Fire Engines Photos

Ex Flintshire. One of two allocated to Rhyl (WDM 489) and this one to Connah's Quay, both with Buttons bodywork. Subsequently allocated to Holywell when the new fire station at Queensferry was opened in 1963 and was allocated 42 BDM, another Buttons bodied WrT. Holywell ran SDM 827 a Karrier 21A"Gamecock"/Carmichael WrT which went into reserve. WDM 489 was reallocated to Buckley to replace Commer QX/HCB WrT HDM 764 which was then converted to FoT with Pyrene RTP fitted and was then allocated to Deeside. In turn it replaced the ex Mold UDCFB Dennis Light four pump CDM 317 which was itself converted into a FoT to repalce an Austin K2 appliance.

Added by Andy Middleton on 21 November 2009.

I was always led to believe PDM 245 was the ex Mold pump converted to a FoT for Deeside. When Mold had its Centenary bash a pic of PDM 245 was produced from The old East Div. of this and all the old boys were waxing lyrical about going to shouts on an open machine! Mold was upgraded to Fulltime during Second World War and its crew helped build Chirk(Longfields) station. I have an NFS dogtag and Whistle from a Former fireman there.

Added by Gary Simpson on 22 November 2009.

No Gary, PDM 501 was the Dennis F25 stationed there. What's PDM 245?

Added by Andy Middleton on 23 November 2009.

PDM 245 is the Dennis open machine photographed on the front of Mold Fire Station when present Station opened. Ex Sub/O John Williams and stalwart Rupert Lloyd both agreed it had been Mold Appliance before the F25. I have a poor scan of the F25 together with the ex Holywell F25 (spare) at Mold when the bay doors were Green! Supplied as a copy on our centenary night. When I work out how to I will put up my photos on here.

Added by Gary Simpson on 23 November 2009.

CDM 317 was the Dennis light 4 purchased by Mold UDCFB in 1937. PDM 245 would have been issued in 1958 as was PDM 501. 501 replaced CDM 317. Love to see it Gary.

Added by Andy Middleton on 23 November 2009.

I also got B/W postcard of Mold UDC prewar pump outside the old county Hallfields offices.

Added by Gary Simpson on 24 November 2009.

Andy thanks for correction on bodybuilder. This is a 1960 Commer QX/Buttons. For full article on Buttons as a bodybuilder see Fire Cover 179 page 5.

Added by Peter Williams on 29 November 2009.

Hi Petros just found this site, going back to your comment on the Bedford J boxvan behind your photo of the Commer appliance. This vehicle could be the mechanics service van. When I was serving Jack Ray was the last of the uniformed mechanics at the time and held the rank of Sub/O. mechanic. The vehicle he used then was a Thames trader in bottle green livery.

Added by Herbie Brick on 15 January 2010.

Somerset used to have bottle green service vans as well, I have a couple of photos of them if any is interested and wants me to post them on this site. I believe they used to attend major incidents in the days of petrol engined appliances with stuff like points, condensors etc to go wrong. They also used to possibly bring petrol supplies to firegrounds to supply the thirsty petrol engines when they were pumping hard over a long period of time.

Added by Paul Pickford on 15 January 2010.

Hi Paul am sure the site would love to see the photos.

Added by Herbie Brick on 16 January 2010.

Did anybody notice that Buttons retained the Commer's original front door step but does not seem to have bothered to actually include a front door!

Added by Rob Johnson on 25 January 2018.

Carmichael and HCB did the same.

Added by Avonmouth on 26 January 2018.

Yes indeed. So did several others, especially a lot of low volume builders like Plaxtons, but most of them did manage to get rid of the step!

I think Alfred Miles were the most reluctant to offer Commer buyers front doors, but HCB and Carmichael did often build four door versions too.

I know the Commer had a slant six engine which resulted in a flat cab floor, but I have never understood why so many fire truck builders suppressed the front doors! I always thought that getting the entire crew in and out of the cab quickly should have been a priority when it came to emergency equipment. But the UK seems to be the only country (except Finland) where having a two door crew cab seems to have been normal on a lot of fire trucks for nigh on thirty years!

I am of course not considering the American canopy cabs in this, because the canopy seat/s was accessed separately.

Added by Rob Johnson on 02 February 2018.

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