Fire Engines Photos

Paul, This is how the Austin GXN 210 looked when it completed its service with West Sussex County Fire Brigade in the June of 1970. I think it looks better here than in the later photo, they will paint those front mudguards black!it is so very sad that it will never look this way again.
Now those changes I, can see what you mean regarding the front headlights but I think I can explain when the Barton Front Mounted Pump was refitted it drives straight off the front crankshaft of the engine and provision has to be made through the front grill. There were two/three different variations of the Barton and the fixings did differ this would have meant repositioning or altering the front end. The headlights would have been changed to go with the grill to save work, I still think its looks nicer when you had it, I do have some smashing photos of it when it was in service I, also have GXN 215 but despite trends to paint them grey I, still love them in red best of all.

Added by BOB CARVER on 07 July 2011.

Paul, Finally closure on this subject, I had a look last night at the information that I, had in 1963 both the front mudguards were changed this was due to wear and tear and accident damage on one this can clearly be seen in the photo. when the new guards were fitted they incorporated the headlight mountings and this also provided an opportunity to fit large units for better lighting visibility. The source of these parts (Preservation) for the conversion came from an identical Austin/Merryweather GXN 221 which was in a Cambridgeshire scrapyard complete. The Barton Pump was sourced from a different source and fitted at a far later date, all the Austins had the headlights mounted above the Barton attached to the Radiator Grill. I do hope this explains the conversions on the West Sussex Turntables and why yours was different at various stages of its life.

Added by BOB CARVER on 08 July 2011.

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