BEE 999L This is a Dennis fire appliance which used to be used by Grimsby Fire Brigade. Dating from 1972, it has many period features including a warning bell on its roof and a wheeled escape to the rear.
WRM 554S is a 1978 109″ Land Rover HCB/Angus light fire appliance. When new, it was destined for Tanzania, but the order was cancelled and it actually started off its life with British Steel, then went on to a paper mill in Cumbria. It was used as a control unit and this can be seen by the red light fitted (it is also fitted with a blue and an amber light). When it retired after 23 years to be placed in a museum it had covered only 3,700 miles!
CYY 299C This is an Austin Gipsy AFS (Auxilary Fire Service) vehicle. It did not see very much action in its life: most of the time it was stored as a reserve and amazingly covered only 3,000 miles from 1965 to 1997! Note the amber lights above the headlights – a forerunner of blue flashing lights.
The rear view of the same Gipsy. This is a 1965 (series 4) example with the 2.2 lire petrol engine producing a frugal 72 bhp. The canvas back and all of the tyres are original and unrestored. The Austin Gipsy was built from 1958 to 1968 and is commonly mistaken for a Land Rover.
OTP 14M This aged Dennis appliance is livery-less and awaiting a buyer for preservation or a new lease of life. This make and style of engine was a regular sight in the 1970s and 80s. Inset: the rear view.
GYM 275N This is a Dennis F109 pump escape. It was run by London Fire Brigade from 1975 until 1987 and then sold. It is now restored and privately owned.
The frontal view of the appliance. It was used in the first series of ‘London’s Burning’ before wheeled escapes were superseded.
ACH 746H A Carmichael FT5 Landrover light four-wheel drive pump that was used by Rolls-Royce at their Sinfin test site (in Derby). This 1974 photograph illustrates the type of fire appliance used by Rolls-Royce in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. It was one of 5 FT5 airfield rapid intervention vehicles used during the period.
GXH 864 A blast from the past here with a preserved National Fire Service vehicle. It has a ‘George Rex’ insignia on the doors and the wartime headlight blinkers.
The rear view, showing that it is actually an almost-empty van with wooden roof ladders.
Watch a video of this vehicle in action!
This is an Austin NFS (National Fire Service) appliance and trailer pump. Used during and after the Second World War, the NFS assisted local fire services.
THN 948S An ex-Cleveland County Fire Brigade engine is easy to spot with its white front. This Dennis is equipped with horns, a bell, blue lights and rather surprisingly around that back …
… a wheeled escape! This is the very last engine to have such an arrangement (1977), which had been used for hundreds of years to help fight fires.
EJV 955 This old Dennis turntable ladder used to belong to Grimsby Fire Brigade. It was new in 1955 and decomissioned in 1982. It is now in preservation (2005). Notice the blue flashing beacon on top of the cab, next to the bell. Grimsby Borough Fire Brigade was merged into Humberside Fire Brigade in 1974.
Here are three preserved appliances. From left to right we have UCL 157R (Dodge), YPV 568S (Bedford) and SRT 587R (Bedford).
A scene from yesteryear – fireman ride on the side of this wheeled fire escape on their way to an incident.
A unique look at two very primitive fire appliances, which can be seen at The Castle Museum, York.
A unique look at two very primitive fire appliances, which can be seen at The Castle Museum, York.
FT 7215 is a Dennis appliance, and was in operation through to the mid 1970’s. It was then used for training.
EBB 302 was used by the City of Newcastle Fire Brigade. Notice the lack of doors on the older black one – any high-speed cornering would spell danger for the rear occupants
Now we have a vintage model fire Engine, with the aged wheeled-escape ladders. They can be disconnected from the engine and wheeled up to the foot of a building before being extended.
AM 2747 This an old (Great Western Railway) Swindon fire engine.
An old appliance from Gateshead. Both engines were run by railway fire brigades, and are were pictured in the National Railway Museum, York. Inset: side plate.
This is a Staffordshire appliance museum piece.
Here are four old fire engines on display: (left to right) A Dodge appliance, an Austin Gypsy, a Land Rover FWC, and a special Land Rover fire engine YJF 962S
A line up of old fire engines
RE51 FRZ is a Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 used by the National Park Ranger Service. It carries a single rotating blue beacon on its roof. The vehicle carries essential fire fighting equipment such as fire beaters and collapsible water storage tanks. It also carries the ATV shown below.
This unregistered Agro Centaur is used by the National Park Ranger Service to carry fire fighting equipment to remote areas. It is almost identical to the ATV used by Derbyshire Fire and rescue service. Equipment that the ATV can carry includes portable pumps, hoses and river damming equipment.
04 M 7918 is a MAN / Angloco fire appliance that is based at RAF Menwith Hill in Yorkshire. This is vehicle ‘4’ and is seen here with its locker up and slide-out shelves for easy access showing.
02 M 8303 This Ford Transit is used by the Defence Fire Service at RAF Menwith Hill.
O4 M 5114 is a Ford Maverick fire car used by the Defence Fire Service. It has a military number plate and is based at RAF Menwith Hill listening base near Harrogate.
