Fire Engines Photos

Also see (picture 6107) of this ex-ESFB appliance with a little information added.It really does look nice now having been fully restored,so well done Andre.Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 11 July 2010.

Superb example of a much loved machine. These TK's were the pinacle of fire fighting appliances of their time.

Added by Dave Lewis on 12 July 2010.

Lovely machine, minor point, should it have one or two beacons fitted? In picture 6107 it appears to have two, whereas recent photo only showing one.

Added by Matt Ireland on 12 July 2010.

It was a batch of 3 Uckfield,Rye and Crowborough.I have old pics of the Rye and Uckfield pumps which show them with the 1 beacon.They were taken in the 70's so I would guess that 1 would be correct and the 2nd beacon was added later.Good to see it fully restored hope to see it soon.

Added by Shaun R. on 12 July 2010.

The picture of this vehicle I took and added on site was taken around 1995 and shows a 2nd beacon,another picture I took earlier from 1992 at the Southampton Fire Show at the Royal Victoria Country Park actually shows the appliance with a searchlight where the near-side blue beacon can be seen.This actually could mean a second beacon was added much later in the appliances life,even maybe after going into preservation.

Added by Pete Matten on 12 July 2010.

I've now found another picture of this appliance at an incident whilst still in service(no station markings)being used maybe as a reserve/spare appliance.Again a searchlight can clearly be seen on roof to the near side,not a blue beacon.

Added by Peter Matten on 13 July 2010.

Pete - do you mean offside? When delivered these ESFB Bedfords may of had a single blue light above the driver (Offside) in later years I belive they had rear blue beacons fitted too - diagonally opposite. I've not seen any photo's of MPM or others with a blue beacon on the nearside front. At the point MPM came out of service I belive it would of had two roof mounted beacons one above the driver, and one on the rear passengers (OIC) side - (various configurations of repeater lamps mounted on the front grille) A small searchlight would be mounted on the cab roof above the OIC seat (nearside) and the large Francis Searchlight mounted about midway back on the roof (drivers side) I think Andre's picture was taken just before some later finishing touches have been added which include the OIC's searchlight, and two tones. Most ESFB appliances on reserve duties, usually adopted the name of the station that they were temporarily serving at, simply my slotting in the station name plates onto the doors, so would be unusual to see an unmarked vehicle attending an incident.

Added by Michael G on 14 July 2010.

now fitted with front spot light and rear blue light and horns

Added by Andre on 14 July 2010.

Michael G,reference the lights.Blue beacon on cab above driver and blue beacon on near side on top of back,above the OIC on nearside was the small searchlight next to the bell.In reference to the blue lights on front of appliance,these were originally of the twin-type mounted on the grill like the picture I sent in.
The other picture I mensioned,the appliance certainly does not have a station name plate in its holder on the officers door.Pete.

Added by Peter Matten on 14 July 2010.

Hi Peter, i've now seen your other picture of MPM after she came out of service (#6107)so can now see what you mean about the blue beacon above the OIC, I think this would of been added by whoever preserved the appliance at the time, that is not how she would of been in service. I that photo MPM is not even in ESFB livery - I guess not all people who preserve appliances want to restore them to their original service condition, but the important thing is, she was preserved, and saved. I now know the lamps / searchlights are in the correct position - the photo was taken before some of the later finishing touches were added!

Added by Michael G on 15 July 2010.

I am very impressed with how quickly this appliance has been restored, as if I re-call from previous listings and the E-bay ad, there was a fair amount of work to be done. This could have easily been one of the ones that didn't make it. Am so pleased that it is looking spot on.

Added by John D on 16 July 2010.

Just a quick note about the blue beacons.Looked at my old photo of Uckfields pump taken in the late 70's and Rye's around the same time only one blue beacon fitted on the off side (drivers) with a small search light over the near side next to the bell.Both pumps don't have any front grill repeters, all other ligts 2nd beacon and rear one were all later addons.I can't put these photos onto the site as they are very poor quality but I will ask around and get a decent pic.

Added by Shaun R. on 17 July 2010.

Smashing! It looks so much more like a real fire engine than the majority of HCB-Angus Bedford TKs, which had the unpainted aluminum bodies and locker covers. The chrome bumper and black mudguards are fine - the rest is perfect!

Added by Rob Johnson on 19 November 2013.

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