Fire Engines Photos

No, GXA 745 and GXM 142 also remain as does one with the Fire Service Museum in Northamptonshire England the registration escapes me at the moment

Added by Rick Loudon on 27 August 2008.

Thanks for that information Rick, would be nice if someone has photographs of GXA 745 and GXM 142 to send them into the site.

Added by Pete Matten on 28 August 2008.

I've found an old photo I took back in 1991 of GMX 142 and beleave me, I'd have
never thought it was an Austin K4 ECU.The conversion by what ever brigade had
this vehicle after 1948 made a brilliant job of it.Will send in to site.Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 28 August 2008.

Rick:
In your 27 Aug/08 Posting, are you sure "GXM 142" isn't really "GMX 142" ?
Over, on Picture 10491, where "GMX 142"[in her beautiful post-war rebuild] is shown; there is a bit of confusion on these two Reg.'s .

Keep up the good work - great to learn of these "Cinderella" war-time Engines being preserved for us.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 01 September 2008.

Hello, from Far Away:
I am putting in, an E-Mail enquiry, to the Northants Fire Service, re their Fire Museum in Northamptonshire, to see if they have a war-time Austin K4 Escape Carrying Unit, like the ones depicted on this 'Site; and, if so, what is it's Registration Number.
In meantime, is it possible for any of our Devoted Readers, handy nearby, to pop in and have a look at the machine; and give us the number...?
I cannot determine where, in Northants, the Fire Museum is - perhaps near the HQ Office in Moulton ?!
It is a bit too far, to go my-self; I am about 2400 nautical miles away, as the crow flies[fitted with long-range tanks] across the North Atlantic Ocean.
And, once again, "GMX 142" is a beauty, shown on Picture 10491; and, perhaps,
"GXM 142" is a Typo ?
This is a great Fire Engine 'Site - keep up the good work.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 01 September 2008.

Sorry all, GMX 142 and GXM 142 was a typing error on my part, sorry for the confusion.Also Pat, I now have pictures of the Austin K4 ECU from the Fire Museum, the registration being GJJ 883.Pictures to follow shortly, OK.Pete.
PS:-Its in a terrible condition, Museum did nothing in restoration to her.

Added by Added by Pete Matten on 02 September 2008.

In referece to my last above comments, the registration has now been sorted out
and it should be GXM 142. Not whats on the registation plate. Also, the 1941 Austin
K4 ECU(reg GJJ 833) is at the moment at Eden Camp Military Museum in Malton, North
Yorkshire, not the Fire Service Museum.Totally different place, sorry.Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 04 September 2008.

What a brilliant picture, sister engine GXA 751 served at Holyhead in Anglesey North Wales for the NFS then purchased by Anglesey Fire Brigade 1948. If you require any more details of other Wartime appliances in Anglesey please let me know.

Added by Graham Van Weert on 30 June 2011.

If possible a full list with stations would be of interest please.

Added by Neal Glover on 30 June 2011.

Is that Ted Pither driving, and a young Mick Paull riding on the nearside crew seat.
Adwest Engineering, Woodley were a very enthusiastic and proficient fire team in their day!

Added by Alan Jones ex Berkshire on 01 July 2011.

Alan, Ted Pither yes it could well be.Ted's owned this appliance for well over 20 years now and I remember it well from the old Southampton Show way back in the early 1990's.
I'm sure when I took this photograph back in 2006, Mick Paull was actually driving around on his Wareham appliance also shown on this site and this was at the same time as this picture was taken, so no its not Mick.

Added by Pete Matten on 01 July 2011.

Can you please tell me where this appliance (GXA 750) is now.....martin cavaney, Chairman of Pembroke Dock Museum Trust

Added by Martin Cavaney on 12 January 2015.

According to the last Odiham Fire Show programme held in 2013 (no show in 2014 due to weather) this 1943 Austin K4 is still owned by Ted Pither of Odiham, Hampshire.

Added by Pete Matten on 14 January 2015.

Would you have a contact address for him, we are planning a commemorative weekend in Pembroke Dock during August , where the appliance was stationed.

Added by Martin Cavaney on 14 January 2015.

Martin, I've contacted you via email-OK.

Added by Pete Matten on 15 January 2015.

GXA788 was at the REME mus Aborfield 2007, that museum is now at Lyneham. Is the machine? See

www.flickr.com/photos/141169709@N06/51337623537/in/photolist-qEp9Gk-2mdwJUi/

Added by Petros on 07 October 2024.

see also comments here on GXA788 for later developments though none since 2015




Added by Petros on 07 October 2024.

Added by Petros on 13 September 2025.

As illustrated by this great example, these wartime issued pump escapes often saw quite a long postwar service life afterwards with county and even some city fire brigades. I remember seeing an identical Austin at Wolverton in Bucks and a Fordson version at Whitby too. Both had the Barton front mounted pump, which was rated at 350 GPM, like this one. Although not as powerful as the later JCDD requirement for a minimum 500 GPM installation on a pump escape, I imagine it was quite adequate most of the time, and of course the same pump was often fitted to the Merryweather 60 foot TTL as well.

These PEs did have a relatively large 130 gallon tank, so for most hose reel jobs they actually exceeded the JCDD specifications.

Added by Rob Johnson on 15 September 2025.

Please add your comments about this picture using the form below.

Comments

Your Name

Your email address - this will be shown on the page and will allow the system to notify you of further comments added to this picture.