Fire Engines Photos

Seamus, good luck with the restoration on our old Lancing(West Sussex)1960 Bedford J5/HCB Water Tender.I drove this in anger a few times during the early 1970's, and its really good to know she's still around being cared for today.But, where is she now please?.

Added by Pete Matten on 22 April 2011.

This Bedford's "sister" machine ran out of Steyning ~ See picture 710. Reg. mark is 4589PX and still preserved in good order.

Added by Michael Bissett-Powell on 24 April 2011.

Hi Pete, in reply to your question, we are based in Carshalton, Surrey. Since this picture was taken, we have started preparing the engine for a respray. We would be grateful for any history you can remember when 3970PX was in service. Thanks, Seamus

Added by Seamus Flannery on 02 May 2011.

Seamus, This is a Bedford J/5 HCB Water Tender built in large numbers during the late fifties and through the sixties by HCB at their Totton Works deliveries were West Sussex/Devon/I.O.W/ and several other Brigades through the United Kingdom. It does become confusing as HCB also built and used this variation of bodywork on the Dodge Chassis the build was in complete alloy including the Skeleton of the bodywork, they were indeed a handsome fire engine for its day and very well designed. This particular appliance was delivered to West Sussex Fire Brigade during early 1960, and was allocated to the counties Lancing fire station on the south coast it went operational on the 15 May 1960 at Lancing and became the stations first pump with a Karrier Gamecock/Carmichael Water Tender as the stations second appliance it was to serve this station as first pump until 1972 when it was downgraded to second appliance with the introduction of a new Dennis D Series D.600/A4 WrL which was the new first. In 1977 a succession of hand-downs saw the appliance replaced at Lancing by a newer but identical engine 98 CBP which had seen service at both Petworth and Findon. 3970 then for a brief period became a short term brigade spare or reserve operating out of many of the counties fire stations it was within weeks to receive a new lease of life as B Division Driver Training Vehicle based at Hurst road at Horsham operated by the late "Mick Robb" an identical engine in the same role was placed at Chichester (67 KPX) But the Brigade soon ran into difficulties with these appliances as they did not comply with the weight for Heavy Goods Vehicles and were deemed illegal under the H.G.V Licencing requirements as a result they were withdrawn as with immediate affect and from here went for disposal after sitting in the stations drill yard for some considerable time being sold at Auction by British Car Auctions at Frimley in Surrey to private ownership, off the top of my head I can't give you an exact date but it did hang around within the Brigade for some considerable time.
To small things to point out on the front gantries you will see two hangers offside and nearside this was to incorporate the Driver Training Board a large bill board confirming the vehicles role. the second from the photo is that the original Bedford wheels are on the front with the later variation are on the rear (introduced in 1962) this provided better cooling for the brakes (Brake fade) as well as a face lift but the wheels were often changed during servicing interchanging the tyres meaning different patterns mixed up as the situation is with yours, another Bedford J/5 on the rally scene is displayed with Dennis F.8 front wheels on it! hope this is helpful to you.

Added by BOB CARVER on 03 May 2011.

Thanks very much for your comments and information Bob, Michael and Pete. I will update you as and when there is any progress on the engine.

Added by Seamus Flannery on 11 May 2011.

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