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Fire Engine Photos
1976 Rangerover Carmichael Rescue Tender.
This was a 1976(reg-KBP 550P) RangeRover/Carmichael'Commando'rescue unit of the West Sussex Fire Brigade and was delivered in the striking Day-Glow orange livery for better day and night-time visibility and was new to Worthing fire station.It was one of 3 such vehicles in use in West Sussex,the other 2 RangeRover/Carmichael rescue tenders from 1974 being located at Horsham and Chichester.These appliances remained in service with West Sussex until 1993 and then were replaced in 1993 with 3 Mercedes/JDC Heavy Rescue Units fitted with Hiab 071 Crane.The later are now this year(2009)being replaced with new Scania/JDC heavy rescue tenders.
This photograph was taken when the appliance had just been delivered back in 1976 to the station, and was copied from an original slide from my collection.The Mercedes/JDC HRT's,and also the latest 2009 Scania/JDC HRT's are also on this site now to view.
This was a 1976(reg-KBP 550P) RangeRover/Carmichael'Commando'rescue unit of the West Sussex Fire Brigade and was delivered in the striking Day-Glow orange livery for better day and night-time visibility and was new to Worthing fire station.It was one of 3 such vehicles in use in West Sussex,the other 2 RangeRover/Carmichael rescue tenders from 1974 being located at Horsham and Chichester.These appliances remained in service with West Sussex until 1993 and then were replaced in 1993 with 3 Mercedes/JDC Heavy Rescue Units fitted with Hiab 071 Crane.The later are now this year(2009)being replaced with new Scania/JDC heavy rescue tenders.
This photograph was taken when the appliance had just been delivered back in 1976 to the station, and was copied from an original slide from my collection.The Mercedes/JDC HRT's,and also the latest 2009 Scania/JDC HRT's are also on this site now to view.
I think there is a good chance this machine may still exist. There is a picture of it on the sixappealwheelgroup website in subsequent years although with some changes, full grill, stemlight gone lightbar in it's place. Also the DVLA website showed it was last taxed in 2005. What a treat it would be to see it restored to it's striking Dayglo. Anyone have any more info?
Added by John D on 01 September 2009.
Added by John D on 01 September 2009.
Dear Scott,
Photo yes. But you'll have to wait next year, i need to go back to my real native home in France in December to fetch my other slides.
JP-Tokyo
Added by Jacques PETER on 02 September 2009.
Photo yes. But you'll have to wait next year, i need to go back to my real native home in France in December to fetch my other slides.
JP-Tokyo
Added by Jacques PETER on 02 September 2009.
This vehicle was until recently working with Palmer Motorsport at Bruntinthorpe Proving Ground.
Added by John Carter on 30 October 2009.
Added by John Carter on 30 October 2009.
Greater Manchester also had these at Agecroft and Heywood to Cover the M62. Some good pics on the Flash Delta 64 website
Added by Paul Crichton on 08 January 2010.
Added by Paul Crichton on 08 January 2010.
Just wondering what that is in the middle of the front grill. Is it related to a winch or a form of or air/oil cooler?
Added by John D on 28 May 2010.
Added by John D on 28 May 2010.
Looks to me as though this appliance is fitted with a winch with the cable coming out through the tubular bumper
Added by Paul Staniland on 29 May 2010.
Added by Paul Staniland on 29 May 2010.
Thanks Pete/Paul I looked this appliance up on DVLA website and it looks like it may have been exported, unless anyone else knows any different?
Added by John D on 30 May 2010.
Added by John D on 30 May 2010.
Does anyone happen to know what make the unusual (american style?) multi coloured beacons were that West Sussex fitted to the two other Commandos (TPO 513M TPO 514M) & the Chubb Pursuer CRT?
Added by John D on 30 May 2010.
Added by John D on 30 May 2010.
Pete
I might be wrong but I think one managed to hang on until 1997 at Horsham, also I was told that 1 was originally allocated to Haywards Heath but moved to Horsham.
Added by Stuart on 25 November 2010.
I might be wrong but I think one managed to hang on until 1997 at Horsham, also I was told that 1 was originally allocated to Haywards Heath but moved to Horsham.
Added by Stuart on 25 November 2010.
