Fire Engines Photos

This appliance was a 1963 Bedford TJ/HCB WrT/E(Water Tender Escape).Its seen here around 1971/72 operating as 2nd pump at Crawley alongside what was a new Dennis F44(reg-MPO 54J)WrL just delivered in the Coventry Yellow livery that had been adapted for the West Sussex Fire Brigades fleet.This older appliance like many others would soon around this time(early 1970's)also recieve this new livery and run alongside new appliances coming into service,but from 1972,all new pumping appliances purchased by West Sussex came in the more traditional red livery.

Added by Pete Matten on 28 January 2010.

Wow - thanks Liam - first picture i've seen of this appliance in Yellow - any idea of date this was taken as it would help my records a great deal. - It was originally at Chichester and i think it was a reserve when painted yellow -can anyone - Pete? confirm Thanks, Jon.

Added by Jon Godden on 28 January 2010.

Jon,records show that in 1974 Crawley got the Dennis'D'Series(VPO 701N)and the 1971 Dennis F44 was still on the run as 1st pump,this appliance may have then gone as 3rd pump(retained?)but by 1975 this old Bedford shows up as being on the spare appliance fleet,and by 1980 it was still in service with the brigade as a Training Centre/Driver Training vehicle.I'm unsure when it finally went out of service.

Added by Pete Matten on 28 January 2010.

Thanks Pete - i have a picture of it in red livery at Chichester in 1965 when it carried a wheeled escape. Time for more research - perhaps it went to Crawley when F44 MPX 589J arrived at Chichester? Certainly was spare/ training in mid 1970s. Sadly i can not recal seeing it in the flesh Thanks for your help, Jon

Added by Jon Godden on 30 January 2010.

Jon,checkout that 1975 Fleet List I sent you and it shows this appliance as being a spare at that time.But let me just say that between 1971 and 1974 according to Bob,this appliance was on the run at Crawley,between 1971/72 it was used at Shoreham,then again in 1974 it was used again at Shoreham when there 1972 Dennis F49 had to be returned to Dennis Brothers for major repairs following an incident with a gorse fire.
I think this picture is from 1971 when it was running as 2nd pump alongside the 1971 Dennis F44.

Added by Pete Matten on 31 January 2010.

Thanks Pete - that sounds about right, much appreciated. Interestingly in this picture it is not wearing a station plate! Note the red baby Bedford in the drill yard behind. Jon.

Added by Jon Godden on 31 January 2010.

This appliance is shown at West Sussex Fire Brigade Crawley operating as a Brigade Spare 1975.
From March 1971 it was transfered to the station at Shoreham-by-Sea as first pump complete with Bailey 50ft Wheeled Escape. In mid 1972 it became a regional reserve appliance for the brigade, in
1974 it was converted to take a 464 Ladder.
It was Chichesters first appliance from 14/7/63 until 1971 when it went to Shoreham, it does become confusing because during 1974 Shoreham first pump a Dennis f.49 suffered long term accident damage and was returned to Dennis at Guildford for major repairs, 68 KPX was there for several months. Bob Carver...(68 KPX) was repainted traditional red in the July of 1976.

Added by Bob Carver on 02 February 2010.

Thanks Bob - you are a mine of brilliant information.It all makes sense now! Jon.

Added by Jon Godden on 06 February 2010.

Jon,
Concluding comment,68 KPX was a horrible appliance to drive with gearstick right back in the crew compartment. This was a drawback with a normal control conversion to forward control conversion. 68 KPX spent the rest of its entirety
of life as a spare within the Brigade.
In 1980 it went to training at Tangmere near Chichester a rather crude adaption was fitted to oil, and water the tyres for it to become a skidpan vehicle for Driving in hazard conditions. When it was withdrawn from service in 1983 it was in a bad state having been cannibalised for parts. The Brigade had one similar appliance 205 BPO which, in 1975 became a Driver Training Vehicle for C Division it was repainted in a drab grey, Brigade Policy in those days so not confuse the public with a operational appliance. this practice was dropped in 1978 due to protests from the Training crews whom operated them. BOB CARVER

Added by BOB CARVER on 08 February 2010.

