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Fire Engine Photos
Cleveland Dennis Sabre Preston Park Fire Rally
The appliance is N746YAJ a 1995 Cleveland Dennis Sabre WrT with John Dennis bodywork. It is seen here at that year's Preston Park fire appliance rally in Stockton on Tees which is on Teesside, formerly Cleveland County.
You will notice the word 'County' has been dropped from the fleetname, as in that year Cleveland County was abolished and four separate unitary boroughs were set up. However Cleveland Police, and the Fire Brigade remain much as they were, the only visible sign of the change is the omission of the word 'County'.
You will also notice that the appliance is in a light vermillion red as opposed to a darker red more usually associated with fire engines.This was because in 1992, Cleveland County as it then was, chose this vermillion as the standard colour for all council owned vehicles of any type or department. Luckily they chose a form of red! In 2003 a return to a more traditional colour was implemented, and most if not all front line appliances are of a darker red, with further white embelishments, and additional dayglow stripes added.
Cleveland's white fronts date from 1971, when after a visit to New York, the the CFO was impressed by New York's livery, and applied white fronts to most of Cleveland's appliances. The first to carry them were a pair of AEC Mercury 7's (AXG2/29K) new that year to Billingham.
Currently most of Cleveland's front line fleet are either these Sabre's, or Scania P94D's, with the earlier SS types now in the minority.
The appliance is N746YAJ a 1995 Cleveland Dennis Sabre WrT with John Dennis bodywork. It is seen here at that year's Preston Park fire appliance rally in Stockton on Tees which is on Teesside, formerly Cleveland County.
You will notice the word 'County' has been dropped from the fleetname, as in that year Cleveland County was abolished and four separate unitary boroughs were set up. However Cleveland Police, and the Fire Brigade remain much as they were, the only visible sign of the change is the omission of the word 'County'.
You will also notice that the appliance is in a light vermillion red as opposed to a darker red more usually associated with fire engines.This was because in 1992, Cleveland County as it then was, chose this vermillion as the standard colour for all council owned vehicles of any type or department. Luckily they chose a form of red! In 2003 a return to a more traditional colour was implemented, and most if not all front line appliances are of a darker red, with further white embelishments, and additional dayglow stripes added.
Cleveland's white fronts date from 1971, when after a visit to New York, the the CFO was impressed by New York's livery, and applied white fronts to most of Cleveland's appliances. The first to carry them were a pair of AEC Mercury 7's (AXG2/29K) new that year to Billingham.
Currently most of Cleveland's front line fleet are either these Sabre's, or Scania P94D's, with the earlier SS types now in the minority.
Glad you like this John. Now that i've worked out how to send pictures to this excellent website, I will be contributing further examples from Cleveland and other North East Brigades. I too think these Sabre's are 'real machines' my favourite period, is the 1950's - current. And anything before 1930 leaves me cold.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 23 January 2009.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 23 January 2009.
Chris, my last retained machine was an early Sabre and apart from TKs with Angus workings my favourite to drive. I am trying to suss out how to transfer old photos as well as I have a small collection to post. I look forward to seeing some more from you, I agree about the site being excellent. Its by far the best there is!
Added by John Stott on 24 January 2009.
Added by John Stott on 24 January 2009.
Welcome to the site Chris, its a nice picture of the typical Dennis Sabre, but
that livery is really something else, its certainly striking and different.
I'm now looking forward to seeing more pictures(old or new)from you soon.
Added by Pete Matten on 24 January 2009.
that livery is really something else, its certainly striking and different.
I'm now looking forward to seeing more pictures(old or new)from you soon.
Added by Pete Matten on 24 January 2009.
To John Stott, The best way to transfer photos is to get a negative scanner, and /or a colour slide scanner for your computer. A friend of mine has the unenviable task of digitalising my collection. With this equipment you can really clean bad negatives up, look out for my picture of Cleveland's ET DAJ700T coming shortly to see what I mean.I took that photo back in 1983, and it was very very dark! my friend's scanner cleaned it up remarkably well, so much so that it looks like it was taken yesterday.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 24 January 2009.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 24 January 2009.
To Pete Matten, Thanks for the welcome. I've been following this site for quite some time now, but only this week have found out how to successfully e-mail pictures to it! My main Fire Brigade interest has always been Cleveland and Brigades from the North East. However, I also have an interest in other UK Brigades. I have a decent collection of mainly NE stuff taken either by myself, or acquired from friends most of which dates from the early 80's to now. Eventually those I hold the copyright to will end up here. I am (slowly) working on a full fleet history for Cleveland in the style of the PSV Circle's Bus Fleetbooks, so that a complete picture can be shown of all Cleveland's machines together with their dates into service, any repaints/allocations, withdrawal/ disposals etc. I've got much of the current stuff, but there are many gaps in the pre 1980 stock.
