Fire Engines Photos

Thanks Mike this must be going on the run as the second away then hence the P2 call sign. I presume the older MAN that is there already must be staying as the first away. The appliances are marked up from new with what call sign they will be even when the appliance they are replacing with the same call sign is still on the run. The displaying of call signs has only been introduced in the last couple of years in D and S prior to that they only displayed the station name on the door. Going back further the doors used to have drop in name plates so when the appliance went for a service or repair the plates could be removed and displayed on the door of the reserve machine.

Added by Paul Pickford on 12 October 2010.

Mike, can you tell me how you get the watermark on your photos please?

Added by Andrew Middleton on 14 October 2010.

Locking at the Picture its got a 10.5 so this would make it a Water Tender, maybe that explains the V61P2 callsign?

Added by Stuart Purves on 14 October 2010.

Just seems a little strange that this brand new machine is going on the run as the second away and the older MAN is staying as the first away.

Added by Paul Pickford on 16 October 2010.

As far as I am aware it was never planned to run this Appliance as first away, WA05 DFN the MAN has been running as WrT for several years at Taunton, this going to Williton as WrL, X893 BYD Williton is going to Frome as Wrt.

Added by Somerset Steve on 17 October 2010.

Thanks Steve what have Taunton got as their first away at present?

Added by Paul Pickford on 18 October 2010.

Paul, Taunton have Volvo WJ52 HTG as WrL, i suspect that there would be more new pumps on the run in Somerset if we had not merged with Devon, sorry did I say merged I ment took over !!

Added by Somerset Steve on 20 October 2010.

Thanks Steve good old Somerset Fire brigade and I'm sure you will know what I mean by this.

Added by Paul Pickford on 21 October 2010.

Couldnt agree with you more Steve, take over is more correct, (Devon seems to be getting more than their fair share of new appliances) whilst on about new appliances despite the official DSFRS website saying new lightweight narrow pumps are order. This is correct, only one is being built, for trialing only and their is no commitment to purchase anymore, did send a photo of Taunton 1st away for inclusion but it did not get, accepted however have a night time shot, taken last week so will try that now

Added by Mike & Helen on 23 October 2010.

Andrew, the watermark programme we use is Watermark V1.6 available for £11.00 on the internet and it is from Twiga Limited 2004-2007, you can adjust the boldness of the watermark, and colour you wish to use. The watermark can be positioned top, middle or bottom as well as 45 degrees

Any problems finding it drop us an email via the link under any of our images and we will help you out.
Mike & Helen

Added by Mike & Helen on 23 October 2010.

The former Somerset brigade bought a one off lightweight compact pump in 1993 on a Mercedes 817 (I think) chassis. From memory it only carried 200 gallons, one hose reel mounted above the pump, no LPP, no heel bar on the ladder and it didn't carry various other pieces of kit that were standard on a water tender at the time to keep the weight down. Its plus points were it had smaller wheels than the larger pumps and a manual gearbox so it handled very well. It was stationed at Wells and was still classified as a water tender. Unfortunately this meant it was still sent as the single attendance to grass and rubbish fires etc as well as make ups. Very often at incidents that could have been dealt with by a full size machine with 400 gallons and two hose reels the crew had to make pumps two so this was a false economy in reality. The Chief came up to Wells one drill night and made the mistake of asking what they thought of the compact pump. Needless to say within a couple of months it had been replaced by a full size pump and was never on the run in Somerset again.

Added by Paul Pickford on 23 October 2010.

Thank you very much both. I'm suffering from similar pilfering symptoms too.

Added by Andrew Middleton on 23 October 2010.

Re the comments about Somerset not getting a fair shout with the new pumps. Didn't Somerset relegate all their ageing pumps to Avon stations pre the 1974 merger? What goes around comes around!

Added by James on 07 April 2011.

It's not that unusual for a two- or three-pump station to run a newer machine as their so-called second-away pump. A station's water tender is normally by-far the busiest of the two pumps. Whenever the bells go down, you can almost guarentee the WrT will be on the turnout sheet.

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 09 April 2011.

Avon did not lose a pump, the 3rd from Temple was transferred to Patchway making it a 2 pump station again, the retained pump having been removed circa 1980. The Midi pump was jump manned with the 1st. away at the discretion of the oic depending upon the location of the incident. The Midis have now been withdrawn

Added by Avonmouth on 09 April 2011.

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