Fire Engines Photos

With radiator cap flap in the up position.

Added by Fred on 15 July 2012.

Ah yes, the now long closed Dun Cow Street - I remember it well !

Added by Ian Moore on 16 July 2012.

A classic fire engine, with blue repeaters and illuminated 'FIRE' signs. The right beacon cover has been lost in action at some stage. All of the Tyne and Wear Dennis's of this era had roof mounted monitors directly 'plunbed' in to the main pump.

Added by Dr. B.A. Hutchinson on 16 July 2012.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Andy is rightabout the photo having caught the beacon mirror at an angle. Incidentally, I live in the T&W patch, and though numerous appliances had these illuminated 'FIRE' signs, I never personally never once saw them lit ! The roof monitors were used from time to time though, invariably at make-ups.

Added by Ian Moore on 17 July 2012.

I think it's the reflection from the windscreen? I could be wrong?

Added by Grant Melville on 17 July 2012.

Depending on the nature of operations and plant hazard(s) being covered, not uncommon for roof mounted water and/or foam monitors to be fitted to industrial spec appliances. Virtually standard kit on airfield appliances ?

Added by Keith Richardson on 18 July 2012.

Anorak time....The FIRE sign was illuminated by either conventional filament bulbs (3 I think) or on later appliances by a fluorescent strip light. A separate switch on the dash turned them on, as they were not wired into the beacon circuit. This weekend I will take a picture of them illuminated so Ian (Moore) can rest easy!

Added by Dr. B.A. Hutchinson on 18 July 2012.

Essex also fitted roof monitors to some Dennis appliances I believe. Not sure about Norfolk too.

Added by Gary Simpson on 18 July 2012.

Virtually every North American pumper has a roof monitor ("deck gun"). They can usually deliver up to 3, 600 LPM, and are very useful at fully-involved structure fires, at least as far as the second or third floor. The big advantages are huge capacity, speed of deployment and that they can be operated by one person. Some can even be operated remotely from the pump panel by the driver. They used to be quite common in Eastern Europe too, but have disappeared as the older trucks are replaced by units built by West European firms, which tend to build to their own local specs and do not usually offer them. At one time, Hong Kong had a fleet of Dennis pumps, each of which had two roof monitors, but the newer Scanias do not have them. Another example of "horses for courses".

Added by Rob Johnson on 18 July 2012.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Great photo, Martin: beautiful old (and sadly rare these days) station. And a classic old Dennis...

When I look at this photo I can almost hear the sound of that turnout nearly three decades ago. That beast of an engine and those head-thumping twin two-tone horns!

As a kid, I used to enjoy trips to Birmingham, and I'd always be amazed by how much pain a set of twin two-tone horns could inflict on an eight-year-old's tender ears! (Ears more used to occasional bursts of a single two-tone horn in my more-rural stomping ground of Mid Staffordshire.) They'd be perched on top of a F, R or RS series Dennis hurtling down Corporaton Street or New Street. And when the turnout was both Pumps, TL and ET from that other classic, now sadly retired but thankfully still standing, station A1 Birmingham Central, the din could empty your lungs! Brilliant memories.

Once again, great photo.

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 19 July 2012.

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