West Sussex Range Rover Rapid Intervention Vehicles now what a subject. In the financial year of 1974 two Range Rovers to the above specification were ordered these were built by Carmichael & Sons of Gregorys Mill Worcester.
The First was TPO 513M which was placed on the run at 08 Crawley for first attendance at Gatwick Airport, the second was TPO 514M which went to the counties Hayward Heaths Fire Station which is also in striking distance of Gatwick Airport.
In early 1975 a new concept of appliance was to arrive within the Brigade this was a Chubb Rapid Intervention Vehicle, which was in basic terms an Airfield Crash Tender which a Foam Capability enhanced by a roof mounted cannon and also a compliment of road cutting equipment/air bags etc and also high resistant flame proof suits.
Powered by a American Chrysler V8 Diesel giving very rapid acceleration and performance through an automatic gearbox this vehicle was allocated to first attendance at Gatwick based at Crawley fire station replacing Range Rover TPO 513M as the rescue tender for this station. All Rescue tenders within this period were finished in a German Weidenfeld livery (Dayglow Orange). However things did not work out as planned and the Chubb Pursuer spent more time off the run than on, as the engine kept seizing which related to overheating problems and dogged the vehicle for years this meant that Range Rover TPO 513M was kept as an immediate back up for Crawley having been transfered to Northgate Chichester on the June of 1976 and spent again more time in Crawley than Chichester. These vehicles were fitted with very unique twin phased/coloured Blue and Red flashing lights made by the firm "Francis" of searchlight and other warning devices fame. Glasgow Schooshers fitted them also in the early seventies, however these lights were subject to legislation and legal litigation which resulted in many, if not all Brigades removing them and replacing them with conventional Blue lucas lights etc
After many problems with Chubb Pursuer in 1980 some five years after purchase the engine was replaced by the Rolls Royce B.81 Petrol unit thus giving it the long lost reliability the vehicle had been dogged with. Problems from day one even included having the Silver Heat suits taken while being delivered, when north of Midhurst the front mountings on the axle collapsed! and the driver going off to obtain recovery assistance while being delivered to the Brigade, for those interested in this vehicle it incorporated a shortened Bedford T.K Chassis as the basis.
After the Chubb a third Range Rover was delivered to the Brigade with a revised lighting system but most importantly a Dale Hydraulic Front telescopic Lighting System for Motorway Work and high tensity Blue lights made by "Bosch" this appliance KBP 550P was allocated to 01 Worthing as their first purpose built Rescue tender. All of these Rescue Tenders were moved about and in the mid-eighties Range Rover TPO 513M was written off with front end damage and the bodyshop was instructed to complete the work by the Brigade as they had not budgeted for a new R.I.V a complete new front end was fitted and because of problems with the Weidenfeld livery (Dayglow) it was repainted conventional fire engine red and in doing so 3M High Visibility Stripping was applied to the finished vehicle this policy was eventually done on the two remaining Range Rovers, but not before the lighting Mask on KBP 550P was broken when it was left extended at a incident and smashed off on low level trees the safety device having failed! The Chubb (Sorry to all you buffs the registration number has escaped me) ended up at Redhill Airfield as the sites crash tender, as for the three Range Rovers one at least has been exported to Norway! current information has arrived on my door tells me sadly
I understand KBP 550P now lays derelict on Agricultural Premises in Norfolk looking in a sorry state new home required! while one of the TPOs was for sale in Southampton having had the tank removed and a concrete block placed in for stability! but still retained the old style "Francis" Red and Blue lights thought to possibly been refitted, I am sure the originals were taken off will check my photos at some point this vehicle was on E-Bay recently but I am informed the one in Norway may be one of the same vehicle. Surrey Fire Brigade also purchased one in brillant white with red banding which again information has arrived on my door this is also in a contractors yard in the West Country in a state of neglect. well I hope folks this article puts a few points to rest long live the Range Rovers!
Added by BOB CARVER on 26 November 2010.
The First was TPO 513M which was placed on the run at 08 Crawley for first attendance at Gatwick Airport, the second was TPO 514M which went to the counties Hayward Heaths Fire Station which is also in striking distance of Gatwick Airport.
