Fire Engines Photos

Very-y interesting - you might say an early prototype for today's ARP/CARP.

Thanks for getting it to us.

Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 29 October 2009.

Yes a most unique combination.....I wonder how much use it got whilst in service

Added by Barrie Green on 29 October 2009.

Thankyou Ken, a very rare shot. Pat, this cant be compared to a "modern" ARP, firstly its Bedford and secondly, it probably never broke down.

Added by John Stott on 29 October 2009.

Hello is this appliance still about, a few years back a Yeovil fest of transport a chap i spoke to there with a war time fire engine said that this Bedford was layed up in a farmers field.

Added by MORGAN CHAPMAN on 29 October 2009.

I'd be interested to find out what the Firement that drove and operated it thought about it!

Added by Andy Bain on 29 October 2009.

In answer to your question Barrie, it was well used. It attended all building fires on Ilfracombe's ground as the second pump along with their WrL, and all TL calls in B Division (North Devon). This included several PDAs in Barnstaple, as well as several fires in Barnstaple and Bideford. It was only classed as a pump for calls on Ilfracombe's ground. As well as the hosereel pump, it carried a Portable Pump and general firefighting gear. Like CARPs it replaced two appliances a TL (the donor for the ladder) and a WrT.

Added by Tony Morris on 07 November 2009.

Thanks for that Tony....a very unique appliance and a equally unique attempt at solving a problem.Unlike the present generation CARPS....I bet it had no reliability issues!!!!
I would be great to see it restored.

Added by Barrie Green on 08 November 2009.

Ah, "Good One"; John S.

Guys, thanks for the info on this unique machine.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 09 November 2009.

I served in the Devon County Fire Service at B1 Barnstaple with detached duties at B2 Ilfracombe from 1964 to 1973 before moving on promotion. I would add to Tony Morris's comments, at the time a 200gal. tank was fitted, the portable pump was 250gal./min and whilst the training and elevating was by hand the ladder was fitted with mechanical extending and head of ladder to the operator communications. It was a very useful appliance.

Added by Robert (Bob)Sanderson on 17 July 2016.

Check out Instanbul's "mini quint" on this site for an updated fire truck, which incorporates the thinking behind this unique little unit.

Added by Rob Johnson on 22 August 2017.

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