thats not peterheads apliance becaues peterheads number is 71 not 72
Added by on 06 December 2006.
Viewers to these photo's may like to know that this is not the first occasion that white has been selected for a colour on British Fire Appliances and British Brigades. The largest fleet operator in bygone years were the former West Riding of Yorkshire Fire Brigade (1948-1974) this Brigade operated a selection of Special appliances and had a main pumping fleet consisting of new Dennis F.46 Water Tender Ladders which I believe numbered 37 also several repaints took place as well on Dennis f24's and the isolated Bedford/Dennis T.K appliances West Yorkshire inherited many of these in 1974, but they were all phased out as replacements were purchased in the traditional red liveries. Other Brigades that operated White appliances were The Isle Of Wight, Bedford C.S.V WrL's also St Helens (Merseyside) AEC WrL's, these appliances had fluorescent Strips and various fluorescent highlights added. Rochdale(Greater Manchester) had white fronted ERF and Dennis F.12 Escape/Pumping appliances adopted by Cleveland Fire Service and still being used currently. Bedfordshire did also some years ago operate the isolated Ford/Merryweather WrL appliance. But don't those Grampian Scania Pumping Appliances look the part and very striking in deed ideal in modern traffic conditions!
Tayside also had one white appliance, it was a 1958 Dennis F24 pump converted to a foam/salvage tender. It had a large fan fitted on the back with one extension ladder. It was based at station 11 Kingsway dundee. It was withdrawn from service about 1976 and replaced with a B reg Albion which was also converted. Tayside used to do this a few years ago convert older pumps into foam salvage tenders.
Andrew, I think Grampian are seeing that the Scania/MAN group now have a smaller appliance more suited to the single track roads in some areas of the region...
Have you noticed Andy, that M.A.N now seem to have taken over off Scania pulling the Shell tankers, shame if this is the way forward as the Scania as a fire engine is an attractive machine. Andrew.
On the subject of white fire appliances, Hull's Foam Tender in the 1970s - the converted green goddess, based at Central Fire Staion - was a very smart white. Still couldn't go faster than 30mph, though!
The white green goddess could go faster than 30mph but there was a big sign painted on the dash saying 'Danger do not exceed 30mph' we had it at Scunthorpe when the chief promised us a 'New foam tender' ! we never used to bother with blue lights and two tones as it was so embarrassingly slow so we travelled at normal road speed everywhere
The reason for WHITE appliances in St.Helens was not to save money, but to find a colour that was better to see at night than RED. the chief officer at the time asked the local art college to look at the problem and the result was white. as well as having three Water Tender Ladders delivered in white most of the fleet of red appliances were re-painted white with a red stripe. I had just joined the brigade at this time.
Added by Michael Brix on 03 May 2006.