Fire Engines Photos

Is the roof mounted light blue or orange? Orange lights preceded the change over to blue, which did indeed get started around June 1960, but this attachment could have been earlier. And some brigades simply switched the lenses from orange to blue, instead of (or before) buying the rotating lens beacons.

Ed: it could even be an aircraft light being near London Airport.

Added by Rob Johnson on 11 July 2023.

Do you think that front bumper attachment is a siren? Or a loudspeaker? Or maybe another light?

Added by Rob Johnson on 11 July 2023.

The bumper attachment is a gong that was used originally on steam fire engines. There was a rotating clapper inside making a clanging sound.

Added by Ronald Henderson on 13 July 2023.

see another gong here



Added by Petros on 13 July 2023.

Thanks, Ron. Its always good to hear from you; you know so much!

Added by Rob Johnson on 13 July 2023.

Similar gongs were fitted to Volkspolizei fire tenders in the 1950s in the DDR, until they switched to two tone air horns. I never knew they were used on steamers.

Added by Rob Johnson on 14 July 2023.

I would like to know the engine number prefix and cid of engine, and if it is a side valve 6 as in US models. If possible, thanks Mike Elly.

Added by Mike Elly on 13 December 2025.

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