Category: Classic Fire

Classic and vintage fire appliances. Some are no longer in existence, some are still around today and preserved.

Classic Fire

F313 HWL Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue GMC Suburban

F313 HWL
Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue
GMC Suburban
This classic GMC Suburban served with Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue at Burnham. It is equipped with roof-mounted ladders and blue beacons and is painted in a distinctive red livery with blue and yellow stripes. As a US-built vehicle, it stands out from typical UK fire appliances and is now preserved.

Classic Fire

FSP 924W Tayside Fire Brigade Dodge G13

FSP 924W
Tayside Fire Brigade
Dodge G13
This Dodge G13 was used as a command/control unit. Featuring a red and white checkerboard design, it was equipped with communications equipment and blue lights. Vehicles of this type were common in the late 1970s and early 1980s but are now rare to see. Thankfully this one is in preservation.

Classic Fire

K472 PAG Humberside Fire Brigade Dennis SS / HCB Angus

K472 PAG
Humberside Fire Brigade
Dennis SS / HCB Angus
This Dennis SS fire engine served with Humberside Fire Brigade. It features HCB Angus bodywork and was commonly used throughout the UK in the early 1990s. Now preserved, it retains its original livery and operational equipment and appears at historic vehicle shows.

Classic Fire

RXP 688 Auxiliary Fire Service Bedford RLHZ Green Goddess

RXP 688
Auxiliary Fire Service
Bedford RLHZ Green Goddess
This preserved Bedford RLHZ ‘Green Goddess’ was used by the Auxiliary Fire Service and is painted in traditional military green. The vehicle includes pumping gear and hose reels. Also shown is a large water reservoir than can be used to ensure enough water is available for pumping. These vehicles were deployed during firefighter strikes and remain iconic in British emergency services history. The interior reflects its utilitarian military design.

Classic Fire

CYY 630C Auxiliary Fire Service Bedford RL

CYY 630C
Auxiliary Fire Service
Bedford RL
This Bedford RL truck was used by the Auxiliary Fire Service as a general support vehicle. It is fitted with a canvas-covered rear and painted in military green with ‘AFS’ markings. These trucks accompanied pumping appliances and carried equipment or personnel. It has been converted into a camper so that the owner can stay in it when it is displayed at events.

Classic Fire

E379 DBL Port of Liverpool Dodge G16 / Saxon

E379 DBL
Port of Liverpool
Dodge G16 / Saxon
Fitted with a Simon SS70 hydraulic platform. This is a former Buckinghamshire appliance (as seen from the enhanced-contrast photo of the door). It is in a very sorry state inside and out due to sitting unused in Birkhamstead Docks for at least 10 years.

Classic Fire

E497 UKF Port of Liverpool Dennis SS

E497 UKF
Port of Liverpool
Dennis SS
Emergency Tender. Formerly with Merseyside. This appliance has been sitting in the corner of a yard in Birkhamstead for at least 10 years. It is looking very rotten and weather-beaten unfortunately.

Classic Fire

GNB 217 Manchester Fire Brigade Dennis Big 6

GNB 217
Manchester Fire Brigade
Dennis Big 6
A 1940 Dennis pump escape seen at Fireground Fire Museum in Rochdale. Driven by museum curator Bob Bonner who is getting a good workout trying to manoeuvre the vehicle in the car park

Classic Fire

HXA 912 Austin K6 CO2 Tender

HXA 912
Austin K6 CO2 Tender
This truck has four banks of six 60lb CO2 cylinders. Each bank of cylinders has its own operating lever situated on the outside of the cylinder housing and an effective discharge time of 2 minutes. It was built on an Austin K6 3ton chassis and was the first Crash Tender to employ CO2 gas only as an extinguishing medium. It came into service in 1945. The total discharge of the tender is approximately 11,500 cubic feet of CO2 gas. Seen at the Museum of RAF Firefighting.

Classic Fire

Thorneycroft Nubian TFA 6×6

Thorneycroft Nubian TFA 6×6
The MK7 was introduced in 1965 to supplement the MK6 fleet, and basically consisted of a DP2 chassis fitted with a Rolls Royce B81 Petrol engine and MK6 foam equipment. With it’s improved reliability, a suction eye and water pumping capability, the MK 7 was a more versatile primary one foam tender. It was also easier to transport by air and saw service world wide. This vehicle has a 700 gallon water tank, a foam liquid tank capacity of 110 gallons and a foam output of 5000 gallons per minute through monitor and two side-lines or through double-jet monitor. Seen at the Museum of RAF Firefighting.

Classic Fire

Mk 5 Thorneycroft/Rolls Royce foam tender

Mk 5 Thorneycroft/Rolls Royce foam tender
The Mk5 Crash Tender was one of the first of the post war vehicles entered service in 1952. It carried 400 gallons of water and 60 gallons of foam. Primarily a RAF appliance this vehicle could also be used for domestic (structural) firefighting. It had a foam output of 2300 gallons per minute through two hand side-lines. Seen at the Museum of RAF Firefighting.

