon on 27 September 2011.

Hi does any one know if 163 GKP is still in Headcorn and what condition its in

Added by Adam white on 18 February 2012.

The other engine PKO 556 Commer is it being restored? What condition is it in ?

Added by Adam White on 19 February 2012.

Not bad condition Adam you can see it being loaded onto a lorry on this site somewhere I'm in the photo.


Added by Simon on 20 February 2012.

I'm glad it's been saved hopefully see it at a show one day .

Added by Adam White on 22 February 2012.

how's the work coming along on this appliance ?

Added by Adam White on 31 August 2012.

Hi adam the work is coming along slowly, there is a lot of the bits you cant see that need doing, a hell of a lot of seized parts and rotten bits, timbers etc, but hopfully get the cab primed by end of december and brakes done in next couple of weeks

Simon

Added by Simon on 04 November 2012.

Hi hows the work coming along on your fire engines?

Added by Adam White on 21 February 2014.

Hi have you got any recent pics. How is all coming along?


Added by Bob on 19 May 2014.

Hi simon
Mate in Derbyshire has sister commer 100ft turntable engine to yours.Registration 430 PKO

Added by Steve Rose on 26 January 2016.

Any pictures of it Steve?

Added by Adam white on 27 January 2016.

will look for pictures taken about 15 years ago when it was transported up to derbyshire. It's in a sorry state at the moment,

Added by on 28 January 2016.

And 430PKO was the actual TL at Maidstone, until retired in 1981 - which was where this thread began, but with the wrong TL.

Added by J.Baker on 06 January 2022.

113LKE Commer/Haydon Magirus.

Added by Petros on 16 February 2023.

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