Fire Engines Photos

It's nice to see two Econics together, just like the Ategos.

Added by Jack Wallis on 22 October 2007.

yeah in my opinion econic is best aerial appliance that exists today

Added by J.J. on 08 December 2007.

I agree J.J, i think the Econics are the best around today, however, I think the later '57 registered ALPs that have just come into service are better that the older ALP seen here on the right

Added by Matt on 10 May 2008.

If these Mercs are anything like the one based at York fire station, then i bet you soon change your mind about these machines.

It spends more time off the run than on, and is the laughing stock in the brigade, but now Scarbourough have got one too, so god help us.

Added by John Johnstone on 11 May 2008.

Doesn't sound too good John, but i don't think there have been any major problems yet. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed!

Added by Matt on 11 May 2008.

those ones look alot better than Strathclyde fire and rescue's aerial appliances. Why cant SFR invest in those ones instead of silly Aerial Rescue Pumps?

Added by ShaunyBhoy on 13 September 2008.

There not silly the are a very good bit of kit and unlike these they can fit to a small station

Added by Rich(larbert fire cadets) on 02 November 2008.

Rich, look at the low centre of gravity compared to some other machines you like! These are far safer!

Added by John Stott on 02 November 2008.

The concept of ARPs may not be silly but it has been proved that they are not operationally up to the task. They also have a slow speed...0-60 in 24 seconds-that's not impressive for a rescue vehicle. So how come Central Scotland FRS have yet to get theirs on the road? Also, why would a "small" station require an aerial capacity?

Added by C Wood on 02 November 2008.

i would love to see how big this "small" station is, i know of a fire service that cant fit its newer scania pumps into its retained stations so there are no chance of these behemoths fitting , anyway they will be scrap by then

Added by Big Al on 28 November 2008.

Well John, the Econics have just about proved their worth. Not the most reliable appliances ever but they've certainly been effective in service, and have performed well at most incidents, with the exception of a few.

Added by Will on 24 December 2020.

They are very widely used in Europe, and if you need a low profile chassis for your ladder, tower or aerial platform the choice is limited to either an Econic or an Iveco, which if anything has proven to be a lot less reliable than the Mercedes...

Scania, Volvo, Renault and MAN are only available as modified lorry chassis, without the benefits of a low cab and overall height and a lower center of gravity.

Added by Rob Johnson on 24 December 2020.

don't seem to have had a very long in service life which I find odd and replaced by a different chassis - all seems odd to me. Thank god North Yorks bought a Volvo rather than another Mercedes.

Added by John Johnstone on 28 December 2020.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Andy: I think these have been introduced rather recently. Interesting that they have a dual passenger seat on top of the set back engine doghouse, so they can accommodate four crew members abreast in the front - as long as the two in the center seats are not too tall! Scania have also built a few five axle low profile chassis for Bronto's 53 meter platforms.

Added by Rob Johnson on 29 December 2020.

John - I am guessing that the London aerials make quite a lot of longish runs, even if they are not actually used at incidents all that often. Only thirteen trucks covering more than 600 square miles - with tall structures scattered around in many boroughs in the metro area - suggest that a lot of runs up to around six or seven miles cannot be all that unusual, even if they are 50% AFAs.

Many German cities use Econics, and they seem to hold up to the general norm of 20 years in front line service for a TTL pretty well...

Added by Rob Johnson on 29 December 2020.

Rob the one based at Huntington spends more time in its bay than turning out, nearest one after that is Harrogate and that is 23 miles away and see Scarborough's in York at a job that is a run of 40+ miles to get here! North Yorks keep theirs for 25 years usually then they are reduced to a spare. Be interesting to see how the Scania does, so Rob I will see you back here in 20 years for an update! Happy new year to you and yours all the best.

Added by John Johnstone on 30 December 2020.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Andy: The current Econic series now also offers a pair of optional additional seats on the engine cover but - like the Scania - they do not accommodate tall passengers very well in the low roof cab version! But it is a way to squeeze four crew into a high roof model used as a rescue, tanker or pod carrier, if needed...

Added by Rob Johnson on 30 December 2020.

Andy: The Scania L series factory low profile chassis cab was first introduced in 2017. Any earlier low profile cab Scanias must have been modified by a third party. John - I am not quite so optimistic that I will personally outlive the next generation of Scania aerials, but it is a good thought!

I gather from family and friends that things are pretty awful in the UK right now, so I wish you both - and all our British friends on this site - a much, much happier New Year!

Added by Rob Johnson on 31 December 2020.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Andy - some ladder towers here in the US have a thermal imaging camera permanently mounted in the basket; they can be useful in locating hotspots in attic fires and similar situations.

Added by Rob Johnson on 01 January 2021.

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