Wellington, New Zealand Simon Snorkel International Chassis
Taken Jan 2007
Picture added on 22 April 2007
Comments:
1st time to see a Simon Snorkel mounted on a 4-axle chassis. Usually it is mounted on 2-axle&3-axle chassis. Can anyone tell me what model is this Simon Snorkel plus its height?
this is a international its year is 1988 pump out put is 112litres per second engine power out put is 261kw at 2100rpm its weight is 21, 500kg sorry do not have its hight
I think that this HP was originally mounted on a two axle chassis when it arrived in New Zealand but was too heavy for two axles under NZ traffic regulations and was eventually remounted. If it is the one that I think it is it was stationed at Oriental parade.
Yes, the original chassis that carried these booms was a real "one-off", being a Dennis F120.
Added by Ian on 20 June 2007.
In the sure and certain knowledge that I am revealing what an anorak I am I think that this appliance originally had four engines, a perkins v6 supplied power to the road wheels, a ford cortina engine provided hydraulic power to the booms, a coventry climax supplied water to the monitor and a J.A.P engine could house the booms in the event of the failure of the cortina engine. I could be in error but I am pretty sure that I am right.
I'm not too sure that Kevin is correct about the motors on the Dennis chassied version of this. The chassis was driven by a Rolls Royce 8 cylinder engine, probably a B81. There was a cortina engine as a back up for the hydraulics but the pump was a Dennis No 3 driven off the PTO. The Dennis chassis is still around and comes up for sale periodically but I resist temptation as divorce is such an expensive business !!
Wasn't Wellington's Snorkel originally on a Dennis chassis, and painted an eye-catching "Dayglo" Pink? Auckland definately had a Simon Snorkel on a TWO axle International Harvester chassis, 17 tons or so from memory. It was forbidden to cross Grafton Bridge direct to Auckland Hospital, even if it was seen to be burning.. Had to go the long way. It was powered by a monster petrol V8, about 9 litres I was told. VERY heavy on gas, clutches, brakes, even the steering broke once, turning to go down Symonds St to avoid that bridge.. Embarrasing. Where is it now?
This unit is on an International chassis, with perkins diesel, carrying an SS 85 Simon Snorkel, three booms, a very reliable unit, still in service Wellington N.Z. "wellington 215" I have been driving it and using it at fires for 35 years both on this chassis and its previous a Dennis Rolls Royce rig.
The powerplant is a 350 horse / 6 cylinder Cumins thru a 4 speed Allison gearbox. Origionally, the truck was imported in 1970 from the UK on the 2 axle Dennis chassis powered by a straight 8 petrol Rolls-Royce. In 1987, it was both re-chassised onto the International and repowered. In 2005, the truck was sent to Access Specialties in Auckland for another complete strip and rebuild.. She still runs out of City Station in Wellington as 1st aerial for the city (with Vern and myself still on board)
Kevin, it is still working in Wellington as "Wellington 215". I checked the Emergency 111 website just now.
Added by James Marks on 21 April 2008.
Greetings again. I found the Auckland International - Snorkel combo at a Vintage day at Karaka, south of Auckland recently (in April 08). It now has a Cummins engine, still thirsty I am told, and made a useful aerial platform for filming the biplane dogfight. It is currently at Aucklands M*o*t*a*t = Musuem of Transport and Technology.
Added by Bomba995 on 23 April 2007.