It was not disbanded until Oxford models emergency service vehicles. See our Fire station and vehicle models. Product categories. Search posts Search. Roman model kits and figure sets Manchester trams, then and now. Beeching closes all the lines to Bury, origins of the ELR. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
Accept Reject Read More. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies.
But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Necessary Necessary. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. The durability of the Austin K2 ATV is demonstrated by its survival in use with some fire brigades into the s.
In the early stages of World War 2, an assortment of cars, taxis and light commercials was pressed into service with the Auxiliary Fire Service AFS to tow the 20, trailer pumps which it was estimated would be needed to keep the fire service adequately equipped for war.
This proved to be a false economy because hire charges and repair bills swallowed up the savings expected from not buying purpose- built vehicles in the first place. During an air raid on Manchester in December so many of the city's make- shift towing vehicles were out of action or under repair that trailer pumps had to be pushed to fires by their crews.
Against this background, in the Government approved the purchase of 2, two- ton vans for use as towing vehicles, each with internal seating for the crew and stowage for hose and small gear. Let it be said now that, although widely known now as the auxiliary towing vehicle, or ATV, there is no evidence to suggest the appliance was so called until after the war.
Production started in and continued apace until Most of the new vehicles were built on the short wheelbase Austin K2 2- ton chassis but some were built on the Fordson WOT2 cwt chassis.
Both were rear- wheel drive and the Austin was powered by a 6- cylinder, cc petrol engine whilst the Fordson was fitted with a V8 cc petrol engine. It is believed that a few towing vehicles were also produced on the Guy Ant cwt chassis but none are known to survive. All three vehicles were about the same size and the cautious weight designation of the Fordson and the Guy appears to reflect their primary use as military vehicles. The bodywork was steel with a specially strengthened roof to provide protection from shrapnel and flying debris.
The driver and officer- in- charge sat up front while the rest of the crew sat in the back on what was described as padded seating accommodation, this actually comprising a cushion over the equipment lockers down each side of the rear compartment. There was no separation between the driver's cab and the rear crew area and it was possible to climb through from front to back. The open back of the vehicle was provided with a waterproof curtain that could be drawn across to keep out rain and snow.
Like the Green Goddesses of the post- war AFS, the ATVs were probably built by a number of different companies with no fire engine building experience. Most had a body that was 6 ft 9 ins wide but some, for no reason known to me, had a narrow 6 ft 4 ins body.
The standard body overhung the rear wheels while the narrow body was virtually flush with the rear wheels. In January the NFS issued an Operations and Training Note specifying the standard method of stowing Austin towing vehicles, so that any fireman could find the equipment on any such vehicle in the dark.
Eleven lengths were stowed in a hose locker running across the vehicle behind the front seats and where possible locally fitted racks were provided above this locker for the other nine. The racks could also be used to accommodate kit- bags and anti- gas clothing. Electric hand lamps were stowed in the driver's cabin and other tools, such as axes, picks, spades, saws and a crowbar were stowed in the under- seat lockers behind.
A medical case, canvas buckets, lines, hose bandages, hand pumps and hurricane lamps were also to be found in locker boxes but hose ramps were kept on the floor at the front of the body. Other equipment provided locally, such as foam and foam. A long ladder, a short ladder and a hook ladder were carried on the roof, along with a branchpipe holder. Missing from this equipment is everything, apart from delivery hose, needed to get a pump to work. This is because suction hose, hydrant gear and hose fittings were carried on the trailer pump itself.
Wartime fires were so large that regional reinforcing moves were common and towing vehicles engaged on such calls were required to carry extra equipment to sustain both the vehicle and its crew on potentially long journeys in the blackout.
0コメント