Fire Engines Photos

My goodness, look at the 'growlers' they've stuck on the front of this truck! TheFireman, it appears that chrome 'thing' between the two red strobes? is a wig-wag lamp? or another siren?

Added by Pavel - Western Australia on 04 January 2008.

Pavel, It is what we call a Mars Light. It "wobbles", if you will, in an up and down pattern with a very bright white light to get attention in rear-view mirrors. That is the theory, the problem is not many American drivers check their rear-view mirrors often enough.
As far as the "growlers" ( I like that!), the Federal Q2b mechanical siren is rapidly diappearing from American Apparatus. In our department, they have gone to all electronic sirens. Federal has built an electronic version of the Q2b, but it's not very loud and the sound is poor, like a sick cat squeeling.

Added by Thefireman on 06 January 2008.

This was my old engine from my time on the department. It is a recycled FDNY pumper from Brooklyn.

Added by Professor9421 on 25 January 2008.

Good recollection Professor! Thanks for the input. What numbers did she run as @ FDNY?

Added by TheFireman on 26 January 2008.

I want to say Engine 230, but I am not sure.

Added by Professor 9421 on 26 January 2008.

Ok Professor, YOU SERVED on this rig, but you don't recall where? Kinda like saying "Thats a picture of my mom!...I don't recall her name"

Added by Sammy The Story Straightener on 15 May 2008.

Don't recall where? I clearly said that I served on that engine (TCFD Engine 41) and clarified that it was RECYCLED FDNY. Kinda like saying "My name's Sammy and I can't read too good."

Added by Professor 9421 on 15 May 2008.

Arcane Info Dept, for Pavel:

Mars Lights, from Mars Signal Light Co., were used on a number of North American Railways - on both steam and diesel locomotives, and rail-cars [self-propelled passenger coaches]. They came in both red and white colours, and a variety of 'gyrating' motions - "figure-of-eight" was one.

They were were developed in 1930's, by a fireman, Jerry Kennelly; a Chicago FD, Illinois, Aerial Ladder Truck Driver; trying to get his rig through the traffic. Frank Mars, of the Mars Candy Co. [ ? today's Mars Bar ? ], collaborated with him. 1936 got the railways interested in some trials, and then the idea got adopted in service.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 08 October 2008.

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