Fire Engines Photos

Thanks for this Morgan, Miles were one of the best, and the finish, well, your photo shows it!

Added by John Stott on 11 July 2009.

Morgan, Love your shot, its brillant little fire engine Don't mean to be an anorak but its a Karrier Carmichael (not Miles)

Added by BOB CARVER on 13 July 2009.

This is Carmichael bodywork ? if yes then their recent build quality can't match this....

Added by John Johnstone on 13 July 2009.

Bob you have suprised me, I have never seen any Carmichael body as good as this on any machine!

Added by John Stott on 14 July 2009.

John,
I am 100% sure this is a Carmichael appliance I have to say their Coach building during the Fifties was excellent for the day as were HCB Coachworks my home town of Arundel (West Sussex) ran a Bedford SLHZ Carmichael for years WrT, it was beautifully made or built. East Sussex Fire Brigade had several of these Commer/Karrier Escapes Water Tenders I know the lines.

Added by Bob Carver on 14 July 2009.

Thanks Bob, she looks a booty! The Miles I remember were our RAF Bedford Domestic pumps, the build and finish was some of the best I have ever seen on an appliance. If only you could get that quality now.

Added by John Stott on 14 July 2009.

This appliance is from 1963 and is a Karrier Gamecock/Carmichael WrT.New to Dorset FB,it was first stationed at Weymouth until 1967,then passed to Maiden Newton and then brigade spare.
UFX 157 finally went out of service(OOS)in 1987 and was originally purchased at auction(for £210)by Barry Thompson & family,Ringwood in Hampshire.

Added by Pete Matten on 15 July 2009.

John, Miles engineering/Coachworks were a part of
the Hawker Siddeley Group their appliances were all totally alloy in construction and the designs were way in advance for their time the Bedford SLHZ/Miles used to have a separate cab and this moved when facilitating un-even ground
the Back rest used to move in the crew cab!
Bob Carver

Added by Bob Carver on 15 July 2009.

Sadly not seen a Miles bodied appliance close up but you can see the quality on the finish here, i remember seeing a sales leaflet on them and it made very interesting reading indeed, it such a shame the the quality body builders have gone to the wall, Miles, HCB -Angus to name but two.

Is it me or aren't modern appliances finished to such high standards ? only body builder i rated in recent times was TVAC but now sadly gone too .

Added by John Johnstone on 17 July 2009.

John, we keep saying it, but there isnt a proper coach or bodywork maker who could hold a candle to Miles and the like now. The only half decent work I have seen on a modern machine was when I looked at Newcastle Airports Rosies a while ago. Part of the "new" fire service mate, happy with what they are given cos they know nowt better!

Added by John Stott on 18 July 2009.

Morgan, this was a classic appliance in use in New Zealand in the late 60's and 70's, the only difference being the hose reels were located aft of the rear wheels, therefore the front lockers extended right to the bottom.
Where yours has the two tones, we had two chrome-backed flashing red lamps. Later these were disconnected and a large red Hella revolving beacon was fitted above the driver's position.
Below the nearside bumper was fitted the electric siren which could be operated by the driver on the steering column or by floor 'dip switch' officer's side.
The alloy ladder was not located left of the 35' but stowed below it I think from memory, we referred to it as a ceiling ladder. Also the front two cab doors extended to the bottom.
In 1966 we were still riding the back step, the handrail to the left/right provided clearance to lock your left/right arm through whilst you dressed en route to the call, a further rail at head height for your right/left hand (Fireman #3 and #4). This was discontinued I believe around late '66 - '67 following too many death/injuries in appliance road accidents.
These machines came out in many variants but basically all of Auckland s' were the same with identical equipment to enable you to go to any appliance at a working job and put your hands on the piece of gear you needed.
Brings back very strong and happy memories. The Auckland Brigade is holding a three-day reunion from 20 - 22 November 2009 and past and serving members can contact Chief Warby by email on [email protected] for more information, thanks

Added by Pavel Zaremba on 19 July 2009.

Pav - so you guys in NZ, rode the back-step, too ?
I imagine, then, it was the same case in Australia, as well.

I had always thought that riding the back-step was limited to North American-produced apparatus.... before it was banned entirely, some back-step crews would have a safety-belt to hook on, to the rail.

Loved your history, above.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B



Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 23 July 2009.

Pat, I think it was a natural progression from riding the sides of the earlier models or seated in the rear wells where you guys (or perhaps more correctly, the North American apparatus) would have stowed the flaked hose.

Added by Pav on 28 July 2009.

Yes, Pav - the rear hose-beds would have gone in there; often on top of an ever-bigger Water Tank as the Fire-Trucks got bigger, and got more powerful engines; especially for rural areas, without hydrants.

Pumps being Mid-Mount, or Front-Mount; no worry about having to run a Pump Drive-Shaft through, either, to the rear.

In the Halifax, Nova Scotia area - 1979 - I saw a First-Due City Pumper, on a run, still with the crew riding the Rear-Step.

Gotta agree, that the Rear-Step, is safer than riding on the Side Step.

After that, North America,the Crew was shifted forward to your "Granny Seats"; and then, the fully-enclosed Crew Compartment for everyone forward.

In the looks department; IMHO, I personally don't think North Americans did as well, in styling the big Crew Compartment forward, as in Europe and elsewhere.

The Raised Roof is the ultimate, for space and convenience; and a winter shelter, and an Operations Centre [in small Fire Dept's] - but it is hard to style in. Often, looks like a Sight-seeing Coach's windows got blended in....

With the Pics and Comments; really enjoy Aus and NZ blend of Fire-Engine styles, and how they evolved. Almost, like picking the best of both worlds.

And, not to mention, putting my "2-cents-worth" in ... (<;}

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 28 July 2009.

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