Fire Engines Photos

The Blackburn machine is unusual in that it is an F15 which carries an escape ladder. In common with other F15s, I believe it also carries 400 gallons of water making it a water escape (WrE) rather than a pump escape(PE).The City of Norwich FB had an F15 with an escape (HVG 999) but this did not have a 400 gallon tank. There were two more of these oddities both with Leicestershire and Rutland. Acknowledgements to Simon Rowley for this information.

Added by Chris Wood on 26 July 2008.

NCB 500 (named Fred Shorrock? an uncle of mine) the Blackburn Appliance was always classed as a pump escape when I rode the engine in the 1960s-1970’s and not a (WrE) although later around 1976 may have be re-classified when Blackburn was amalgamated into Lancashire County Fire Brigade. The Line up in the 60’s & 70’s was a Bedford No:10, (first line machine) The Dennis PE, and a Dennis No: 3 pump (The first line machine for support to Lancashire County FB) a (AEC?) Turntable Ladder with a Metz Ladder + an Auxiliary Pump. A Self Built by Bill Almond & Ted Blackburn? (At Blackburn Fire Station) Emergency Tender, A Bedford Utility Van for Hydrant checking and minor chimney fires etc, & most importantly collecting our wages from the bank. Part of the time a Green Goddess was also stationed at Blackburn (Manned by the AFS). The photograph was taken on the Blackburn Fire Staton yard with fireman’s houses surrounding it, seen in photo.

Added by Dennis Ainsworth on 23 July 2019.

It seems a few brigades upgraded the water tanks on both Dennis F7 and F12 pump escapes, as they found the standard home office 100 gallon tanks to be a bit limited. It did not take long before it was necessary to set into a hydrant, if both reels were deployed.

Middlesborough CB was a case in point. Their F12 had an extended 200 gallon tank, the longer wheelbase F7 was 250.

It later became commonplace to have 300 gallon tanks on a lot of pump escapes. The extra weight was offset by carrying the lighter Merryweather steel ladder and the space created by locating the pump at the rear, most often with side plumbing and control panels.

Many brigades changed to steel ladders as older wooden escapes became too expensive to maintain or replace. They were strongly preferred by most fire crews when it came to the alternative 45 foot aluminium three piece extension ladder, commonly known as the "gutbuster". Although popular on county water tenders, these were less common with larger urban brigades.

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 July 2019.

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