Fire Engines Photos

A classic British Pump Escape.

Chris has picture 22424 - a rear view with good details, lockers open, and, Wheeled Escape off.

AEC (Associated Equipment Company) produced double-decker buses as well - you can see some of the bus chassis here.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 13 April 2010.

Pat - the 140-odd Merryweather fire trucks like this one were actually built on the same chassis as the contemporary AEC double-deck busses, from 1950 to 1957. The dual-purpose pumps had a reduced wheelbase, but the aerials and rescue truck kept the bus wheelbase.

Originally designed to London Fire Brigade specifications in 1950, these were all diesels, which did limit their popularity at the time, compared to the Dennis alternative with the wonderful Rolls-Royce "straight eight" gas engine.

Added by Rob Johnson on 05 April 2013.

Hi, there were 115 of these 13'6" wheelbase appliances built, one being an ET. They were not designed to London Fire Brigade specifications. The two prototypes went to Middlesex. Twenty four were delivered before London placed its first order. Trust me! I have Merryweathers AEC chassis book in front of me. Ron

Added by Ronald Henderson on 07 April 2013.

Thanks for the clarification Ron. Of course, Middlesex became integrated with the London County Brigade, which perhaps led to the confusion or over simplification. Am I correct that the LCC turned out to be the biggest customer for these Merryweather Regents?

Added by Rob Johnson on 07 April 2013.

London was the biggest customer, five batches, LYL...MXB...NGX...OLB...PUC... Total of 62 plus one ET. The next biggest were Middlesex 8; Lancashire with 6 and Glamorgan with 6. Four went to Hong Kong, 3 open topped Braidwoods to Pakistan etc. Before these there were three normal control AEC Regal Braidwoods from which the Regent developed. Ron

Added by Ronald Henderson on 09 April 2013.

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