Fire Engines Photos

It's nice to see a classic. I can see the appliance that was featured In "London's Burning" as Shadbrook's appliance.

Added by Jack Wallis on 10 November 2007.

Thats a lovely appliance, got to be one of the true classic fire appliances ever built, How many did London have? I saw it in action at Odiham (2006) and was amazed at its firefighting power, and its restoration a truly beautiful machine..

Added by Luke on 20 December 2007.

Damned nice appliance and a brilliant restoration job, all down to the owner so I hear who done it all himself, including all the Ash framework and spraying on the passengers side, he intends to replace the framework on the drivers side 2007/2008, Winkle,

Added by Luke on 20 December 2007.

Nice to see a beautiful machine. I used to ride on a matched pair (pump and PE) with consecutive number plates out of D25 Chiswick in 1978.

Added by Sean on 23 March 2008.

that is a wonderful piece of of art that old fire engine i would love to drive one of those, i also saw this one in londons burning.i would like to know when it was on the run and from which fire station

Added by Nahyan on 09 April 2008.

If the letter and number are correct on the appliance side(H26),
this London Fire Brigade station was Addington, in what was known
as the South-West Area.

Added by Pete Matten on 09 April 2008.

It was New to Addington 1973, registered in Nov 72 and stayed at Addington till 1983, then to driving school Brixton till disposal 1984. Now owned by myself (Bob Peters) London. It was never in Londons Burning But has been in 1966 a film about the missing world cup, Foot Soldiers a film about violence at football mathches and several Music Videos. Bob Peters.

Added by Bob Peters on 25 October 2008.

I used to drive one of these at Hornsey fire station.LFB in the late seventies.Great machine

Added by Brian Partridge on 03 November 2008.

I originally meant the Dodge sitting next to the Dennis on the left side of the picture.
But anyway, I agree that this Dennis is such a wonderful machine and because of that and other ways, I grant this as one of my favourite fire trucks.

Added by Jack Wallis on 20 December 2008.

I was posted to R/W there from training school in 1980. The Merryweather escape was a surprise!

Added by Alan Grubb on 07 February 2009.

This was mine. I served at New Addigton Fire station during my career in the London Fire Brigade and drove this machine for about four years. If you still have the original LFB log book you will find my name in there. The H26 plate on the side was the station call sign. She was H261, designating that she was equipped with a wheeled escape ladder. I really am walking down memory lane here. Her sister at the station was JLT 433K, another Dennis 108, but without power steering. As far as I can recall, all these years later, they only had two faults. The first was a clutch so heavy that if you tried to keep it depressed in traffic you had to actually brace yourself in the seat. The second was frightening brake fade, as they were equipped with drum brakes all round. Following hard use on the way to a fire, if we were not needed I used to pull the hose reel off the side and cool them before returning to the station. Where is she stored now? I would love to see her again if this is possible.

Added by Simon Radford on 16 January 2011.

I served and drove this pump escape many times from 1963 -1973 stationed at D61 Lambeth .We also used to give many displays to visiting dignatrees useing this typ of pump escape pitching the escape and then useing hook ladders fron the top of the escape.

Added by Ken Goodlace on 15 March 2012.

Thanks for your comments Ken, its always nice to hear from people that drove it.

Added by Bob Peters on 17 March 2012.

Hi Simon, you are perfectly correct, regarding the clutch, brakes are a little better as I dont attend fires etc, and Power steering is a great asset. At the moment the old girl is going through a restoration, the drivers side was found to have rotten woodwork/framework so is being replaced, estimated return to the road 2013.

Added by Bob Peters on 17 March 2012.

What a stunning machine. Best of luck with the resto work Bob!

Added by PeteG on 17 March 2012.

To my eyes, THE quintessential London fire engine.

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 19 March 2012.

If anyone knows of a pair of front seat that will fit this appliance, give me the heads up. I was promised a pair and stupidly took the old, Rickardo seats that were fitted and threw them out, the guy that promissed me the new ones didnt blew out.

Added by Bob Peters on 20 March 2012.

It nice to see this machine again - well done Bob for keeping it going - I served at New Addington for about two years in the early 80's and drove both this PE and if my memory serves me correct the matching pump - this was one of the 1st appliances in London to have power steering and a sacra gear box - I also remember one driver who I won't name
trying to drive one through the 7'.0" width limit at the top of
spout hill. Well done Bob

Added by Steve Mott on 03 January 2013.

Thanks for your comments Steve, I dont know anything of Sacra gearboxes though, this one has a Dennis 5 speed Manual gearbox of the normal H configeration. Unfortunately the restoration has taken longer than expected, but i'm hoping it will be out this Summer, if we get one.

