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Fire Engine Photos
GXN 991 sees daylight
Further to pic 2308 this is a shot of the Fordson 7V Hoselayer 'blinking its eyes' having seen daylight for the first time in six years - as you can see the cab has been reunited with the chassis and it is just about to be loaded for the journey to Amberley !
This is a very important vehicle as it is believed to be the sole surviving NFS hose laying lorry dating from WW2.
I bought it six years ago off an advert on Ebay - primarilary to stop it being 'converted' into a flat bed lorry or being used as a source of spares - I had intended to restore it myself but, due to a change of family circumstances it remained safe and secure but largley untouched and the time was right to let it go to a new home where it will remain as built !
Its not often I 'do my bit' but feel I have done here !!
Further to pic 2308 this is a shot of the Fordson 7V Hoselayer 'blinking its eyes' having seen daylight for the first time in six years - as you can see the cab has been reunited with the chassis and it is just about to be loaded for the journey to Amberley !
This is a very important vehicle as it is believed to be the sole surviving NFS hose laying lorry dating from WW2.
I bought it six years ago off an advert on Ebay - primarilary to stop it being 'converted' into a flat bed lorry or being used as a source of spares - I had intended to restore it myself but, due to a change of family circumstances it remained safe and secure but largley untouched and the time was right to let it go to a new home where it will remain as built !
Its not often I 'do my bit' but feel I have done here !!
This should look really good when it is finished.
Good that this has been preserved.
Added by Bristol Bob on 09 October 2010.
Good that this has been preserved.
Added by Bristol Bob on 09 October 2010.
I hadn't realised just how big it was. It is to be hoped that Amberley manage to find the money to carry on the good work. I see they are only able to sheet it up for now. Since it is only in primer/undercoat it really needs a coat of gloss on it to keep the weather out even under a sheet.
Added by Neal Glover on 09 October 2010.
Added by Neal Glover on 09 October 2010.
Neal, I understand that by the time they had returned to Amberley from Rick's it was quite late so they quickly off-loaded it alongside the fire station and covered it over.In due course I'm sure it will be moved under cover before winter sets in and before restoration can begin.Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 10 October 2010.
Added by Pete Matten on 10 October 2010.
The front of the rear body and the rear of the cab were in fact painted in the final coat of 'Dark Admiralty Grey' before Mark and I lifted (by hand I might add !!!!!) the cab back onto the chassis
Added by Rick Loudon on 10 October 2010.
Added by Rick Loudon on 10 October 2010.
That's the problem with grey in a photo, one just cannot tell.
Added by Neal Glover on 11 October 2010.
Added by Neal Glover on 11 October 2010.
Depending on the weather tomorrow (Wednesday November 17th) the Hose Layer will be moving into the Village Garage for initial assessment and a programme for the restoration.The only thing that will hold us up is funds.But, it is saved and safe.Barrie.
Added by Barrie Lambeth on 16 November 2010.
Added by Barrie Lambeth on 16 November 2010.
20/April/2011
Update. Finaly got the hose layer round the back of the Village Garage and we are now in the process of sorting and listing what is there what is missing and what is usable and what need fabricating. This is going to be quite a large task but I can assure you all she will be done propperly and stay Grey (had people saying please dont paint her red). Today the roof of the body has been finished. Just needed a couple of fillet strips down each side and then a coat od paint. Next thing just to get the enthusiasum of the voulnteers, I spent an hour or so checking the engine over , sorting a temporary fuel tank and battery , points plugs oils etc then got the old girl running. The whole of Amberly stopped in its tracks when the flathead roared into life, and with that flathead V8 with open headers it sure did resinate arround the site. This has also enthused the rest of the crew to get stuck in and make plans to get her back on the road.
I will update as we go
Stephen Pickard
Added by Stephen Pickard on 21 April 2011.
Update. Finaly got the hose layer round the back of the Village Garage and we are now in the process of sorting and listing what is there what is missing and what is usable and what need fabricating. This is going to be quite a large task but I can assure you all she will be done propperly and stay Grey (had people saying please dont paint her red). Today the roof of the body has been finished. Just needed a couple of fillet strips down each side and then a coat od paint. Next thing just to get the enthusiasum of the voulnteers, I spent an hour or so checking the engine over , sorting a temporary fuel tank and battery , points plugs oils etc then got the old girl running. The whole of Amberly stopped in its tracks when the flathead roared into life, and with that flathead V8 with open headers it sure did resinate arround the site. This has also enthused the rest of the crew to get stuck in and make plans to get her back on the road.
I will update as we go
Stephen Pickard
Added by Stephen Pickard on 21 April 2011.
Neal as you said it is large. How effective would these vehicles have been in laying hose in streets full of debris caused by bombing or would they have been used in some other way?
Added by Richard Sees on 22 September 2014.
Added by Richard Sees on 22 September 2014.
All the old footage I have seen of Hose Layers in operation is not in Blitz conditions. I think hose was run out by Firemen where vehicle access would be problem.
While on the subject of GXN, back in July we met the proprietor of Island Restorations, the island being the IOW. He is collecting GXN next month to complete the restoration.
Hopefully next photo we can post will be of the fully restored vehicle.
Barrie.
Added by on 24 September 2014.
While on the subject of GXN, back in July we met the proprietor of Island Restorations, the island being the IOW. He is collecting GXN next month to complete the restoration.
Hopefully next photo we can post will be of the fully restored vehicle.
Barrie.
Added by on 24 September 2014.
The supply would be quite some distance from the incident if a hose layer was needed so crossing rubble would often not be a problem. Having said that the post war AFS HLs were 4x4.
Added by Neal Glover on 24 September 2014.
Added by Neal Glover on 24 September 2014.
Was this restoration ever completed. There appear to be no photos if it was. GXN991.
Added by Petros on 24 January 2023.
Added by Petros on 24 January 2023.
Sadly, my efforts to repatriate GXN 991 back to West Sussex seem to have failed? I tried my best, including a reduced price to get it back home, It just goes to show when a vehicle leaves the safety of your care you have no control in its destiny! Lesson learned!
Added by Rick Loudon on 28 April 2024.
Added by Rick Loudon on 28 April 2024.
Fordson
Added by Pete Matten on 09 October 2010.