One of many wartime NFS issue ladders, still in service well over twenty years after it was built.
Yes, it does look like a bus, but there is a reason for that. It was built on a double deck bus chassis - because in WWII new turntable ladder fire engines were a lot more important than a few extra buses!
As our historians will point out, many of these wartime ladders were also built on both Dennis custom chassis and other Leyland truck chassis too, but these were a lot less distinctive-looking.
I like the gold coach lining, very popular in those days, but there is just not enough of it! Of course, when first issued, it was painted dull grey, so anything is an improvement...
Yes, it does look like a bus, but there is a reason for that. It was built on a double deck bus chassis - because in WWII new turntable ladder fire engines were a lot more important than a few extra buses!
As our historians will point out, many of these wartime ladders were also built on both Dennis custom chassis and other Leyland truck chassis too, but these were a lot less distinctive-looking.
I like the gold coach lining, very popular in those days, but there is just not enough of it! Of course, when first issued, it was painted dull grey, so anything is an improvement...
Added by Rob Johnson on 13 April 2018.