Fire Engines Photos

The 4X4 Green Goddess Bedford RL was limited to carry only 300 IG, while domestic RL water tenders like this example were presumably able to carry 400, which was the JCDD specification. I have often wondered about this discrepancy, further complicated by the fact in 1963 Cambridgeshire ran an RL tanker which I was told held no less than 1000 IG, as well as having a 500 IGPM PTO operated pump. There were also references to some RL airfield crash tenders with upwards of 600. Was the GG tank size limitation just too conservative, or was it associated with the absence of baffles, making it a stability issue rather than a weight problem?

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 March 2025.

The 4X4 goddesses did have stability limitations. During one of the strikes I saw one nearly lose it on a bend with iffy cross levels. One did roll over in the 1st strike. It turned out the tyre pressures were too low but the recommended pressures were too low to start with.

Added by Neal Glover on 24 March 2025.

Some newer ones had dual rear wheels, which reduced off road traction marginally but did increase the axle load capacity, as well as improving lateral stability a bit. The 1,000 gall tanker in Cambridge was an example. But even this 1966 registered appliance retains the old single rear wheel design and still presumably has the larger 400 gallon tank, and is very similar to several RL water tenders used by Cambridgeshire. I can’t see an actual sparge pipe under the bumper, but this may just be the angle of the photo itself. It does have two hose deliveries next to it, which would suggest a pipe might be in there. In many places the sparge pipe is plumbed in with small diameter hose outlets, which can be operated by crew members while the pump is moving along at a walking pace. There are examples on this site from the Netherlands too.

Added by Rob Johnson on 26 March 2025.

The R series 4X4 was built alongside the TK through the sixties until eventually replaced by the M series, which was based on the TK and had the same forward control cab. In practice, very few brigades bought any of either of Bedford‘s 4X4 chassis vehicles, which were mainly destined for military service. Apart from brush trucks, 4X4 pumpers are comparatively rare in most countries, with the notable exceptions of Austria and Germany. In both places it is quite common for brigades to operate 4X4 units even in exclusively urban environments.

Added by Rob Johnson on 04 December 2025.

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