Fire Engines Photos

Hi, I am new to this site but a friend of mine, his father, both of whom worked this appliance when it was new to Bexhill, and myself are trying to trace its whereabouts now.We know it left the brigade and passed to a local crane company where it was repainted orange, it was then sold on again as a part exchange for another crane, we believe to a dealer in West Sussex.Our request is for anyone with ANY information, however small, please contact me as we wish to trace it and put into preservation, and return it to its former town!!Please e-mail me if you have any knowledge of its whereabouts or subsequent histoy,

Added by Andrew Mills on 21 February 2008.

Andrew, not many HP's are actually seen in presevation today and since I took that photograph back in 1992 I've never seen this appliance again.Best of luck
with your search, it would be nice to see that old HP around again.Someone, maybe
some where can help you out, sorry mate, I can't.

Added by Pete Matten on 21 February 2008.

Pete / Andrew I can't tell you about the fate of this one but I can tell you where it's sister appliance ended up. It was en route from Sussex to Simon's at Dudley for some remedial or upgrade work to the hydraulic platform when the rear diff overheated on the M.1 in Bedfordshire. It was recovered on rear suspend tow but the boom and cage bounced and hit a bridge over the Motorway causing the front end of the boom to deflect, partially crushing the cab. The Pru paid out on a a total loss basis the year before they pulled out of motor insurance altogether. The platform appliance was later successfully recovered to Dudley and still lay in their yard 2 years later. Mike.


Added by Mike Cowan on 14 December 2008.

I think you will find the HP written off on the M1 in July 1980 was actually similar West Sussex appliance LBP 773J stationed at Worthing from 1977 - 1980 (having replaced identical HPO 135H which was written off in a RTC in 1977). LBP 773J was originally based at Chichester, then Bognor from 1975, until moving to Worthing to replace their written off HP. The second East Sussex ERF HP remained at Hove until replaced by a Volvo ALP.
Worthing then received Horshams HP - MPX 842J - to replace LBP773J, allowing Worthing to have been allocated all 3 West Sussex ERF HPs, this one survived without being written off until replaced by Dennis F125/SS263 F25 OCR in 1988. All 3 West Sussex appliances were delivered in Coventry Yellow, but the 2 J regs had the cab repainted red in the mid 1970s, but retained Yellow booms. They only had 3 man cabs unlike the East Sussex one pictured. If anyone can confirm the West Sussex appliances painted coventry yellow i'd love to know - i have evidence of 17, although i beleive there were a up to 27 in total.

Added by Jon Godden on 05 February 2009.

On refection, I thnk you're spot on. I knew somebody out there would know. Apologies for any confusion.

Added by MC on 06 February 2009.

Jon Godden, please go to my picture 4327 and it shows a 1971 Dennis'D'Series preserved of the West Sussex Fire Brigade in the yellow livery, also there is some information which you might find of some interest to you.
It is beleaved there were in yellow a total of 27, but this included several
older appliances from the mid 1950's and 1960's still on the run.These being
repainted at brigade workshops when in for annual service, etc......Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 06 February 2009.

hi there is a picture of the yellow erf of west sussex reg ( mpx 842j) on the website of www.emergency-vehicles.co.uk go to fire and rescue then west sussex then go to archives and you will see the picture of it hope this helps just to let you know im in ff at west sussex at littlehampton and we have the yellow dennis d which we is in our back station we call her the yellow peril and she only comes out to shows and weddings calvin

Added by Calvin Fox on 06 February 2009.

hi pete the picture is picture 4237 not picture 4327 i couldn't find it so i went though your pictures take care calvin

Added by Calvin Fox on 06 February 2009.

Thanks Pete & Calvin, I know the Yellow Peril well as it took me to my Wedding in 1997. At the risk of boring people i beleive the following West Sussex appliances were yellow: DennisF44 -DBP 12G, GBP 446H, MPX 589J, MPO 54J, Dennis D, EPX 903H, LPX 40J, MPO 55J, Land Rover L4P MPX 887J, The 3 HPs, 3 Ford BACVs COP 635 - 637L, Land Rover L4L 3991 PX and Land Rover RT FPM 661C, plus Dennis F8 UPX 293 repainted when moved to Shoreham. Any others that people can confirm? Were any of the K reg 1972 deliveries Yellow? Pete i think you were at Lancing - was WPO 13K red when delivered?
Thanks, Jon

Added by Jon Godden on 11 February 2009.

