Fire Engines Photos

wow how thats looks smart compared to the other photo ive also seen the photos of the essex rapier that gone out there and now in that colour scheme keep them coming john

Added by Calvin Fox on 16 February 2009.

Nice to see ex-UK appliances kept in good running order! Better than painting them pink and letting a bunch of dressed up school kids go around in them!! Thanks for the picture.

Added by David Sapsford on 17 February 2009.

I agree David, proof that older appliances have a use overseas and are put to much better use doing their original job than being used for gimmicks.

Added by John Stott on 17 February 2009.

i got told this is ex glastonbury retained appliance left in 2001

Added by Jake Caswell on 17 February 2009.

disagree there they make much more money as limos.

Added by Michael Jones on 17 February 2009.

i was so impressed by this picture i went looking for more new Zealand stuff if you want to see more uk trucks in use with new Zealand including this one i found this site last night check out www.111emergency.co.nz its got the whole of new zealand and rural brigades in it worth a look if you have any trouble getting it up i went though www.emergency-vehicles.co.uk and go to link pages its at the bottom of fire related sites

Added by Calvin Fox on 17 February 2009.

This machine was still on the run with Somerset until at least late 2006. Nice to see its still being put to good use in its intended role. Somerset started buying these Mercedes in 1990 with Saxon bodies and they were their standard machine until 2006. Several of the later ones are still on the run with Somerset as second away appliances.

Added by Paul Pickford on 17 February 2009.

Yes but fire appliances are not there to make money !!

Added by Rick Loudon on 17 February 2009.

these pumps get used in the uk for like 10 years then scrapped i think they have better useage after they left the uk by other countrys

Added by Jake Caswell on 18 February 2009.

I fully agree with Rick ! Appliances are not there to make money - they're certainly being used to far greater advantage as an overseas owned vehicle than they would be as a limo - but it does also pose the question: Especially with the financial climate as it is, do brigades in the UK often get rid of machines when there is still a considerable number of years of life in them ? Just a question !!

Added by Ian Moore on 18 February 2009.

Fire trucks are used for more then 10 yrs most stay in service for 13-14 years.

Added by Michael Jones on 18 February 2009.

Jake/Michael - depending on the individual brigade, appliances may be kept longer than 10 years. At present my station is still running a series 3 scanny which is approaching her 14th year in operational service. she has the distinction of being the oldest operational pump in our brigade.

Added by Stevie Murray on 18 February 2009.

Stevie, its been said a hundred times on here and elswhere, get a good chassis and workings, service it well and twenty years should be a minimum from any machine. The problem is an image one with many brigades, they all want to out do the one next door. Makers hawk the latest wonder machine, fleet managers fall for it and accountants love it because a lorry costs less. I might be older, but along with many others who use this site, we had this game sussed years ago.

Added by John Stott on 19 February 2009.

That can be beaten! Falkirk and Bo'ness currently (as an allocated appliance) are still running 20 year old Volvo pumps now (first active 1989).

Added by Jake Reever on 19 February 2009.

north wales are using (ex county of clwyd) machines from 1989 only as reserves

Added by Jake Caswell on 19 February 2009.

steve i think there are quite a few scanis 14 yrs in strathclyde.
jake thats amazing 1989 volvo in use still thanks for the info guys.

Added by Michael Jones on 19 February 2009.

I agree with what you say about older machines but when the pump is leaking, the doors are warped and she's not as spritely as she used to be. even her bodywork looks faded. we were surprised when workshops said she was the best looking oldest machine they have seen! makes you wonder.

Added by Stevie Murray on 19 February 2009.

yes theres a pic of it mike under jake caswell photos

Added by Jake Caswell on 20 February 2009.

Stevie, if workshops are up to it the pump shouldn't leak, the doors will close and the engine should sing! Then are workshops up to it nowadays? lol!

Added by John Stott on 20 February 2009.

John, very true mate very true. Just yesterday we got a phone call to say that our machine had to go into workshops again. the 'spare' machine is just as bad though the cab doors are a better fit than ours ( our machine had been in an RTA years ago and the cab had suffered some 'minor' damage ).Despite having refurbed the pump on our own machine, it still leaks from the deliveries.

Added by Stevie Murray on 21 February 2009.

its nice to see that all the old fire engines are still of some use around the world

Added by Retired Ado Richard Thomas on 02 March 2009.

john do you have the picture of Mercedes Benz 4x4 from Dorset which went to Auckland ?

Added by JAMIE BLUNDEN on 12 December 2009.

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