04 M 5113 The rear view of a sister Maverick. The only difference is the additional blue beacon at the back of the roof.
The following three photographs are of American military fire appliances used in the UK. They don’t carry registration marks because they are not used on the public roads. Appliance 15 is a P-24 Water Ladder. Notice the red light bar and dark body colour.
This appliance (also numbered 15) is a RIV (Rapid Intervention Vehicle). It can also double-up as a communication vehicle.
Number 14 is a massive P-18 water carrier.
Here is a line up of three fire engine limos that are available to hire from ‘Chariots of Fire’.
K204 VVU This fire limo is operated by fully licensed Essex-based Blazing Squad. The engine is a Leyland DAF with bodywork by Reliance-Mercury. All of the blue lights have been blacked out. It was previously on the run at Eccles fire station in Manchester.
HJZ 4049 This 1980 Dennis appliance is also for hire with Blazing Squad. It carries a Norther Ireland registration and was previously on the front-line at Maidstone, Kent.
F193 EDV This limousine is run by Oddball Limos in the West Midlands. The ladders have been taken off the roof, but the blue lights and livery remain on this fire engine limo.
N696 CVP This is a ‘Partymedics’ ambulance that is also operated by Oddball Limos. It has eight seats and can be hired for any occasion. The vehicle still has it’s high visibility paint-scheme and blue lights in place.
G821 TSP is a Volvo FL6 that has been converted into a fire limo and is used in the Portsmouth area. Notice that all of the blue lights have been switched to amber.
This American fire appliance is used in Glasgow for city tours! It came from Mill Creek, PA when they decommissioned it in March 2006.
YVN 69Y This 1982 Carmichael appliance is used by ‘Mr Fireman’ as a party fire engine limo. The water pump is still operational and all of the blue lights ahve been removed or blacked out.
G793 NGD This Volvo FL6 is available for public hire from The Blazing Squad. The blue lights have either been blacked-out or converted to amber.
H871 XYF This ex-fire engine has been modified for ‘All Fired Up’ in two unusual ways to make it in to a limousine for public hire. It has been resprayed pink and has had its interior extended into where the water tank was. The tinted windows can be seen down the sides where the tops of the lockers were. This is one of four fire engine on this page with registration ‘H8__ XYF’, all ex-LFB.
F867 SHD This Volvo FL6 ex-fire appliance is run by ‘Fire Engine Parties’ for special occasion hire. It still has its blue lights and yellow strip livery, but the brigade wording has been removed.
D177 KPT This Carmichael engine is owned by ‘Party On Fire Limo’. It has been resprayed to its original fire engine red colour, and the hoses still work. The ‘fire & rescue’ wording and blue lights are still in place too.
J857 NJO Red Thunder run this Scania 93M 250 fire engine. It is an ex-Buckinghamshire Water Tender Ladder Rescue Pump, and is still in its Bucks. livery with blue lights.
J86 ORU This is Hot-Hire’s Volvo FL6, an ex-Dorset fire engine. Notice the wording on the side has been changed to ‘Fire and Rescue Limousine’ and the blue lights have been blacked out.
The water pumps tank have been removed and replaced with a larger interior, containing more seats, mirrored walls, fibre-optic lighting, and entertainment system.
H869 XYF Casey Cars run this ex-LFB engine called ‘All Fired Up’. The London-wording has been removed, but the ‘fire’ wording and blue lights have been left in place.
Inside: It has a 32″ wide screen TV, laser, fibre-optic and strobe lights as well as a smoke machine! For comfort it has custom-made limo seating and even a real fire!
E884 ANO This is an ex-Essex Fire Service Dennis appliance. Owned by Red Hot Rescue, a couple of the crew can be seen hanging on to the front.
C937 BKJ This is Talk of the Town Entertainments’ Dennis SS133 fire engine limousine. It has seating for eight passengers, with a sound system, mirrored ceiling and lots of LED and neon lighting!
H878 XYF is an ex-London Fire Brigade appliance. It is now available for hire from the Fire4Hire in Essex. Inside are a CD surround sound system, DVD with LCD monitor, mood lighting and seven passenger seats.
F766 BYD is now part of ‘The Fun Brigade’, who are based in Guildford and covers the Surrey and Hampshire area. The Fun Brigade has turned this engine into a limousine for all special occasions.
Inside the Fun Brigade Engine. Notice the bespoke glass ceiling.
D803 FYM This Renault Dodge limo is owned by Hot Stuff Limousines, based in Plymouth, Devon. It is an ex-London appliance, and has been owned by London’s Burning for television work.
The side view of this nine-litre V8 appliance. It is still in working order, with the hoses being used at children’s parties. It is also kitted out with usual limousine luxuries, including a TV, DVD player, stereo, disco and rope lights and privacy glass.
G656 XWK This Dennis was originally in Warwickshire and is now owned by Red Hot Ride. It is fitted with red flashing lights on the roof and front.
E368 RRH This ‘Big Red Hire Engine’ is a Dennis fire engine previously owned by Humberside. It has had over £8000 spent on the transformation and boasts a DVD, PS2, 15″ lcd monitor and 1000 watt sound system. It can seat 6 passengers comfortably and is available for hire in East Anglia.