Added by Bob Peters. on 06 January 2013.

My father probably crewed that same appliance at some whilst on standy by at addington red watch, from 71 to 96

Added by Tim Cowlard on 23 February 2013.

Remember these tearing up Shepherds Hill in Crouch End in the early 70's the F108 PE followed by an F106 Pump from J28 Hornsey as it was then ....did not realise these had manual gear boxes, obvioulsy the F109 Auto's came later - can still hear the Perkins V8 distinctive sound now nearly as loud as the two tones !!

Added by Gary bolton on 23 February 2013.

also my father was involved in a rta in Addiscombe, along LowerAddiscombe Road, early 80s, the appliance went off road into a record shop. The said record shop is no longer there. Been replaced by the Tramlink. Father served at H28 Woodside RedWatch

Added by Tim Cowlard on 24 February 2013.

Will she be at Odiham then Bob?

Added by Paul stevens on 15 June 2013.

Hi Paul,
I'm afraid it won't be at Odiham this year, unless we can work a miracle, I'm hoping to restart renovation in the next week or two.

Added by Bob Peters on 16 June 2013.

I was an Engineer at the (LONDON FIRE BRIGADE) 'CENTRAL REPAIR WORKSHOP LAMBERTH. I carried out a Full engine and Gear box rebuild on this appliance. it is fitted with a 'Perkins v8 Diesel engine (Model 510). The transmission was a Denis version of the (David Brown 5 Speed Crash box). Dennis used their own transfer 'Power take off box. It had a 'Dennis (No. 3 Fire Pump). The body work was a custom Dennis Ash frame, covered in light alloy sheeting. I liked this series of 'Fire appliance. I took my first ' HGV test in one. Based at Croydon. It was (P 397). In there day, they were a great bit of kit! I much perferred driving these, with there manual transmission. They were more fun to drive, and much faster off the mark 'than the later (Alison MT 643'Automatic transmissions. "That was back in 1979". Great days.

Added by Paul Crudge on 13 April 2014.

It's really nice to see a wonderfully restored DENNIS F108. When I joined the Brigade, they still had the 'Dennis F 101. This had a Rolls Royce 8 cylinder petrol engine. I think they were the last (LCC Petrol appliance). The first diesel 'I beleive was the Dennis F 106. It had the (AEC. Model:505 6 cylinder diesel engine). This engine ran like a peach, but was under powered in comparasion to the petrol engine. The came the ' Dennis F108: F109: ERF: Dennis F131: The S&D "Shelvoke & Dewrey". The S&D was a really improvment. It had "Full" Proper Power steering! And some appliances came with the 'Perkins 610 updated engine. I always felt that the Brigade should have purchased the "Turbo Powered 'Perkins V8 engines! I drove a truck which was fitted with a 'Perkins 610 Turbo unit! "It was really powerful and had loads of torque. "ie, Low down pulling power! I would love to see your restored Dennis F108 again. Maybe you could advise me of any shows etc? ie, That you may attended. Ps. Are the "Hydro Vac" Servo brake units still functioning ok? Paul

Added by Paul Crudge on 13 April 2014.

Paul - LCC had already bought a large number of Merryweather appliances on what were essentially shortened AEC double decker bus chassis with diesel engines starting in around 1950. They also bought Dennis F101 dual purpose appliances with Rolls Royce 12.17 liter marine diesel engines in 1957, as well as later series of Merryweather/AECs, including many hydraulic turntable ladders, and a few Perkins six cylinder engined diesel F27 chassised emergency tenders.

Added by Rob Johnson on 27 April 2017.

Rob. Yes I was aware of that. I was a 'Engineer at "Lambeth Cental Repair Workshop. I worked on all types of vehicles and plant. Plus the Fire boats. Masses Shaw. Fire Brace. Swift Hawk and Pheoix. The 'F106 & 108 had hydraulic drum brakes. Operated by "Hydovacs". I saw the comment regarding "Brake fade". This was a big problem. The later 'F09 & F131 had proper / full air brakes. It was a big improvement. Anyone remember 'FT10. Chubb Foam tender. Stationed at 'E30 Eltham? NB: I carried out a 'Full engine overhaul, on. MGO 460L. "Happy days". Paul

Added by Paul Crudge on 28 April 2017.

I was at Tooting fire station with WLM361G & WLM360G Can I drive yours for My 70th birthday treat Cheers Phil

see a WLM here



Added by Philip miller on 29 March 2023.

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