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Fire Engine Photos
2408IE? Commer/Whitson WrT
I am guessing Whitson bodywork - this looks exactly like the ones in Somerset. Is this a re-registration? Or is it really an Irish fire engine? The siren on the front bumper looks Irish.
From FireFotos collection courtesy Simon Rowley and used with permission.
I am guessing Whitson bodywork - this looks exactly like the ones in Somerset. Is this a re-registration? Or is it really an Irish fire engine? The siren on the front bumper looks Irish.
From FireFotos collection courtesy Simon Rowley and used with permission.
Darlington had one of these, NHN 999, which was originally delivered as a type A, meaning that it had a hose reel pump but no main built in pump and therefore had to tow a trailer pump. Shortly afterwards, it was modified by having a 700 gpm pump from a retired Darlington Leyland appliance retrofitted, making it a B type. It normally responded second due, after the Dennis F12 pump escape PHN 999 or the slightly newer Commer Carmichael water tender, RHN 999.
Both Commers were replaced in the sixties by Dennis diesels, a 1965 F 106 and a 1968 F 108, and saw service in their retirement at Teeside Airport. As illustrated in this photo, the Whitson design - while a vast improvement on prewar layouts - did have two disadvantages. The main lockers ran the length of the body, but were only accessible from the rear, which was not ideal. In addition, the very high placement of the hose reels was not ideal, requiring a step and grab handle to reach - and meant that the person doing the rewind had to climb up on the roof from the rear too.
The newer Carmichael layout was much easier to work with, as demonstrated in the photos of early examples on this site.
Added by Rob Johnson on 16 December 2023.
Both Commers were replaced in the sixties by Dennis diesels, a 1965 F 106 and a 1968 F 108, and saw service in their retirement at Teeside Airport. As illustrated in this photo, the Whitson design - while a vast improvement on prewar layouts - did have two disadvantages. The main lockers ran the length of the body, but were only accessible from the rear, which was not ideal. In addition, the very high placement of the hose reels was not ideal, requiring a step and grab handle to reach - and meant that the person doing the rewind had to climb up on the roof from the rear too.
The newer Carmichael layout was much easier to work with, as demonstrated in the photos of early examples on this site.
Added by Rob Johnson on 16 December 2023.
Definitely an Irish import. Will check details and advise. I took the shot at the first fire engine rally at Locke's Brewery, Kilbeggan in County Westmeath on October 6th 1990.
Ed: there seem to be quite a few Commers in Westmeath but I can't see this one here on this excellent Irish website:
www.fire-service-trust.com/westmeath.html
Added by Simon Rowley on 22 December 2023.
Ed: there seem to be quite a few Commers in Westmeath but I can't see this one here on this excellent Irish website:
www.fire-service-trust.com/westmeath.html
Added by Simon Rowley on 22 December 2023.
Commer
Added by Rob Johnson on 14 December 2023.