Classic Fire

Mk 5 Thorneycroft/Rolls Royce foam tender

Mk 5 Thorneycroft/Rolls Royce foam tender
The Mk5 Crash Tender was one of the first of the post war vehicles entered service in 1952. It carried 400 gallons of water and 60 gallons of foam. Primarily a RAF appliance this vehicle could also be used for domestic (structural) firefighting. It had a foam output of 2300 gallons per minute through two hand side-lines. Seen at the Museum of RAF Firefighting.

Classic Fire

These historic photos dating from around 1971 show the fire brigade r..

These historic photos dating from around 1971 show the fire brigade responding to a fire call as a crowd gathers on the pavement. They are at a ‘persons reported’ call where there is information that someone may be trapped in a house fire. Two ambulances have also arrived on scene to deal with any casualties. Furthermore two police cars have also arrived to assist. The scene is at Avenue Road in Gateshead.

BBB 22J is the ERF fire engine (in brighter red)

ATN 336B is the AEC fire engine, recognised by the non black roof and conical blinker lights. This was always a Fossway engine but must have been in the reserve fleet at the time. It is maroon and parked immediately outside the house.

EBB 783  is an Emergency Tender ‘Charlie 4’  from Pilgrim Street, Newcastle. It is the maroon vehicle parked on the opposite side of the street.

The two ambulances are based at Gateshead.

WPT 214J is a British Leyland Mini Van from 1971. A second Mini Van is seen in the foreground. From 1969 the Austin and Morris badges were dropped and they were just known as the Mini Van. It is either a 848cc or 998cc version which were cosmetically the same. The vehicles are operated by Durham Constabulary during the short period of time when they covered Gateshead. In 1969 Gateshead county borough police merged into Durham county but just five years later in 1974 Gateshead was taken over by the newly formed Northumbria Police as part of the local authority boundary changes and the formation of the county of Tyne and Wear.

Classic Fire

8769 W Sanderson Brothers and Newbould Limited Commer PB

8769 W
Sanderson Brothers and Newbould Limited
Commer PB
Built in 1960 and has covered only 631 miles as of 2019. The vehicle left the factory in 1960 as a standard diesel engine van. It was one of a batch of three that were converted by special order to works fire engines for Sanderson and Newbould of Sheffield. The chassis was extended to house the Coventry Climax pump and part of the rear roof was moved forward to make a crew cab behind the driver. It was sold to Adam Industries of Pudsey, West Yorkshire, before passing into private ownership in 1995. It was bought in 2011 by the current owner who has restored it. Notice how it has amber lights to the front for emergency use, pre-dating the use of blue lights.

Classic Fire

WNF 329 Mercedes Benz Unimog

WNF 329
Mercedes Benz Unimog
Was new in 1958. Previously saw service with City of Manchester Airport Fire Brigade. Seen at the Llandudno Transport Festival 2018.

Classic Fire

UOH 811S Land Rover 109 Series 3

UOH 811S
Land Rover 109 Series 3
Hand-built fire vehicle from 1978. It is a self-propelled foam deluge unit. It has a 2.6 litre six cylinder petrol engine. It was specially built for Eggborough Power Station in North Yorkshire. The vehicle would have connected to a water supply using lengths of hose to produce a fire-fighting foam. The cannon could deliver the foam over a great area. The vehicle ended its frontline service in 2018 when the power plant was decommissioned. It was kept in service during initial demolition works as a dust supression unit. It was then donated to the National Emergency Services Museum in late 2018.

Classic Fire

SYH 393 Army Fire Service Bedford RLHZ

SYH 393
Army Fire Service
Bedford RLHZ
Yellow Goddess. Used by army fire crews in Northern Ireland and painted differently to other military vehicles (green) to distinguish its humanitarian role

Classic Fire

XKV 33 Morris Fire Brigade Austin Gipsy

XKV 33
Morris Fire Brigade
Austin Gipsy
Used at the Morris engines factory in Coventry from new in 1957. It served 31 years in this role. In 2017 it is in preservation and has amazingly only covered 1800 miles from new!

Classic Fire

LFM 200 City of Chester Fire Brigade Dennis F7

LFM 200
City of Chester Fire Brigade
Dennis F7
Dating from 1949, this pump escape has been fully restored when sen in 2018. It is part of Cheshire FRS’s historic fleet. The Rolls Royce 8-cylinder engine, combined with a 4-speed gearbox, propells the emergency appliance from 0-60 mph in a heady 45 seconds. Fuel consumption is usually 3 or 4 mpg.

Classic Fire

NCB 100 Blackburn Fire Brigade Dennis F28

NCB 100
Blackburn Fire Brigade
Dennis F28
New to the roads in January 1961, this fire engine originally served in Blackburn and is now in preservation. When new it cost £4,500 and was the first fire vehicle in the county to be fitted with a blue flashing light – a new Home Office recommendation at the time. The name plate for Alderman Robert F Mottershead is in honour of the vice chairman of the watch and the fire birgade committee of the town council.