Thanks Bob - sorry to ask more questions - was there not a similar appliance registered 67 KPX as well? Jon.

Added by Jon Godden on 09 February 2010.

Jon,the 1963 Bedford TJ/HCB reg-67KPX saw service at Worthing,and also(1975 Fleet List)the retained station at Selsey.

Added by Pete Matten on 10 February 2010.

Jon,
67 KPX was a 1963 Bedford J/5 all alloy HCB Water Tender, you will recall these were a very handsome designed Water Tender, built in several batches for various Uk Brigades. there is a photo of an identical one in the fire images gallery 3970 PX based at Lancing. 67 KPX was delivered brand new to Clarence Road Bognor Regis in the May of 1963 it was the Brigades first operational appliance with French Style Two-Tone Horns.
It was only at Bognor Regis for one month,(third pump) when a decision was made to place it at the retain station at Selsey. it became Brigade policy to place the newer engines as front-line pumps.
In early 1976 Selsey received a hand-down Dennis Jaguar WrL (JCR 326P-17) 67 KPX then became a spare
and soon after a Driver Training Appliance, however this was short lived as it was running under weight for HGV work,and disposed of.
If you look at Bedford 3970 PX you will see at the front/roof-line an additional gantry, this was to incorporate a large Driver Training Board
67 KPX-3970 PX were the only J/5s used for this purpose and only a short spells in their life.
I hope, Jon this answers your question BOB CARVER.

Added by BOB CARVER on 11 February 2010.

Thanks Bob - i'm to young to remember many of the Bedfords on the run, other than reserves & training at Worthing so much appreciated.

Added by Jon Godden on 11 February 2010.

If you will pardon my ignorance, could someone please tell me the difference between a Bedford TJ, A Bedford J4 and a Bedford J5?

Added by Bill Edwards on 04 June 2015.

The variations on these Bedfords does come confusing it was all to do with specifications, chassis dimensions TJ/J some people refer to them as J types while others use the term T.J. The J type Bedford left the factory as normal control commercial vehicles meaning they had a bonnet coachbuiders engineers such as Hampshire Car Bodies of Totton Southampton converted/adapted these to forward control meaning the driver sat beside the engine as mentioned in my previous comments this often meant the gearchange was further back which I found very ackward on occasions 68 KPX was an appliance that incorporated a wooden body usually comprising of ash with panelling in marine ply.
The little Bedford J.5 (chassis variation) was built as an all alloy composite water tender a style that was in the Alfred Miles selection of fire appliances in the fifties

Added by BOB CARVER on 05 June 2015.

I would like to add 68 KPX was not unique for having been converted to take a 464 triple extension ladder. During June of 1968 the brigade decided to test the worthiness and durability of this new and unproven alloy ladder to see how it would compare with the old style wheeled escape ladder and the decision was made to put it on trial at the counties Crawley Fire Station to this affect Bedford SLHZ registration number 4176 PO /HCB was returned to workshops for this conversion to be carried out and was in there for some weeks parked up. Eventually being returned to Crawley three months later sporting the new ladder. It was irony that in 1974 when 4176 PO was removed from frontline service and became D Division/Haywards Heaths new driver training vehicle the gantries were removed and refitted to 68 KPX and 4176 PO was repainted in Dove Grey representing driver training school.Hope this is of assistance to anyone viewing this page.

Added by BOB CARVER on 05 June 2015.

No expert on fire engines , but the official Bedford number of the bonneted range was TJ ( see Wiki ) , but everyone always called them J's.
J4 was a 4 tonner and J5 was a 5 tonner.
Now why did the bodybuilders go to all the hassle of converting bonneted trucks to forward control when FC trucks were available is a puzzle to me.

Added by Craigw on 08 June 2015.

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