In early 1975 a new concept of appliance was to arrive within the Brigade this was a Chubb Rapid Intervention Vehicle, which was in basic terms an Airfield Crash Tender which a Foam Capability enhanced by a roof mounted cannon and also a compliment of road cutting equipment/air bags etc and also high resistant flame proof suits.
Powered by a American Chrysler V8 Diesel giving very rapid acceleration and performance through an automatic gearbox this vehicle was allocated to first attendance at Gatwick based at Crawley fire station replacing Range Rover TPO 513M as the rescue tender for this station. All Rescue tenders within this period were finished in a German Weidenfeld livery (Dayglow Orange). However things did not work out as planned and the Chubb Pursuer spent more time off the run than on, as the engine kept seizing which related to overheating problems and dogged the vehicle for years this meant that Range Rover TPO 513M was kept as an immediate back up for Crawley having been transfered to Northgate Chichester on the June of 1976 and spent again more time in Crawley than Chichester. These vehicles were fitted with very unique twin phased/coloured Blue and Red flashing lights made by the firm "Francis" of searchlight and other warning devices fame. Glasgow Schooshers fitted them also in the early seventies, however these lights were subject to legislation and legal litigation which resulted in many, if not all Brigades removing them and replacing them with conventional Blue lucas lights etc
After many problems with Chubb Pursuer in 1980 some five years after purchase the engine was replaced by the Rolls Royce B.81 Petrol unit thus giving it the long lost reliability the vehicle had been dogged with. Problems from day one even included having the Silver Heat suits taken while being delivered, when north of Midhurst the front mountings on the axle collapsed! and the driver going off to obtain recovery assistance while being delivered to the Brigade, for those interested in this vehicle it incorporated a shortened Bedford T.K Chassis as the basis.
After the Chubb a third Range Rover was delivered to the Brigade with a revised lighting system but most importantly a Dale Hydraulic Front telescopic Lighting System for Motorway Work and high tensity Blue lights made by "Bosch" this appliance KBP 550P was allocated to 01 Worthing as their first purpose built Rescue tender. All of these Rescue Tenders were moved about and in the mid-eighties Range Rover TPO 513M was written off with front end damage and the bodyshop was instructed to complete the work by the Brigade as they had not budgeted for a new R.I.V a complete new front end was fitted and because of problems with the Weidenfeld livery (Dayglow) it was repainted conventional fire engine red and in doing so 3M High Visibility Stripping was applied to the finished vehicle this policy was eventually done on the two remaining Range Rovers, but not before the lighting Mask on KBP 550P was broken when it was left extended at a incident and smashed off on low level trees the safety device having failed! The Chubb (Sorry to all you buffs the registration number has escaped me) ended up at Redhill Airfield as the sites crash tender, as for the three Range Rovers one at least has been exported to Norway! current information has arrived on my door tells me sadly
I understand KBP 550P now lays derelict on Agricultural Premises in Norfolk looking in a sorry state new home required! while one of the TPOs was for sale in Southampton having had the tank removed and a concrete block placed in for stability! but still retained the old style "Francis" Red and Blue lights thought to possibly been refitted, I am sure the originals were taken off will check my photos at some point this vehicle was on E-Bay recently but I am informed the one in Norway may be one of the same vehicle. Surrey Fire Brigade also purchased one in brillant white with red banding which again information has arrived on my door this is also in a contractors yard in the West Country in a state of neglect. well I hope folks this article puts a few points to rest long live the Range Rovers!
Added by BOB CARVER on 26 November 2010.
The Chubb was JPO 646P I also failed to point out this also had the Telescopic lighting mask fitted you will find a photo of this appliance on the Fire Images website under "Chubb" at a exhibition
Added by BOB CARVER on 26 November 2010.
Added by BOB CARVER on 26 November 2010.
Thank you Bob, I also added a comment but not quite so in depth as you've done here so Marcel hasn't included it.I certainly think though you've just about covered everything on the West Sussex Fire Brigades Rangerover/Carmichaels RT's.
Reference the one at this time in Norway, yes its the same one that was in Southampton with the concrete slap in it.
Added by Pete Matten on 26 November 2010.
Reference the one at this time in Norway, yes its the same one that was in Southampton with the concrete slap in it.
Added by Pete Matten on 26 November 2010.
Did West Sussex operate any Emergency tenders or rescue tender before the Range Rovers?