I also have stuff from the Tyne Tunnel from when I was employed there, and some other NE industrial Brigades which will also eventually make an appearence here. I am involved with the Teesside based 500 Group who have preserved four buses new to Cleveland Transit, or it's predecessors. The best known of these is the Blue liveried Middlesbrough Corporation Dennis Loline JDC599 which we take to the Preston Park Rally every year. If anyone here is at that Rally, please don't hesitate to approach me and say hello.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 24 January 2009.
I also have stuff from the Tyne Tunnel from when I was employed there, and some other NE industrial Brigades which will also eventually make an appearence here. I am involved with the Teesside based 500 Group who have preserved four buses new to Cleveland Transit, or it's predecessors. The best known of these is the Blue liveried Middlesbrough Corporation Dennis Loline JDC599 which we take to the Preston Park Rally every year. If anyone here is at that Rally, please don't hesitate to approach me and say hello.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 24 January 2009.
Glad you are concentrating on Cleveland Chris...I served in the old Teesside Brigade many years ago (and Teesside Airport before that)
Added by Barrie Green on 25 January 2009.
Added by Barrie Green on 25 January 2009.
We do have quite a few of us from Teesside on this site, should make the hoped ET restoration a bit easier...
Added by Pete Gardner on 14 February 2009.
Added by Pete Gardner on 14 February 2009.
Well, that's interesting to know, lets see how many would be interested in retrieving DAJ700T for preservation. I went to see it today (14.02.09) and it's pretty much the same (from the rear at least) as it was in my picture of it at Monte's a few years ago.However, theres a huge Tractor unit parked in front of it now!
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 14 February 2009.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 14 February 2009.
Excellent news! Definitely salvageable then... you've of course got my email, I think maybe some mails to the other localish members on here might be in order? I'm always available to discuss via email, so keep me posted.
Added by Pete Gardner on 15 February 2009.
Added by Pete Gardner on 15 February 2009.
People may be pleased to know that the company 'Oxford Diecast' who make model road transport, are to introduce a 1/76th scale model of the Green Goddess. Hartlepool and Teesside are two livery variations that I can think of from the top of my head, I can't wait to see it!
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 15 February 2009.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 15 February 2009.
I passed my Brigade driving test on one of the Teesside FB GGs
Added by Barrie Green on 15 February 2009.
Added by Barrie Green on 15 February 2009.
Chris - thanks for explaining 'Cleveland County' - fell over it, when looking up the two USA 'Clevelands' - Tennessee, and, Ohio...whoops, sorry, The Fireman.
Really enjoying Cleveland's unique "white-faced" rigs - far from the UFE style (Universal Fire Engine)
Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 15 February 2009.
Really enjoying Cleveland's unique "white-faced" rigs - far from the UFE style (Universal Fire Engine)
Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 15 February 2009.
To P.R.B, Hi, Yes we get the same problem! People over here think Cleveland County is 'over the pond'. I didn't know that there are two Clevelands in the U.S. I was only aware of the one in Ohio. Our local Municipal Bus Company had an American sounding name also. It was called 'Cleveland Transit'. Presumably you have a Cleveland Transit as well?
The white fronts also originated from the USA. In the 70's our CFO visited New York, and liked their livery. A modified version appeared on our machines soon after. So theres quite a connection with the U.S in our Transport infrastructure on Teesside. We've even got two Peterbuilts in one of our Industrial Brigades!!
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 16 February 2009.
The white fronts also originated from the USA. In the 70's our CFO visited New York, and liked their livery. A modified version appeared on our machines soon after. So theres quite a connection with the U.S in our Transport infrastructure on Teesside. We've even got two Peterbuilts in one of our Industrial Brigades!!
Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 16 February 2009.
Great photo Chris, Its good to know this nice appliance is still in service
Added by Adam Plumb on 03 May 2009.
Added by Adam Plumb on 03 May 2009.
Wonderful shot Chris. Have you any idea where the newer Sabres are? photographed all upto the 03 reg's. Many thanks.
Added by Andy Middleton on 20 January 2010.
Added by Andy Middleton on 20 January 2010.
Yes, Chris - I mistook TheFireman's Cleveland, Tennessee for the big industrial Cleveland, Ohio on Lake Erie; and soon got a geography up-date !
Neither State seems to have a 'Cleveland County'.
The Ohio Cleveland has the 'Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority' ("RTA" for short). They have brought back Trolleys; but, alas, these ones don't run on rails.
Really enjoy your Pics.
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 21 January 2010.
Neither State seems to have a 'Cleveland County'.
The Ohio Cleveland has the 'Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority' ("RTA" for short). They have brought back Trolleys; but, alas, these ones don't run on rails.
Really enjoy your Pics.
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 21 January 2010.
To Pat R.B
If your Cleveland runs Trolleys, and they dont run on rails, that would make them Trolleybuses wouldnt it? Trolleys that run on rails would be Trams over here.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside. UK. on 19 February 2010.
If your Cleveland runs Trolleys, and they dont run on rails, that would make them Trolleybuses wouldnt it? Trolleys that run on rails would be Trams over here.
Added by Chris Hall Teesside. UK. on 19 February 2010.
Dennis
Added by John Stott on 23 January 2009.