Fire Engines Photos

The city of Coventry were the pioneer's in the original concept of the yellow fire engine experimentation commenced during 1966 on 1.18 scale models conducted by the Lanchester city of technology where two of the college professors trailed various shades of yellows and also other colours to see which colours performed best in adverse light conditions especially under sodium Street lights eventually a yellow was mixed and marketed by I. C. I. paints as Coventry fire brigade yellow. The first full size appliances arrived in the January of 1967 these were Dennis f36 pump emergency tenders complete with Merry weather 50ft wheeled escapes fully finished in yellow. These appliances were the most advanced fire engines of the day incorporated power rewind first aid hose reels which not only fuelled water but also supplied compressed air cutting equipment these appliances numbered three and had the registration numbers KDU997D KDU998D KDU999D and we're allocated to each of the cities fire stations. Blue lights and radio ariel were added to the top of the appliance that was all to aid cleaning crews were warned not to stare to long at the colour for fear of making them sick, l failed to mention the yellow under the sodium Street lights at night showed up as brilliant White!

Added by on 25 September 2016.

Does anyone know how long the Coventry yellow experiment lasted? I have a feeling it was not very many years.

Added by Rob Johnson on 28 September 2016.

Overtaken by local government reorganization in 1974. Coventry merged to become part of West Midlands FB.

Added by Neal Glover on 28 September 2016.

Yes Rob, the experiment with Coventry commenced during 1966 and concluded on the 1st April 1974. The West Midlands fire service then commenced using a videnfeld livery (dayglow) orange Coventry was merged into the West Midlands you may be surprised to learn the Coventry appliance were downgraded on specification as they were considered to far advanced for the day and this would mean upgrading the new West Midlands deliveries to compete with the Coventry appliances. Not all of Coventrys original appliances made it to yellow, even in 1974 some were still red livery. Also l will mention that the brigade did experimentation with the use of orange flashing lights as these proved higher visibility than their blue counterparts this however was aborted on legal grounds the following brigades followed Coventry with the yellow liveries. West Sussex Fire Brigade, Wallasey, York, Rotherham, Exeter (isolated vehicles), West Riding (only trailed), Tynemouth (isolated vehicle), Sheffield (isolated vehicle) Northampton also adopted yellow but this was a golden yellow (used by GPO of the day) The Brigades of St Helens West Riding and in later years the Isle of Wight adopted brilliant white with the borough of Rochdale having white fronts on their appliances,

Added by Bob Carver on 29 September 2016.

We had a Foam Salvage tender in the South Eastern Fire Brigade, Lothian and Borders etc. She was based on a Bedford KM chassis. Lovely looking machine but colour never took off.

Still red today. This machine ran until early seventies.

Added by Archie Hill on 30 September 2016.

Thanks. Very interesting. I now live in the US and here we have practically every color and color combination you can imagine on different departments' fire trucks, as well as all kinds of colored warning lights and light combinations too!

Added by Rob Johnson on 12 October 2016.

The only problem with yellow, green or white fire appliances is that they are not red. IMHO.

Added by Chris Hamerton on 29 October 2016.

How about black with a silver stripe or white with a blue stripe? You will find both in the USA! Check out the USA listings on this site for some really weird color schemes. But I think New Zealand takes the gold medal, with just about every color in the rainbow on their newer trucks.

Added by Rob Johnson on 01 November 2016.

I am offended just hearing about them. My D600 restoration is nearing completion. I will post a pic when it is done and you can marvel at the amazing, uncompromising redness of it. Cheers!


Added by Chris Hamerton on 03 November 2016.

Chris - is it one of the eleven I sold to Gloucestershire? All totally red!

Added by Rob Johnson on 04 November 2016.

Check this blog which has the full Coventry Yellow history and original documents.
coventry-yellow.blogspot.com/

Added by David on 20 June 2018.

This one is ex NSW Fire Brigades. Originally based in Taree.

Added by Chris Hamerton on 20 June 2018.

Chris, were you aware of a trial yellow Varley suburban pumper a good many years ago?

Added by David on 20 June 2018.

In NSW? No, but sounds interesting.

Added by Chris Hamerton on 20 June 2018.

Chris:

I had the privilege of introducing the D series into fire service use in the UK shortly after it was launched in 1966, with ten SVO designed and built D600 300 CID petrol engine water tenders and one foam tender supplied to Gloucestershire County Fire Brigade.

We continued to supply D series to around twenty five UK fire brigades and a few factory brigades, as well as exports including quite a large number to New Zealand.

I have a feeling that some of the Kiwi units were not SVO fire engine chassis, but more probably local builds on standard chassis, but I have never been able to verify this.

It is great that you are doing a restoration - and I would be particularly very happy to see your photos of it on this site when you are finished.

Good luck with it! I love the redness, too...

Added by Rob Johnson on 21 June 2018.

Thanks Rob. I have run into some problems, mainly with the motor which needed a total rebuild. Low miles does not mean low wear! I’ll put up a pic as soon as I can.


Added by Chris Hamerton on 22 June 2018.

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