Fire Engines Photos

Is its replacement just as low height wise?

Added by Scott on 17 May 2008.

Well this is the replacement Scott, it is currently filling in for Sudbury 02 whilst it has its yearly service, this appliance is used around the brigade for the same purpose, however if Needam Market need a spare appliance either because theirs needs servicing or it has a fault, then this appliance will be the one they must have because they may be called to an incident the other side of the railway bridge and the 2 adapted appliances are the only 2 in the brigade that can fit underneath it.

hope this answers your question!!

Added by Peter Bromley on 17 May 2008.

Anybody got a pic of M903DGV then or the rear? Also what will happen if the incident needs a second or more pumps?

Added by Stuart Lucas on 17 May 2008.

What was in use before the current Volvo's? was there no problem with the previous appliances used.

Added by Colin Flannery on 18 May 2008.

If more appliances are needed they have to go the long way round bypassing the bridge, it is essential as i am sure you can understand Stuart that a pump is anywhere in the town within 4-5 minutes, And to answer your question Colin, i am guessing the previous appliances were the Bedfords and they were obviously low enough to not need adaptation.!

Added by Peter Bromley on 18 May 2008.

Even the 1966 Bedford that they had (JRT 832D) was a special low-height job. It was a Bedford that if memory serves me rightly had a TK engine.

Added by Ian Moore on 18 May 2008.

I am aware of at least one Bedford TK which was adapted to serve at Needham Market. It is YPV 568S and has it's blue beacons mounted on the front of the cab above the windscreen and it's ladder sits within the the bodywork not on top of the cab. I would post a picture if I had the means, sorry guys!

Added by Chris Wood on 18 May 2008.

Needham Market have had a modified appliance since Bedford TK days. Prior to this, normal appliances could be used. The obstruction as PJB said is a low railway bridge which is the quickest route for Needham to access the large "Needham Lakes" picnic area and the A14 trunk route. On 2 pumps or more shouts, the nearest pumps have no need to go under this bridge and approach the area from different directions depending on home station (usually Stowmarket and Headquarters (Ipswich) who both use the A14.

As for the trucks, after JRT832D as Ian points out earlier, YPV568S (see Chris's post) followed by D832DPV (Both TKs) were also new to Needham as lowheights. When M903DGV (Needham's current appliance) was placed on the run, D832 was kept to provide a reserve, but in 2003 when the last of the Bedfords were replaced by new Volvos, P954NPV was modified from a standard WrL to the picture you see above. This is the first truck to be modified to be a lowheight rather than be new as one.

A picture of the bridge and one of the TKs appears on my Suffolk Fire Appliances website (Google it as I cant post URL here!)

Added by Gareth Perkins on 20 May 2008.

A Picture of M903 DGV can be found under my photo section or by going to picture 8523

Added by Peter Bromley on 02 August 2008.

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