Fire Engines Photos

These presumably replace the original MAN chassis which were issued in the original release of these transporters. Based on their relatively infrequent use it seems a bit early to be replacing them….?

Added by Rob Johnson on 10 May 2026.

The MAN new dimension PM's are 2004 54 plates and are now over 20 years old and now is harder to get spare parts. I've also been told the SF&RS looking into replace?

Added by Grant Melville on 11 May 2026.

Yes Rob, these will be getting rolled out within the next few months to replace all of the MAN chassis.

Added by Andy Daley on 12 May 2026.

Thanks both of you! I must mention that I am very familiar with the service lives of typical MAN fire brigade vehicles in Germany, where they are one of the most popular and widespread brands. They are to be found everywhere with both professional full time city brigades and with the more than 20,000 volunteer fire companies too. It seems to me that a twenty year service life for a rarely used MAN is rather short. Many German fire services - especially volunteers - routinely get thirty years or more from pumpers and other rigs which are used every day. And they are able to continue doing this because of course they can still get spare parts too...

Even Berlin, which has a rescue pumper fleet which is 100 percent MAN, operates these busy units at full time stations for a decade or more at their full time stations and then for another decade at their volunteer locations before replacing them. Perhaps the German fetish for rigorous maintenance is what makes the difference? Some of these resilience units actually now look rather neglected, so perhaps the lack of care is not just skin deep?

Ed: I suspect it may be to do with UK practice of leasing vehicles not owning them. London FB has some history of problematic leasing.

Added by Rob Johnson on 13 May 2026.

Petros: Does this mean the leasing companies are responsible for maintaining the vehicles? Here in the US you can of course lease almost anything, but you are still responsible for maintenance. I should have thought that it would be a very bad idea for a fire service to subcontract maintenance, as it is a critical component of preparedness.


Ed: the London fleet is partly maintained by Babcock, a third party. see these exchanges

www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/babcock-contract-major-change-2


Added by Rob Johnson on 14 May 2026.

Babcock in action here




Added by Petros on 15 May 2026.

and this

www.adsadvance.co.uk/babcock-supplies-london-fire-brigade-with-extreme-weather-vehicles.html

Added by Petros on 15 May 2026.

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