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Fire Engine Photos
Bedford R Papworth ET 115 CER
Taken in 1975, a 4x4 appliance, bodied by Papworth Industries, a firm local to Cambridge. It was started as a sheltered factory for disabled people and came later to do bodywork for post office telephones company. This was one of very few fire appliances until recently when the factory was taken over the by AssetCo, the London PFI contractor. They now build a lot of appliances at the village of Papworth Everard. Try Papworth in the search engine but this Bedford was the first!
Taken in 1975, a 4x4 appliance, bodied by Papworth Industries, a firm local to Cambridge. It was started as a sheltered factory for disabled people and came later to do bodywork for post office telephones company. This was one of very few fire appliances until recently when the factory was taken over the by AssetCo, the London PFI contractor. They now build a lot of appliances at the village of Papworth Everard. Try Papworth in the search engine but this Bedford was the first!
This ET was in the appliance room at the new county HQ on Parker's Piece in Cambridge when I lived almost next door in 1964. At the time, the Brigade had several Bedford RL 4X4 water tenders, a 1000 gallon RL tanker and this ET.
It was certainly the only RL ET I have ever heard of, and may have been the only 4X4 ET ever placed on the run by a UK municipal or county brigade - although of course some Land Rovers were configured as light rescue tenders. It was replaced several years later by an odd much smaller limited-production forward control 6X6 rescue truck, with Saxon bodywork, but this was reputedly not very satisfactory and was itself replaced quite rapidly.
Added by Rob Johnson on 11 August 2014.
It was certainly the only RL ET I have ever heard of, and may have been the only 4X4 ET ever placed on the run by a UK municipal or county brigade - although of course some Land Rovers were configured as light rescue tenders. It was replaced several years later by an odd much smaller limited-production forward control 6X6 rescue truck, with Saxon bodywork, but this was reputedly not very satisfactory and was itself replaced quite rapidly.
Added by Rob Johnson on 11 August 2014.
There is a Bedford RL at photo #23736 but it is not all wheel drive. I cannot think of another big Bedford 4x4 ET. The replacement at Cambridge was a Stonefield. See photo #20701. The bodybuilder was CMC. See also photo #21657 for a Bedford ET they built for Cambridgeshire, but not all wheel drive. I drove past Parkside 2 weeks ago - I used to live next door as well in 1975 - and the old station has been rebuilt on the same site with flats above.
Added by Peter Williams on 16 August 2014.
Added by Peter Williams on 16 August 2014.
I was back there in July this year. Striking firemen camped outside. Very depressing!
Added by Rob Johnson on 31 August 2014.
Added by Rob Johnson on 31 August 2014.
My Dad was a fireman at papworth everard in the 1970s is this the engine there used then ?
Added by Peter on 18 November 2016.
Added by Peter on 18 November 2016.
No this served at Cambridge 1963-1979.Papworth station had from 1961:
XVE 235 Bedford RLHZ Haydon pump 1961-1975
GEB 871N Dodge K850/HCB pump
AEG693Y Dennis RS133/JDC pump
If you want to see a picture of XVE email me and I will tell you where it is. You can see a similar appliance at this link - picture 39191 or picture 20607.
Added by Peter Williams on 23 November 2016.
XVE 235 Bedford RLHZ Haydon pump 1961-1975
GEB 871N Dodge K850/HCB pump
AEG693Y Dennis RS133/JDC pump
If you want to see a picture of XVE email me and I will tell you where it is. You can see a similar appliance at this link - picture 39191 or picture 20607.
Added by Peter Williams on 23 November 2016.
Bedford
Added by Peter Williams on 25 June 2012.