Jon, it was LPO 40J(Storrington)not LPX that was yellow.Also 99 CBP, the old
1961 Bedford TJ/HCB(Baby Bedford)at East Preston was repainted yellow, I do
beleave there was another Baby Bedford also done but can find no details,
maybe Barry Lambeth can help us on that one.Also don't forget the 4 Ford-
Workshop vehicles.The first 2 were recieved in 1975, a third in 1976, and a
fourth in 1978.I think the first 2(1975)were delivered in yellow(I only
have the one picture of one in yellow livery-GCR 991).The Landrover that
was at Chichester still on the run from 1963-reg 995 LPX was also re-done
in yellow.During 1972/73, seven Dennis DJ Series WrL's were purchased for
retained stations, and 3 Dennis F49/Dennis for whole-time stations.I think
all these appliances were delivered red.WPO 13K(Lancings)was red livery.
Research is still on-going to trace them all, we'll eventually get there.


Added by Pete Matten on 13 February 2009.

hi jon i do have a picture that pete done a copy of is a baby bedford at east preston painted yellow cant see the reg thou hope that helps

Added by Calvin Fox on 13 February 2009.

Another one Jon!.Crawley received in 1971 there Dennis F44(reg-MPO 40J)this
being delivered in the Coventry yellow livery and ran as 1st appliance.But
also on station at that time was another Dennis F8(2ndpump)still on the run,
it was also re-done in the yellow livery by workshops.I have a good picture
of it but it doesn't show the registration....Any info on this one please.

Added by Pete Matten on 14 February 2009.

Many Thanks Pete & Calvin - The Crawley F8 was VPX 782 - i though that might have been yellow as Corgie or someone did a model F8 in yellow which had a Crawley station plate on it. Thanks for the East Preston info - had heard they had a yellow second pump but had not been able to confirm which one, but must be baby bedford 99 CBP. Pete - 4 Worshop vans??? - GCR991N & HOR 995N i know of & then OTR216S in 78, which was the other one then?. Many thanks, keep up the research. Jon.

Added by Jon Godden on 18 February 2009.

Jon, I can't find any records on the Dennis F8-VPX 782, what year was that?.
The model that Gorgi (models of yesteryear) produced was yes of Crawley, but let me just say that I've not yet come across a picture of a Dennis F8 of the WSFB (no aluminium) all in yellow as the model was. The photo I have in
my collection shows just front, mudguards and wheels in yellow livery.
The 4th (third purchased) mobile workshop vehicle was the one purchased in 1976 and had the registration-MPK 194P, and this was based at Chichester.

Added by Pete Matten on 18 February 2009.

Gents another pump in Yellow was Dennis F8 SBP 136 at Worthing, along with F8s at Crawley VPX 782 and Shoreham UPX 293.
Baby Bedford 99 CBP was yellow at East Preston but I also belive that Baby Bedford 4554 PX was painted yellow too.
Bedford S/Miles WrT/E running as WrTs where painted yellow TPO 165 and TPX 473 the former being at Chichester as a WrT.
I also belive that Dennis F49 WPO 477K at Shoreham was yellow too. Remember seeing it when i was a lad.
The other workshop van was MPX 194P Ford A0619/Hawson.
Hope this fills a gap.
Neal

Added by Neal Martin on 19 February 2009.

Regarding VPX 782: This was chasssis number 4247, WPO 41124, delivered September 1956.

Added by Ian Moore on 19 February 2009.

Pete,
This particular (Surrey registered) workshop vehicle - MPK 194P - is a new one on me. Was it Ford D like the others, and do you happen to have a photo of it please ?

Added by Ian Moore on 19 February 2009.