Classic Fire

EFF 317D Merioneth Fire Service Bedford J5

EFF 317D
Merioneth Fire Service
Bedford J5
First registered in July 1966, this appliance wound its way around the narrow lanes of Merionethshire in North Wales. Due to the double cab, the gearbox is not near to the driver. This means a very long kink in the gear lever is needed to reach four foot behind the driver’s position. When new recruits were being taught to drive the sometimes tempremantal vehicle, a crafty rear seta passenger could gently put their foot on the gear lever and prevent the driver selecting a gear!

Classic Fire

RGC 779 Auxiliary Fire Service Bedford RLHZ

RGC 779
Auxiliary Fire Service
Bedford RLHZ
This Yellow Goddess was used in Northern Ireland, most recently in the early 2000s during firefighter strikes. The army were concerned that the vehicles would be attacked and so they were fitted with guards over the windows and locker handles were removed. The most obvious change was that there were painted yellow to distinguish them from other green military vehicles.

Classic Fire

NPO 833R Guernsey FRS Land Rover Defender

NPO 833R
Guernsey FRS
Land Rover Defender
The vehicle was used as a light strike vehicle with designation Fire 7. It often supported larger fire appliance at fires and road accidents. When adopted by Alderney Fire Brigade its callsign changed to Red 7. It was fitted with a 7m ladder. A hosereel that was originally fitted to the front didn’t help handling characterists and so was removed. When operational, it spent one week on and one week off frontline duties, alternating with a 6-wheel Range Rover.

Classic Fire

LP 8389 ex-London Fire Brigade Dennis Type N

LP 8389
ex-London Fire Brigade
Dennis Type N

The open-top appliance has two seats at the front and wooden planks down the side for firemen to sit on as the keep hold of the ladder. A traditional bell is mounted at the front as well as the hole to enter the cranking handle to start it.

New in 1916, this appliance has quite some history behind it! It started life with London Fire Brigade in 1916 and was retired in 1932. It then became the factory fire engine for Joseph Crosfield and Sons Limited in Warrington. In 1955 they decided to donate it to Imperial College London for educational purposes. Four brave students drove the temperamental appliance some 200 miles from Warrington to London at speeds of up to 35 mph! It remains with Imperial College today.

Some of its TV and film appearances include Blue Peter in 1982 and Downton Abbey in 2014.

Classic Fire

DZ 6866 Lisburn Fire Brigade Dennis Light Four

DZ 6866
Lisburn Fire Brigade
Dennis Light Four
Built in 1938, the fire engie cost when £1,200 new. It was originally equipped with a 50-foot ladder but this was chnaged to a 30-foot ladder after the first one collapsed during a drill.

Classic Fire

Edinburgh Fire Museum on Lauriston Place

Edinburgh Fire Museum on Lauriston Place – with visions of yesteryear. Construction of the building as a fire station was completed in June 1900 at a cost of £43,000. Accommodation for the firemaster was included, as well as rooms for 30 firemen and their families. There was also workshops, stables (for horse-drawn appliances), laundry and (later) a control room. The museum has used the main bays since 1988. As of 2016, the building’s future is in doubt as the fire service look to move out and sell it. This would end over 100 years of fire appliances being based in the bays.

Classic Fire

SY 6848 Dennis Limousine

SY 6848
Dennis Limousine
Manufactured in 1936 and stationed at Musselburgh, East Lothian. This was one of the first covered appliances. The primary reason was to keep the equipment safe and dry rather than protecting the firemen from the rain and cold.

Classic Fire

AV 4203 Dennis New World Ace

AV 4203
Dennis New World Ace
Manufactured in 1936, the appliance was based at Penicuik. It found fame starring in Dr Finlay’s Casebook TV programme.

Classic Fire

WS 113 Leith Fire Brigade Halley fire appliance

WS 113
Leith Fire Brigade
Halley fire appliance
Manufactured in 1910 by Halley Company, Glasgow, for £1000. It is one of the oldest motorised fire appliances in existence and the only example of this type of appliance in the world. It is unusual because it is mad mainly of wood, even the wheels, which have solid rubber tyres. After service in Leith it was used as a stand by appliance at Bangour Village Hospital from 1932. It then became a breakdown lorry followed by being bought by an enthusiasts for preservation. The enthusiast passed away in 1965 and the appliance was bought at auction by Carlsberg for £1740. They then kindly donated it to the Edinburgh Fire Museum.

Classic Fire

SL 1943 National Fire Service Austin Taxi

SL 1943
National Fire Service
Austin Taxi
Commandeered by the NFS between 1939 and 1945, this Kirkintilloch taxi had ladders attached to the roof and firefighting equipment such as hose branches stowed in the passenger area. To all intents it was a fire appliance and attended many blazes during the Second World War.