Brilliant photo Roger, it looks like this ones from 1955, and its one of the Dennis F101's delivered. These appliance were fitted with a Rolls Royce C6-diesel engine of 12 litres capacity, the forerunner of the'Eagle'engine. The London Fire Brigade purchased thirty-eight of these vehicles over a five year period during the 1950's. The TL in the background looks like a Dennis/Merryweather, did you manage to get a picture to share with us please?.
Added by Pete Matten on 18 February 2009.
It looks like a Leyland Metz to me Andy. What a fantastic b & w pic Roger
Hi Roger, thanks for posting this very nice scenery of Soho's Dennis F101. I guess all 3 machines are from Soho? So the TL must be TL21 Leyland TLM 100'Metz (DGJ 309) from 1937, she is preserved.
Roger, if I was responsible for photographic awards, you would have pride of place of First (Blue Ribbon) for this submission for February, and probably several months either side, , The fireman in Cromwell helmet, what in goodness name is he doing? If that was today I would say he was informing his girlfriend on his mobile phone that he was at a working job, but in '62??!! We didn't have such technology, , Would he have had a 'walkie-talkie' in those days?? All that aside, I do not believe I have ever seen a Dennis F101. Having some artistic ability, I particularly like the way the second machine is positioned behind PUC 149. And the two traffic motor cycle police, one with his white gauntletts at his chest, just incredible. Now, add the turntable ladder and ex US military wagon, the open drivers windshield, open locker doors of the typical 'Dennis' of the day, and the beautiful fullness of the canvas hose, all ingredience for a jolly good painting, , , ,
Thanks for all your kind comments re. my photo. Little did I know when I took it as an eighteen year old all those years ago it would create such interest.
Yes Roger, at that time we didn't realize what impact such photo can have today. I also took photos only a decade and a half later which people are surprised with. If you have anymore gems from those days on machines, shouts or stations of London please post them, love to see them and I think many others too! Cheers, Frank
A great photo. Has anyone else noted that the PE has only the electric bell above the driver and the hand bell on near side is missing also both appliances have single wheels on the rear axle instead of two.
Most - though not all - of the F101s had twin bells, and as far as the single rear wheels are concerned, that was part of the specification on the Dennis F101. There was also the F102 (only Nottinghamshire having them - 11 I think, without checking) which was pretty nigh identical chassis-wise, save that it had twin rear wheels.
Added by Ian Moore on 28 January 2012.
Dennis 101s only had single rear wheels. They were great machines, very reliable and almost unbreakable!PEs were fine on the road because of the extra weight of the wheeled escape on the back end. It was a different story if a 101 was running as a pump. You had to be careful because the back end could slide away if the road was wet and greasy!I once managed to take out a complete traffic island with a 101 pump on the way to a shout! It was 40 years ago now, so I can come clean about it at last! There was only a minute scratch on the front bumper of the machine, but the traffic island ceased to exist, 2 Keep Left boxes and a lampost!!! It was raining at the time and the choice was the island or a row of parked cars! Fortunately no one on the crew 'grassed me up' so I got away with it. We were, after all, en route to a six pumper. As for the missing bell, it is a puzzle. The picture was taken way before we had two tones or those awful bell amplifiers!
Added by Murray Beale on 28 January 2012.
Oh yes, the awful bell amplifiers, which - frankly - were about as much use as a chocolate fireguard ! We had a brief flirtation with them up here in the North East, (South Shields tried them) but soon found out they were not the device to end all others !
Added by Ian Moore on 29 January 2012.
I'm sure the remaining F101, SLW178 has twin wheels at the rear. I have seen the second batch of F101's delivered in 1959 referred to as F101's Mk2 on an old fleetlist so perhaps these had the twin rear wheels? The machine in the picture, 149DP was new to A5/A24 Soho in 1955 and they received another in 1959 194DP XLC194.
All F101s were delivered with single rear wheels and all ran as such throughout their London life. I purchased SLW178 for preservation back in 1984, I think, and it was still on single rears. I am the culprit who put it on twin rears, 2 reasons, 1st on rally sites very little grip on single rears, 2nd general safety reasons, twice as much rubber on the road for braking and general handling. I must agree what a lovely picture, the missing hand bell must be temporary. The TL is most likely to be DGJ309 which I still own. The other F101 is probably XLC194 a Mk11. Hope this helps, best wishes to all.
Thanks for the info Mike. Do you know what the differences between the MK1's and MK2's were? If any. I've seen the F106's described as having a MK2 version as well but that's fairly plain to see.
Hello Kyle The main difference between the Mk1 & Mk2 was the braking system. The Mk1 (PUCs & SLWs) had a power full hydraulic system similar to the Routemaster Bus including the accumalator. The F101s used Lockheed hydraulic brake fluid, the RM did not. The Mk2 F101 (VYEs & XLCs) had an air over hydraulic brake system ie an air valve put the pressure on the system. It also meant the engine was slightly altered to include an air compressor and an air tank in the chassis. All the F101s when delivered had white steering wheels, much later in their service many received the F106 steering box and black steering wheels. A bit more trivia for you. Best wishes Mike Hebard
Thanks Mike, most interesting. I was amazed that some of the F101's lasted as spares and in the driving school until the late 70's. Apart from SLW178 I've seen pictures of a pair rotting away in the countryside somewhere but I've no idea if they are still around.
Added by Andy on 18 February 2009.