Fire Engine Photos
1942 Leyland TD7 /Merryweather Turntable ladder1942 Leyland TD7 half cab/Merryweather 100' Turntable Ladder (reg GLW 410) ,one of 30 built for the Home Office and issued to the National Fire Service.This appliance went into service in Aberdeen and after the war was used by the North Eastern Fire Service before finally going out of service in 1967.It was acquired in 1984 and completely restored to its Home Office (N.F.S.) specification of 1942.A total of 63 Merryweather 100ft mechanical TL's were constructed for the N.F.S.,of these,30 were built on Leyland TD7 bus chassis with a four cylider petrol engine,25 were Leyland Beaver/Merryweather TLs driven by a 8.6 litre diesel engine,and last,eight Dennis/Merryweather TLs were powered by a Meadows eight litre diesel engine.
Through bomb and flame,they stood their ground,with just an axe,or branch in hand.
No thought for themselves,just others around,they gave so much,protecting our land.
As bomb after bomb,fell to ground,that terrible noise,that terrible sound. The young and the old,they all did their bit,those very brave firemen,sadly now many dead.
Many have gone,but will not be forgot,for all that they did,and much they could not
They all did their best,in our hour of need,those hundreds of firemen,a very brave breed.
We'll never forget them,and all that they did,to make this world better,and life better to live.
God bless the many,that have sadly now gone,we shall remember them,freedom and peace cannot be wrong.
Picture added on 10 April 2008
Bob, I for one look forward to seeing afew more from this period in time.It
should not be forgotten, and many of the people who preserve these very old
vehicles feel the same and its a tribute to them that there still around.
Post those pictures-lets have a look.I'm sure the interest is there.
Added by Pete Matten on 12 April 2008.
should not be forgotten, and many of the people who preserve these very old
vehicles feel the same and its a tribute to them that there still around.
Post those pictures-lets have a look.I'm sure the interest is there.
Added by Pete Matten on 12 April 2008.
May I echo Pete's comments. It's only natural that the older periods of fire service history are less well represented on this site but there is still much interest in this era.
Added by Chris Wood on 13 April 2008.
Added by Chris Wood on 13 April 2008.
Similar vehicle GLW 419 is preserved (in post-war red livery) at Lincoln in the Lincolnshire Road Transport Museum, having been allocated to Lincoln and passing to the Lincoln Fire Brigade after the War. Unfortunately, it is not currently on the road, as it is having a (lengthy) engine rebuild.
Added by Jon on 03 August 2008.
Added by Jon on 03 August 2008.
I've been going through my old negatives and found a classic picture of this old 1942 Leyland/Merryweather Turntable Ladder.I've re-scanned it and will send into site in the next couple of days.Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 10 November 2008.
Added by Pete Matten on 10 November 2008.
This one (GLW 410) was in fact the only TD7 that was fitted post-war with a full cab post-war by Federal Industries, on behalf of North Eastern Sctotland, into whose area Aberfeen fell.
Added by Ian Moore on 11 November 2008.
Added by Ian Moore on 11 November 2008.
Hello Ian, thanks for that interesting comment regarding this appliance and that
it had a full-cab modification post war.I wonder if any of our Scottish fire-buffs can help us out with a picture?, or maybe the current owner.
Added by Pete Matten on 11 November 2008.
it had a full-cab modification post war.I wonder if any of our Scottish fire-buffs can help us out with a picture?, or maybe the current owner.
Added by Pete Matten on 11 November 2008.
old fire engines of this type or any type of that period should never be forgotten.
Added by Malcolm Punter on 11 November 2008.
Added by Malcolm Punter on 11 November 2008.
We must assume that the modification was not substantial in nature as the appliance appears to be in it's original format here in what must be a rally shot. Maybe a complete restoration was required and the owners rebuilt it as originaly intended.
Added by Chris Wood on 11 November 2008.
Added by Chris Wood on 11 November 2008.
Being amongst the uninitiated, and this particular photo angle; I did not realize that it was an "open-one-man-half-cab-forward".
Pete M. has another photo at picture #12311 showing it clearly.
Auckland, New Zealand has a similar "preserved runner" at picture #12165 and picture #12167
For fellow North American fans; if you don't think that sticking a second Driver high atop the rear of a Tractor-Drawn Aerial Ladder-Truck (complete with "swing-away's" - steering wheel, windshield and seat) is not weird: then have a look at these Turn-Table Ladders.
Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 13 November 2008.
Pete M. has another photo at picture #12311 showing it clearly.
Auckland, New Zealand has a similar "preserved runner" at picture #12165 and picture #12167
For fellow North American fans; if you don't think that sticking a second Driver high atop the rear of a Tractor-Drawn Aerial Ladder-Truck (complete with "swing-away's" - steering wheel, windshield and seat) is not weird: then have a look at these Turn-Table Ladders.
Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 13 November 2008.
Another picture of this is(picture #12312)which I think gives a good view.
I should also mention that there is also one of these in preservation in
the N.S.W.Fire Brigades Museum in Sydney, Australia.I do have a picture,
a brilliant picture, but sorry can't send in due to the copyright.
Maybe one of our Australian friends can help on this one?.Thanks, Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 14 November 2008.
I should also mention that there is also one of these in preservation in
the N.S.W.Fire Brigades Museum in Sydney, Australia.I do have a picture,
a brilliant picture, but sorry can't send in due to the copyright.
Maybe one of our Australian friends can help on this one?.Thanks, Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 14 November 2008.
Tony, can you send in a picture please of your appliance(GLW 422).There is
certainly still alot of interest in these WW2-era preserved vehicles, and
looking through this site you'll see many photos from that period.Thanks.
Added by Pete Matten on 24 January 2009.
certainly still alot of interest in these WW2-era preserved vehicles, and
looking through this site you'll see many photos from that period.Thanks.
Added by Pete Matten on 24 January 2009.
Tony, I notice you say you have GLW 422 ex Wolverhampton ? and DTB 152 ex Morecambe and Heysham Leyland Metz with a cab, any chance of some pictures of them on this site please ?
Added by Rick Loudon on 25 January 2009.
Added by Rick Loudon on 25 January 2009.
Leyland
I'll look carefully through my slides to see if I have this truck and will post it on this site if I have.. I have GLW 414. kettering; GLW421 Bolton, GLW427 Hull, and GLW434 a Merryweather/Dennis in Scotland plus a couple of Leyland diesels cab overs with GXA plates which I cold post if there is interest.
Bob Graham
Added by Bob Graham on 12 April 2008.