Fire Engines Photos

your truck is fantastic and carry on doing the good work you do

Added by Shane Clark on 17 July 2008.

Thanks Shane. Glad you like the photo. cheers.

Added by Paul Warnock on 17 July 2008.

This appliance was in fact reregistered as whilst on it's original N plate (during build) it became impounded as a subject of the bodybuilders GC Smith encountering financial problems. I believe that Bedfordshire may have narrowly averted a similar matter with their Community Safety Unit.
The vehicle was eventually released from the IVECO agents after lengthy discussion with the legal representatives from all parties involved.
It did undergo a significant facelift at a local bodybuilders before going into service, which included the new front bumper.

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 25 November 2012.

I always thought this was one of the ugliest appliances on the fleet and cannot hide its council mobile library bus parentage despite the fitting of blue lights, brigade emblems and a completly 'gobbed on' front bumper as an afterthought ! - thanks Glenn I always thought that was original ! The wheels look a very small size as well or is it just me ?

Was'nt it also planned to replace the Command Unit at Central - then when it arrived it was found it was too big ? so had to be 'relocated' to West ?

Added by Rick Loudon on 25 November 2012.

Yes that was another issue, it had to be relocated because of it's size. Saldy grossly underpowered too, it had a bigger turbo fitted to give it a little more life but it was only a 'little' more.

The original layout was designed from a cardboard (full sized) mock up in the A Div HQ, a concept which to be fair worked as many people wnadered around it and gave soem valuable feedback

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 25 November 2012.

oh dear oh dear - perhaps they should have kept the cardboard mock up ? - or at least made another cardboard mock up of the appliance bay it was planned for to see if it would fit ! or, better still left the vehicle impounded !

Added by Rick Loudon on 26 November 2012.

Everyone is welcome to their opinions on the matter

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 27 November 2012.

Glen was the mock up different from the actual appliance - or did people change their minds once built ......seems odd that it was under used despite as you say all the input

Added by Gary bolton on 27 November 2012.

Were problems with the cardboard mock - up, the cause of GC Smith folding?

Added by Michael G on 27 November 2012.

The cardboard mock up changed significantly a number of times as different crews visited and gave their input so hopefully it was based on the opinions and experience of those using it.
With regard to use, it was initially mobilised on MP4 but then this procedure appears to have changed as time has gone on.

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 28 November 2012.

By the way, I love the G C Smith folding bit. . .

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 28 November 2012.

As the saying goes, a camel is a horse designed by a committee.

Some of the World's most ridiculous fire trucks are those which try to accommodate everybody's idea of what needs to be included, and where it should be installed.

Good examples are to be found barely squeezed into some of the ancient fire halls of many American Volunteer Fire Companies, three axle "quints" with massive 35 meter ladder towers, 7500 LPM pumps, 1800 liter water tanks, huge hose beds and enormous crew cabs!

They are not only sometimes way over-specified, they also very often wind up overpriced. Million dollar fire engine, anybody?

But - a bit closer to Humberside - you have the CARP phenomenon, another example of wanting everything all rolled into one giant bundle!

Added by Rob Johnson on 20 February 2018.

I have heard that Greater Manchesters new Control Unit has t reside at Rochdale because it won't fit into Agecroft, the traditional CU station. It is jump manned so when Rochdale had a large job and their 2 pumps went on the initial attendance there was no one left to man it!

Added by Neal Glover on 20 February 2018.

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