Fire Engines Photos

Thanks for this Iain.

Added by John Stott on 14 August 2009.

This has to be preserved, how many Foden fire engines were ever built ? this is only the second one i know of, ok not a real fire engine as such, just a tractor unit really but still ....

I'm ony surprised that Foden the best ( in my eyes ) truck maker now sadly gone, only ever made 2 fire engines given their engineering expertise i thought they could have made a good appliance .

Added by John Johnstone on 14 August 2009.

Hi Iain, I was with you on the day you took this photograph on 23 May 2005. Regards - Graham (from Ozz)

Added by Graham Dickens on 14 August 2009.

John, as ever you hit it on the nose mate! The army had them as tractor units for tank transport and a tougher wagon I have yet to see. Another British casualty in the name of progress, not.

Added by John Stott on 15 August 2009.

The problem with Foden was it was not fashionable, in the 1970's Foden made the s83 range ( stupidly ) a heater and radio were optional extras, at this time along came the likes of Scania and Volvo with " super ride seats " a radio that worked ( on the Foden s83 turn the radio on and it went crazy problems in those days with a decent earth on a fibreglass cab ) and a heater all included in the price.

Sadly, 30 years on the same that happend to British truck manufacturers has happend to the only " real " fire engine builder and sadly, Dennis, just as Erf, Foden, Leyland etc rested on their laurels thinking they were the best machine whilst others caught up and in the commercial vehicle side ( not fire appliances ) passed them.

Foden were a good motor simple to work on and very easy to repair in regards to a bump, long lasting fibreglass cab fitted to a steel and aluiminum cross member chassis made it ideal for all applications i'm not sure why Foden never tried the fire appliance market but they could have made one hell of a machine if they did !

Added by John Johnstone on 15 August 2009.

Sorry people in my rant above it should read turn the headlights on and radio went crazy sorry again John .

Added by John Johnstone on 15 August 2009.

I'm sure Lincolnshire had a Foden WRC not too long ago?



Added by Kyle. on 16 August 2009.

Yes Kyle they did indeed on a R reg i think this appliance has now been withdrawn sadly .

Added by John Johnstone on 17 August 2009.

here is Lincolnshire's Foden




Added by Petros on 30 November 2024.

I have just found another Foden industrial appliance here

picturestocktonarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/t15191.jpg

Added by Petros on 05 January 2025.

This Foden unit is now likely to be disposed of - is there any facilities who could save it?

Ed: pretty unlikely. Who has the storage for that?

Added by Tom Oliver on 07 February 2026.

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