Added by Bill Edwards on 14 January 2013.
Added by Bill Edwards on 14 January 2013.
Bill yes indeed they did, in 1970 the brigade purchased six short wheel base Land Rovers these were from the home office stores in Branston Oxfordshire.
They were allocated to each of the counties whole time fire stations. These you will recall had the canvas backs, overhead gantries were fitted for the stowage of animal rescue sheer legs also lucas acorn style blue lights were fitted and two tones. As for the colour "Bill" they arrived in traditional deep bronze green but were repainted broken white on this occasion no brigade crests were fitted but home office radios were.
When at the stations concerned pallets were left at the rear of these Land Rovers with a varity of operational equipment on them when a incident came in they lifted what the situation demanded onto the back of the Land Rovers and off they went these Land rovers did live on for some years as late as 1977 as station run arounds for hydrant testing etc etc I do have the index numbers somewhere. They were not done in I.C.I Coventry Fire Brigade Yellow for some reason the brigade elected to use brillant/broken white as a operational support colour the early control units were painted in brillant white being based at the counties Chichester and Horsham stations these were the early civil defence Ford Thames Control and evacuation units the whole time crews did not use the blues and twos as they were so very slow even rumours the pedal cycles overtook them on the way to incidents!
Added by BOB CARVER on 15 January 2013.
They were allocated to each of the counties whole time fire stations. These you will recall had the canvas backs, overhead gantries were fitted for the stowage of animal rescue sheer legs also lucas acorn style blue lights were fitted and two tones. As for the colour "Bill" they arrived in traditional deep bronze green but were repainted broken white on this occasion no brigade crests were fitted but home office radios were.
When at the stations concerned pallets were left at the rear of these Land Rovers with a varity of operational equipment on them when a incident came in they lifted what the situation demanded onto the back of the Land Rovers and off they went these Land rovers did live on for some years as late as 1977 as station run arounds for hydrant testing etc etc I do have the index numbers somewhere. They were not done in I.C.I Coventry Fire Brigade Yellow for some reason the brigade elected to use brillant/broken white as a operational support colour the early control units were painted in brillant white being based at the counties Chichester and Horsham stations these were the early civil defence Ford Thames Control and evacuation units the whole time crews did not use the blues and twos as they were so very slow even rumours the pedal cycles overtook them on the way to incidents!
Added by BOB CARVER on 15 January 2013.
Ex:AFS Landrover S1.86 L4Vs allocated to wholetime stations carried Portopower/Cengar Saw/Zip Gun/Tirfor, crew of two to off station ground calls.
Added by M.West on 15 January 2013.
Added by M.West on 15 January 2013.
Hi we have just saved tpo 514m. Its going to be preserved looking for the sister vehicle tpo 513m if any body knows were it is
Added by Mike on 22 March 2014.
Added by Mike on 22 March 2014.
Hello there,
Just found this and thought you would be interested to know that I have just brought TPO 514M but it need alot off work. I will be taking her to ardingly classic and vintage show in july, Regards john charman
Added by John Charman on 30 March 2014.
Just found this and thought you would be interested to know that I have just brought TPO 514M but it need alot off work. I will be taking her to ardingly classic and vintage show in july, Regards john charman
Added by John Charman on 30 March 2014.
Hi Guys, I have 2 brand new doors complete with trim that would fit such a vehicle, if anyone is restoring one.
Added by Jean Betts on 26 August 2014.
Added by Jean Betts on 26 August 2014.
Hi Jean.
The doors would be of interest to members of the Six Appeal Wheel Group (who preserve, restore & operate these Range Rover based fire appliances).
You could either contact the group directly via the website: www.thesixappealwheelgroup.org
or as I am a member, if you e-mail me (Click on my name below) I will happily pass the details on.
Added by John D on 26 August 2014.
The doors would be of interest to members of the Six Appeal Wheel Group (who preserve, restore & operate these Range Rover based fire appliances).
You could either contact the group directly via the website: www.thesixappealwheelgroup.org
or as I am a member, if you e-mail me (Click on my name below) I will happily pass the details on.
Added by John D on 26 August 2014.
Range Rover
I was very impressed by this engine.
In France we considered a Range Rover as luxury vehicles.
Added by Jacques PETER on 31 August 2009.