Fire Engines Photos

A great reminder of what these trucks were built to do.

Does anyone know why it is carrying two small-bore suction hoses, in addition to the four normal four-inch suctions? Are these for a miniature portable pump?

Added by Rob Johnson on 30 January 2013.

Yes....Water Tenders alson carry a Light Weight Pump in addition to the fixed pump.

Added by Barrie Green on 31 January 2013.

I suspect the large hard suction is 5 1/2" for the main pump and 4" for the portable.

Added by Tony Madsen on 25 February 2013.

Would a Durham County Bedford TJ from Swalwell have a high performance (850 - 1000 IGPM) pump requiring 5.5" suctions? Its possible, but every TJ I have heard of had a 500/600 IGPM pump with 4" suctions. Unfortunately, the deputy DPO's leg position does not make it very easy to identify anything about the pump.

Eyeballing the small suctions indicates they are about the same size as the supply hose to the pump, which would be either 2.5" or 2.75". Small portable pumps such as the Coventry Climax of that era were rated at 250 IGPM and used 3.0" suction hose.

The mystery deepens when you look into the open nearside low locker, which is where a PP would normally be stowed. There are items in there, but no PP in sight, and no space where it could have been.

I am wondering if Durham used the same trick that is still common in Russia to cope with low mains pressure. This is to carry small-diameter suction hose to use for hydrant connections in situations where mains pressure (and thus flow) are inadequate.

Can anyone from Durham County enlighten us?

Added by Rob Johnson on 25 February 2013.

Durhams appliances all had 4" suction for the main pump amd the BSA Hathaway PP were 3" later Kohler powered before all PP becoming 4" suction so 4 lengths carried instead of 6.
Only the regionally precured Sabres had a 51/2" suction inlet but Durhams were fitted with a reduction adaptor to 4"!

Added by Brett Clayton on 25 February 2013.

All suction hose was 4" with London round thread couplings.for both Main appliance pump and Lightweight portable pumps.


Added by Bob ewing on 25 February 2013.

The main suction is 4" The smaller size could be 3" for a Hatherway but looks smaller than that.

Added by Neal Glover on 25 February 2013.

Neal, I agree: I am wondering if any Durham pumps of this vintage were ever kitted out with really small - say 150 IGPM - portable pumps, which would require only a 2.0 or 2.5 inch suction?

Darlington, for example, did not carry PPs on their water renders, but they did have a 150 IGPM trailer pump, which they hooked up to a Land Rover and took to rural fires as a third due attendance. I remember it had very small diameter suction hoses.


Added by Rob Johnson on 26 February 2013.

Rob, the portable pump can be seen in the forward locker, I think you are expecting to see the larger Coventry Climax type, while here it is the small type as mentioned above. It has a smaller curved carrying frame and a high mounted cylindrical fuel tank both of which are just visable.

Added by Michael G on 26 February 2013.

Too tiny for my old eyes, but I believe you Michael - must be a very small capacity version!

Added by Rob Johnson on 27 February 2013.

surely this is not a Bedford TJ as described.There is a locker behind the wheel arch and does not that mean it must be a TK/TKEL. The TJs on this have no third locker. see picture 14459 and picture 29642.

Added by Peter Williams on 27 February 2013.

Peter, It could well be a TJ, some only had two lockers per side, and an open hose reel, others had three lockers per side.
There were several variations, this could be a TJ5, and certainly has bodywork by HCB, see picture 14462 these had wooden framework, - the ones you are looking at are the all metal body types and therefore a different style.

Added by Michael G on 28 February 2013.

The Bedford J4 and J5 could be built (as a WrT) with a locker behind the back axle. Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset had several like that.

Added by George A'court on 01 March 2013.

The LPPs that were on these are 3" Hathaways with the hand pull primer in a Skid type frame. Ive got possibly the last Durham one in existance up the big shed.

Added by Davey G on 12 March 2013.

Seems the Hathaway must have been a rather small volume PP - any idea what IGPM it was rated at?

Added by Rob Johnson on 25 March 2013.

The BSA Hathaway was rated at 120 GPM

Added by Brett Clayton on 27 March 2013.

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