Fire Engines Photos

The City of Cambridge ran a similar pair in the early sixties, along with an F8, a Dennis-Metz TL, an unusual 4X4 R series Bedford ET and a 1, 000 gallon Bedford 4x4 tanker - which made up for the absence of any full-sized water tenders with 400 gallon tanks in the city fleet.

Both the F8 and the small Bedford pump came in very handy when it came to gaining access to some of the older college and university buildings, many of which had very narrow entrances and inner courtyards with limited room to move around.

The Bedford spent much of its time responding almost every day to Addenbrooke's Hospital, which was one of the first to install automatic fire alarms - but I don't remember there ever being a fire there! The brigade learned very quickly to send only the single pump, with a four man crew, rather than the full first-alarm assignment, which included the PE, WTL and TL too.

Added by Rob Johnson on 19 December 2012.

I dont know from an operational view point how good these Bedford's were but the coachwork looks great ...you've got to love the curved sweep over the rear wheels very coach like in appearance

Added by Gary bolton on 19 December 2012.

These Bedfords carried a full 400galls water and stuck to the road like glue. They were dual purpose so could also carry a 50ft escape. No power steering of course but excellent brakes. Gear pump operated single rear-mounted hose reel and 500gpm centrifugal pump as main. They were real work horses and never seemed to let anyone down. We were proud to keep them all looking so good even when they were getting to be long-in-tooth. No portable pumps carried in B'ham. Water was usually plentiful in Ladywood's area even when hydrant water was poor as there was inevitably a canal with access doors not too far away or even a fire well in the roadway (a manhole covered steel tank with valved full bore access from a water main). Single blue lamp, Carter siren and redundant bell, 30ft and 14ft Ajax timber trussed ladders. Those were the days!!

Added by Tony Madsen on 23 February 2013.

The Bedford Pump, 500gpm with 400galls water supplied one rear-mounted hose reel, whereas the PE in the far bay carried two hose reels, while only carrying 100galls water, the main pump being 1000gpm!

Added by Tony Madsen on 04 December 2013.

Pump 17 as shown is registered as NOA 615.

Added by Tony Madsen on 24 April 2015.

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