Fire Engines Photos

I saw this appliance at a classic car show in Stevange.

Added by Jack Wallis on 30 November 2007.

Thanks Pete, that certainly answers my question. And what a beautiful machine this one is! A fitting tribute to Dennis Pump Escapes indeed! Regards - Lou

Added by Lou Cowan on 02 December 2007.

Sorry to be pedantic, but the appliance is a Water Tender Escape as it carries 400 gallons of water. The Fire Museum Open Day dates are on the Watford Museum website

Added by Roger Middleton - Museum Curator on 14 April 2009.

Roger,I think you'll find maybe Hertfordshire called them Water Tender Escapes,but truly as the Dennis Brothers Ltd catalogues state from the 60's,70's and into the 1980's,when this last purpose built appliance came off the production line,Dennis always called them pump escapes.
The Dennis'D'Series from the late 1960's came in three cofigurations,ie:-Water Tender/Water Tender Ladder,or Pump Escape.Same with the'F'Series and later the'SS'Series.Reference your comment on the appliance carrying 400 gals(1818.4 litres),this really means nothing because all the appliances as a standard from Dennis and other companies adopted this as a standard water tank capacity irrespective of type of appliance:-Water Tender/Water Tender Ladder,or Pump Escape.

Added by Pete Matten on 14 April 2009.

Pete, we are both right - Hestair-Dennis who built the old girl showed it as a Pump Escape on all their works documents. Hertfordshire (as other brigades) adopted the term Water Tender Escape as in the Fire Service Drill Book, which describes it as a Water Tender(tank capacity of not less than 1820 litres and not more than 2270 litres),carrying a wheeled escape.

Added by Roger Middleton - Fire Museum Curator on 15 April 2009.

The appliance has now been transferred to the Training Centre (commercial section), based in Stevenage on the Hitchin Road (A.602) near the Lister Hospital.

Added by Roger Middleton - Fire Museum Curator on 13 September 2009.

A short note so say that the Museum and Fire Station have moved to 223-229 Lower High Street, Watford, Herts, WD17 2AG

Added by Roger Middleton, Herts Fire Museum Curator on 28 January 2010.

Thanks for the shot, Pete - and the info, both of you.

Never knew that the iconic British Wheeled Escape Ladder lasted so long, into the "squarish" cab Dennis Pumps, as here; and the last of its line, safely into preservation for us.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 29 January 2010.

The appliance will shortly be going for sale, at Manheim Auctions.

Added by Roger Middleton on 09 May 2010.

The appliance has been sold and is now owned by a Fire Service Preservation Group member in Gloucester.

Added by Roger Middleton, Herts Fire Museum Curator on 15 August 2010.

Roger, may I be so rude in asking why such an historical Dennis appliance that once served the county of Herts, then preserved by the Herts Fire Museum sadly as now be sold?.Its a shame it couldn't have stayed within the county it once served-Hertfordshire.

Added by Pete Matten on 15 August 2010.

Roger, do you know how much this machine sold for at auction?

Added by Matt Ireland on 15 August 2010.

Pete, I am afraid the Service made the decision to dispose of the appliance, as as far as they were concerned the vehicle was surplus to their requirements, despite the historical importance of the machine.

Added by Roger Middleton, Herts Fire Museum Curator on 25 August 2010.

Thanks Roger, at least its still in preservation.

Added by Pete Matten on 25 August 2010.

One of the Herts WrE's appeared at a filling Stn "fire" in an episode of Morse. A dead giveaway to parts of the series not being filmed in Oxford.

Added by Neal Glover on 26 August 2010.

Just an update ...this is now in preservation in Hampshire and looks as good as ever. It was one of 31 preserved fire appliances on the 30th anniversary Wessex Cancer Run for children from Southampton to Paultons Park on April 29 2018.

Added by Simon Rowley on 29 April 2018.

Thanks for the up-date on this one Simon, haven't seen it for some years.

Added by Pete Matten on 09 May 2018.

it has Britax blue lights and Fiamm two tone sirens.


Added by on 03 March 2021.

She had a change of ownership in 2021 and is in the hands of a member of Fire Service Preservation Group who lives in Lincolnshire...me. She's in pretty good shape but I have a few jobs to do to get her back up to the standard in the original picture.

Added by Lee Davies on 04 July 2021.

see it in 2021




Added by Petros on 04 July 2021.

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