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Fire Engine Photos
Austin K4 Heavy Pumps Dudley Canal
Three Austin K4 heavy pumps, the rearmost one belonging to the County Borough of Dudley, Fleet Number 2. The location is a canal and on the right is the entrance to a tunnel, possibly Netherton Tunnel, Dudley. All three appear to be engaged in pumping but it's not clear if there is a fire in the tunnel. Dudley Fire Service was used to pump out sunken canal boats locally but in this case the suction hoses are in the canal. The event has attracted considerable local interest.
Three Austin K4 heavy pumps, the rearmost one belonging to the County Borough of Dudley, Fleet Number 2. The location is a canal and on the right is the entrance to a tunnel, possibly Netherton Tunnel, Dudley. All three appear to be engaged in pumping but it's not clear if there is a fire in the tunnel. Dudley Fire Service was used to pump out sunken canal boats locally but in this case the suction hoses are in the canal. The event has attracted considerable local interest.
Neal. If you look at the headlight on the front one the only pump with such a large headlight was a fordson
Added by Arthur Collier on 23 May 2015.
Added by Arthur Collier on 23 May 2015.
The front two have the suctions boxed in as per the late NFS mod. The Dudley one must have been de nationalised before it could be done. Most preserved HUs have this mod.
Added by Neal Glover on 26 May 2015.
Added by Neal Glover on 26 May 2015.
I wonder why in a time of severe steel shortages these were built with wheel spats?
Added by Rob Johnson on 21 August 2019.
Added by Rob Johnson on 21 August 2019.
Many of the Bedford and Fordson HUs came out pre war. Someone at the Home Office must have decided that it would make the asthetics a bit more acceptable. Interesting the HO ladders have been replaced by 35ft Ajaxes.
Added by Neal Glover on 22 August 2019.
Added by Neal Glover on 22 August 2019.
It may be the case, but I really can't help thinking that nobody was likely going to be preoccupied with styling!
In addition, if you are going to drive around on debris strewn streets, wheel spats don't exactly improve the tire changing process....
Added by Rob Johnson on 23 August 2019.
In addition, if you are going to drive around on debris strewn streets, wheel spats don't exactly improve the tire changing process....
Added by Rob Johnson on 23 August 2019.
The ones on the left and in the center are both Fordsons, the one on the right is a Bedford. Building these with both a driving engine and a separate pumping engine made manufacturing and repair easier, but did mean that each pumper needed an "extra" engine. Interesting that other combatant countries like Germany and Japan continued to build only PTO driven pumpers for wartime use, although - like Britain - both also build large numbers of trailer pumps and/or portable units.
Added by Rob Johnson on 22 October 2021.
Added by Rob Johnson on 22 October 2021.
Austin
Added by Neal Glover on 20 May 2015.