Fire Engines Photos

It could well have been Scotland as the car park looks very like the Doune Motor Museums (Nr Stirling) - sadly the museum closed a number of years ago.

Added by Bob James. on 04 October 2007.

Gee, pretty neat (Open) Cab Forward Aerial - do any of our Knowledgable Readers have some info on this great rig ?

And, hoping it is in a good home....

Regards, from canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 03 November 2008.

It looks like a Leyland TD7 bus chassis/Merryweather 100ft Turntable Ladder
which was powered by the Leyland 8.6-litre diesel engine.Six of this type
were built in 1941 for the war effort for the National Fire Service.
Its a pity we don't have the registration, then maybe someone could trace
its history, and if its still in presevation still today.

Added by Pete Matten on 03 November 2008.

This was built during WW2 on a Leyland Titan Bus Chassis. The half Cab configuration was normal to UK Buses up to the late 50's.Several of these TL's were issued to Brigades in the War, and most served for many years afterwards, in some cases upto the late 60's. During the War they carried the Grey livery of the National Fire Service, and it was only after the War (in 1948), when the Brigades were handed back to local authorities again, that they recieved Fire Brigade Red livery.I know of at least two that are preserved one is in Wolverhampton Fire Brigade livery, the other is in War time Grey.

Added by Chris Hall Teesside UK. on 03 November 2008.

We do have the registrations of these TD7 jobs, and there were certainly more than six. The main blocks were GLW 405 to GLW 408, GLW 410 to GLW 423, and GLW 425 to GLW 431. There were also two to Belfast (FZ 9326 and FZ 9726), one to the Admiralty at Devonport (10863 RN) which passed to PLymouth (some say on loan) post-1948 and became EDR 706. There was also one that went to Egypt, which is said to have carried the military plate 53 EP 78, though the registration is not 100% certain.

Added by Ian Moore on 04 November 2008.

Auckland New Zealand had a 1948 Leyland Merryweather 100 ft TTL not unlike this model but with a forward facing crew bench seat directly behind the driver. John Walker may be able to come to our assistance with a pic or further info, , , ,

Added by Pavel on 04 November 2008.

Well spotted Ian, it was my mistake and didn't notice it until it had gone to print.In actual fact, 63 100ft Merryweather turntable ladders were built for
the N.F.S., and of these, 30 were built on the Leyland TD7 bus chassis, 25 were
on Leyland Beaver chassis, and last eight Dennis/Merryweather TL's were built
for the war effort as I stated on a previous(photo 7411)picture of mine.Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 04 November 2008.

Thats correct Pavel me old mate.The Leyland/Merryweather 100ft TTL was located
in Auckland and was actually knicknamed 'Thunder Guts'.The appliance in question
is now at the M.O.T.A.T.Museum in Wellington.
I actually do have pictures but can't post, hopefully John Walker can oblige.

Added by Pete Matten on 04 November 2008.

I love the fact that a picture can be on this site for quite some time (nearly two years in this case), and then one comment is posted which leads to lots of fresh information being added. The existing photos could probably keep us talking for years if we looked at them again but please keep adding new ones anyway!

Added by Chris Wood on 05 November 2008.

D'you know - I didn't even notice the "half-cab", when I posted my Comment....

John Walker has come through, and obligingly posted pics of "Thunder Guts", preserved and running, in all her glory, at picture 12165 and picture 12167.

For our American friends:

" Ya gotta see this rig ! "

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 06 November 2008.

Further thought, after seeing "Thunder Guts' - where did the remaining crew sit/hang on for dear life, on this machine above? Was there a back-ward facing bench seat behind the Driver - or was it a Driver-only rig ?

Rgds, Pat_R-B again

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 06 November 2008.

I'd like to thank John Walker for posting pictures of the Leyland/Merryweather
now at the M.O.T.A.T Museum(see picture 12165 and picture 12167)in New Zealand onto
the site.Brilliant photographs and well worth a view.Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 06 November 2008.

The Leyland TD7 Turntable ladders originally had 4 cylinder Petrol engines but some were later converted to 8.6 diesels which were of course the same as the buses.

Added by Allan T Condie on 28 April 2009.

Have been searching casually for info about EDR 706 and was surprised to see the picture. I knew it in the period 1953/54 when I used to pass its station in Molesworth Road Stoke Plymouth. I have a fair early photo copy of a photograph of it parked around the corner from its station. Is there any more up to date info concerning it?

Added by Cliff Trethewey on 16 November 2013.

two of these TD7 TTL's were issued to Liverpool during the war, GLW407 (No71) and GLW417 (No81)

Added by Dave Price on 17 November 2013.

I have heard it said that the petrol engine required changing down to climb over the cats eyes!!

Added by Neal Glover on 17 November 2013.

There is also an example preserved in the Fire Museum in Penrith, N.S.W. Australia. I should be able to supply further details if wanted. I think that six were sent out to Australia post-WW11.

Added by Malcolm Howie on 19 April 2014.

Wolverhampton is the only UK fire brigade to have replaced one bus-based TL with another! In 1960 they bought a Leyland Firemaster Magirus TL (one of only two ever built), which was also a slightly modified bus chassis.

The other one, delivered to Darlington, is in preservation - thanks to Dr. Barry - but I don't know what happened to the Wolvehampton unit, although I did hear it found its way to Hong Kong for some reason...

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 December 2017.

I think the bus chassis were in the process of being exported to the Far East when the Home Office stepped in and has them converted to Turntable ladders.

Added by Joe Mckenzie on 08 January 2018.

They were built as special chassis for the turntable ladders as the petrol engines were fitted when built. As for the post war ones, a number on Leyland PD chassis were built by Merryweather for export still with open cabs.

Added by Allan Condie on 10 January 2018.

I have a photo of GLW 416 (Newcastle then South Shields) at Malton Fire Station, North Yorkshire. Although it did not serve with the North Riding or City of York Fire Brigade. So why it was there is a mystery.

Ed can you post this please

Added by Ian Orledge on 30 June 2026.

Please add your comments about this picture using the form below.

Comments

Your Name

Your email address - this will be shown on the page and will allow the system to notify you of further comments added to this picture.