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Fire Engine Photos
Northumberland - WrE - ATY 401B
Hot on the heels of the Wiltshire appliance recently posted, here's the only Northumberland WrE that had the later frontal style from new. It was also the last WrE to be delivered to the brigade, and whilst of Miles style, actually carried the Victor Healey badge. Northumberland was the only brigade where this applied, the same name also being on Commer WrT - WNL785.
Hot on the heels of the Wiltshire appliance recently posted, here's the only Northumberland WrE that had the later frontal style from new. It was also the last WrE to be delivered to the brigade, and whilst of Miles style, actually carried the Victor Healey badge. Northumberland was the only brigade where this applied, the same name also being on Commer WrT - WNL785.
Paul,
It is indeed Ashington, and in fact the lasat two Commers (this one as the WrE and WNL 785 as the WrT) had to be obtained - and the station built - when the Collieries brigade that used to be in Ashington, pulled out.
Added by Ian Moore on 21 December 2011.
It is indeed Ashington, and in fact the lasat two Commers (this one as the WrE and WNL 785 as the WrT) had to be obtained - and the station built - when the Collieries brigade that used to be in Ashington, pulled out.
Added by Ian Moore on 21 December 2011.
Does anyone know why Miles built their Commer pumps of this vintage without front doors? It seems a retrograde step to make the DPO and OIC have to climb in through the rear, and also reduces the availability of bulkhead space for BA sets, extinguishers, hand lines, lamps etc. Most other bodybuilders used the full forward control configuration of the Commer chassis from 1950 on to include a a pair of front doors, which seems to make a lot more sense.
Added by Rob Johnson on 21 December 2011.
Added by Rob Johnson on 21 December 2011.
Ian
Do you know if any of these Commers have survived into preservation ?
Added by Paul Staniland on 21 December 2011.
Do you know if any of these Commers have survived into preservation ?
Added by Paul Staniland on 21 December 2011.
I rode to many fires in these. These machines had an under floor engine so no engine cowl inside. The floor was totally level apart from the wheel arches and no bulkhead between the front and rear cab. There was more than enough room for the boss to climb into his seat. B.A's were only hung in the cabs in Northumberland from 1971 and the boss could still get through. However, front doors was an option as seen on Oldhams Miles Wrt and Barnsleys PE.
Ron
Added by Ron Henderson on 22 December 2011.
Ron
Added by Ron Henderson on 22 December 2011.
I would imagine the choice of doors, was down to the preference of the Brigade ordering the machine, not the body builder. This has been discussed before - Kent FB also seemed to favour the climb through access method on their Commers during that era. I guess the same applies to lockers with hinged doors or roller shutters and outward opening or jack knife rear doors. The bodybuilder would build to the Brigades requirements.
Added by Michael G on 22 December 2011.
Added by Michael G on 22 December 2011.
Paul,
No, I don't think any of them survived into preservation.
Added by Ian Moore on 22 December 2011.
No, I don't think any of them survived into preservation.
Added by Ian Moore on 22 December 2011.
Michael - I agree, but I still do not understand why, unless it was to save a few quid, which is not a very persuasive ides!
Added by Rob Johnson on 26 May 2017.
Added by Rob Johnson on 26 May 2017.
Commer
Great photo. That looks like Ashington station in the background, now boarded up and up to let, after the Brigades move up the road to the new Pegswood station.
Added by Paul Staniland on 20 December 2011.