Ian, I have photo's of the first 2 workshop vehicles delivered in 1975, these
being GCR 991N (Yellow+Red) and GCR 995N(Red).These were Ford D2817/Contact
bodies, GCR 991N first to Horsham then Worthing, and GCR 995N to Worthing.
The 1976 Ford D2817(reg-MPK 194P)went to Chichester, Neal Martin thinks this
one had a different body?a Ford AO619/Hawson.The last to be delivered was
in 1978 having the registration-OTR 216S, this was another Ford and again it
could have had a Ford A0619/Hawson bodywork.I do not have photo's of these
last 2 workshop vehicles, or info(Or at least I don't think I do)....Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 19 February 2009.

Hi Pete. I do have photos of both workshop vans MPK 194P & OTR 216S, but they are not my own so unable to post here, but can confirm they are the same model as the old CUs OTR 215S & XOT 151V.
Neal


Added by Neal Martin on 19 February 2009.

Thanks Neal - so if MPK 194P was the same as the two Fords that you mention, it was obviously a Ford A, and probably (again from the likeness you draw) also bodied by Hawson-Garner.

Added by Ian Moore on 20 February 2009.

Thanks Folks - this information is going well - Pete - i think the Corgie model used a lot of artistic licence but must link to the real F8 VPX782, which was new in 1956, and as far as i know spent it's life at Crawley, obviously being repainted yellow around 1970 . If Bedford TPX473 was yellow was this when still stationed at Bognor - and when did it leave Bognor?
Has anyone got a picture of F49 WPO 477K in yellow as if so this would have been the only yellow F49 and K reg appliance?
Yellow bady Bedford 4554 PX - where was it stationed? - Shoreham, then reserve from 1970??. many thnaks for the help, Jon.

Added by Jon Godden on 20 February 2009.

Andrew, Bexhills ERF ss85ft Simon Engineering as you say was thought to have been sold to a private contractor. I am so very sorry to dash your hopes but, I believe it was sold to a Manchester Company who reconditions Hydraulic Platforms I am sure I saw it up there when I visited. The company concerned strips the chassis of the Hydraulic System and re-accommodates the booms on to a new chassis, scrapping the remains.
There is no confusion here as I know the three West Sussex Hydraulic Platforms well and their specifications. I feel sure that this was one of the appliances being worked on. May I suggest also you go to the Irish Fire Websites, as they have a list of appliances exported over there from the U.K mainland. A lot of English special appliances find their way over there.
Also many went for export to the middle east in this era. I do have the address of the company spoken of and the name which evades me at present.
With West Sussex Fire Appliances of the new deliveries anything with a G/H/J registration would have been yellow. Four Dennis F.8s were converted to yellow these all had embossed alloy panelling (no whole red ones) only one Bedford Water Tender was done this was a Bedford J/5 99 CBP/ East Preston, the only complete red fire appliance which was repainted in total yellow livery was Bedford SLHZ/Miles Water Tender/Escape
registration TPX 473 this was a 1955 model based at Clarence Road Bognor Regis my records show this work was done over a seven week period in the
May/June of 1970 the appliance also had major work carried out on the pump and water tank.
On the 16 August 1974 this appliance was to be disposed of, but fate intervened and it was placed at Chichester as second pump complete with escape. The Chief Fire Officer did not like the Escape (464s were in widespread operation) and the Escape was removed leaving the appliance to operate as pump water tender till it was disposed of. The reason it went to Chichester was to replace an F.8 (UPX 174) which under went a conversion to the brigades foam tender at Shoreham. TPX 473 was withdrawn from service during the October of 1975 (blown engine) and sold to Chatfields ferrous Metals and Scrap Dealers at North Mundham
near Chichester it was sadly cut-up for scrap if I can assist you further please contact me.

Added by BOB CARVER on 16 February 2010.

That machine was one of the engines that rescued people from the "Grand" in Brighton in 1984 I think.

ED: there is an excellent documentary on the BBC iplayer about the bombing of The Grand.

Added by Michael William Earith on 03 November 2024.

No - I don't believe this did attend the Grand Hotel, the two HP's that are listed as attending were from Worthing & Horsham - West Sussex. The one pictured above was stationed at Bexhil, so not that close to Brighton.

Ed: one of the Grand ones had yellow booms I remember. Worthing I guess.




Added by on 08 November 2024.

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