Fire Engines Photos

Early 1940's Austin K2 Auxilliary Towing Vehicle(A.T.V.)supplied by the Home Office for the National Fire Service(N.F.S.).

Added by Pete Matten on 13 April 2008.

Thanks Pete.

Added by Paul Warnock on 14 April 2008.

Issued to the N.F.S. in 1941 it passed to Cumberland Fire Service in 1948 and was converted from an A.T.V. to a Hose Reel Tender (HRT)

Added by Dusty on 12 December 2008.

It served at Lazonby, Penrith before being stripped out as a stores van in West Cumberland being sold off early 70s

Added by Neal Glover on 01 July 2010.

Does anyone know when the last ATV came off the run? Wrexham had 2 (ET & FT) in1968 I think the next year only the FT. c1970 there was a HrT outside the old fire stn in Dolgellau without a ladder, as spare? About 1978 there was a red STU (Scotish ATV) at the back of Largs fire stn.

Added by Neal Glover on 04 September 2010.

The Bristol salvage tender, GLC 780 was on the run until 1970.

Added by Bristol Bob on 05 September 2010.

I had one the same as this..GLC 751.
I found out...that it was older than I was lead to believe.(1934).because they didn't have a normal registration number originally. They had their own system of numbering..and when resold..they were then given the numbers...which meant they were actually older.

Added by Bob Evans on 01 April 2011.

The Austin K series only came out about 1938. The 1st K2 ATV was delivered about Jun 1941. The GLC series was issued from Sep 1941 probably being delivered by the year end. The GLR series were being delivered by early 42 The constuction dates confirmed by plates on the vehicles.
Is GLC751 still around/ I have not got it on my by no means full list.

Added by Neal Glover on 01 April 2011.

Thank you Neal.It was a long time ago and my memory is not good.I guess in light of what you say it was likely a 1943 as I knew it had a 4 and 3 in it!.I do know that the GLC751 number and logbook were not correct year wise.It had belonged to the War Department or something similar and had spent some years with them.When sold it was actually registered, issued a green book with registration year ..which was not the manufacture year.It was not sign written..but you could read the old lettering..I think it may have had Devon or Cornwall on it ?.Must have been about 1976 and we used it for our band transport.It had no ladders etc...we used to all sit on the roof in the New Forest..playing guitars and bongos...in those far off balmey days !.It wasn't an era whre such vehicles were highly thought of, just that period in time when many 'old stagers' were being run to the ground.It/we wrecked its crankshaft at some point..and as far as I recall..someone bought it, had a new one custom made, and spent some money on it.Have no idea of the fate of GLC751 after that, sorry.

Added by Bob Evans on 02 April 2011.

GLC 751 passed from the NFS to Devon County Fire Service in 1948. It doesn't show up on any registration site so presumably was scrapped many years ago.

Added by Dusty on 03 April 2011.

I am currently updating the history of Burnham Fire Stn (Bucks) who had an ATV on station between 1945-69. I am keen to obtain photos of an ATV ie the engine, crew cab etc, basically from all angles, inside and out roof ladders equipment etc. Do not wish to pass of as Burnham's but want to give the reader a detailed insight into the appliance. Will give full credits etc. Can anyone help

Added by Alan on 29 June 2011.

If it was a straight ATV, the layout is probably original ie lockers along the sides and hose box behind front seats. If however it was a hosereel tender conversion there seem to be several variations depending how much the brigade was prepared to pay. The one in the picture was a basic conversion of the later type with portholes, fore and aft mounted hosereel and short hose racks on each side, rather than full length on offside only. The tank and hosereel were behind the front seats and full height partition. On the earlier conversions the hosereel was side to side and payed out the back. The backs of the conversions were full height at the sides some with a door and some with just a canvas curtain in the middle.

Added by Neal Glover on 30 June 2011.

Hi Neal thanks for the response. I only have one side on photo of the ATV (GXH 950)and it is part hiden by the men. It did however tow a trailer pump. Dont know if it was provided with a hosereel, no-one around to confirm/deny. I've tried Bucks F&RS and not much help. Can you help with any photos?

Added by Alan on 01 July 2011.

Donald McCouglach I think still has an ex Bucks or Beds Hrt. Someone should be able to post a pickie for you.
Most of the HrTs have square portholes in the sides for the hosereel tubing to be deployedalso a control panel on the nearside.

Added by Neal Glover on 01 July 2011.

Alan
You have no doubt seen picture 28565 of Donald McCullochs HrT GXH284. This has back doors fitted rather than a canvas curtain. It has a low height conversion with the ladder flat to the roof and a lowered bell. It originally carried a 30ft Home Office ladder but Donald could only get an Ajax. Donald and the machine have not been seen for several years, not south of the border anyway. They live near Edinburgh.

Added by Neal Glover on 03 July 2011.

There is actually a photograph on here showing the pump/control panel on near side of vehicle at(picture 12633).
Alan, I'll send you some pictures of the interior from 2 Austin K2's, some pictures I took on Saturday 2/7/11, and some I took of another K2 a couple of years ago..Although the lay-out and equipment was pretty standard on all Austin K2 appliances, crews would though in most cases very often add extra equipment to suite there own needs.

Added by Pete Matten on 03 July 2011.

As a hosereel tender, what was the tank capacity?


Added by Bill Edwards on 20 June 2015.

Hi, I think the tank capacity is around 90 to 100 gallons. I did work it out many many years ago but as we no longer own the vehicle I can't nip out and measure it. As a rough guide the tank is around 2mx0.5mx0.5m (probably smaller)

Added by Jonathan Dixon on 06 August 2015.

this fire engine still runs and is located in Suffolk. I have seen it recently.

Added by Iain Wright on 28 October 2019.

80 gallon tank in GLW 473 came out of ATV conversion. Also 5 way valve and gear pump.

Added by Peter McCombie on 30 October 2019.

Does it live in Suffolk. It was for sale on eBay about 12 mths ago for about 4 times what the vendor paid for it!?

Added by Neal Glover on 09 November 2019.

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