Fire Engines Photos

The Dennis F125 Delta was a belated low profile design aerial chassis to compete with the very well received ERF design. Like the ERF, the low profile cab was achieved by relocating the engine and transmission behind, rather than on top of, the front axle. Although it may have seemed a new idea when first introduced in 1968 by ERF, the same configuration was in fact already a feature of American La France fire trucks introduced in 1947, and remained the common design for all North American custom fire trucks well into the seventies.

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 January 2024.

New to L25 Dagenham, to H31 Croydon by 1985 where this photo is taken on Forecourt.

Added by Martyn West on 24 January 2024.

The original Saxon bodywork was modified by workshops blanking off and soundproofing the rear crew cab and rebuilding the rear bodywork, according to one source.

Added by Petros on 27 January 2024.

Sounds likely. One disadvantage of the set back engine location was that the rear seat riders sat next to the engine, with all of it alongside their seats - and the Perkins V8 diesel was notoriously noisy! On most Snorkels, the rear seats were very rarely occupied, as up to three people could sit in the front, so this noisy environment back there was moot. But perhaps London was one of the few brigades where firefighters ended up in the back seats fairly often, and this led to some (quite justified) complaints. When the set back engine forward control configuration was first introduced by American La France all their trucks were petrol powered and much quieter than any diesels, and back then almost all were open cab too - all of which greatly reduced the noise problem for rear seat riders. Not only that, but until they were introduced in 1947 the crew members were used to standing on either the rear step or the truck’s running boards, so in many cases nobody ever sat in the rear seats anyway!

Added by Rob Johnson on 27 January 2024.

Please add your comments about this picture using the form below.

Comments

Your Name

Your email address - this will be shown on the page and will allow the system to notify you of further comments added to this picture.