bulldogboy

There is a photo of Memphis Fire Department LW-1 on page 37 of John Malecky's book, "Mack Tilt Cab Fire Apparatus". It carried 4,000 gallons of AFFF foam and the white markings on top of the trailer indicated that it also carried 400 feet of 4" hose on the top of the tank. bulldogboy

jackb61sx: Andover wanted to build a new station next to the South School but there was some community opposition to that plan so as of now the 126 year old Ballardvale station is still at the corner of Clark Road and Andover Street. A citizen has submitted a warrant for the 2016 town meeting to spend 3 million dollars to renovate the current station but the department feels that this station is too outdated and would like to build a new one. I'm not sure if the school site is still in the running. bulldogboy

gmerrill: I remember that engine running out of the Ballardvale station in Andover; looked a lot better back then. The old Ballardvale station is still in service although AFD has been trying to replace it for the last several years. bulldogboy

Braun's Express is headquartered in Hopedale, MA along with its other company, Normandin Transportation Systems. They run Mack straight and tractor trailers from New England to Georgia and west to Minnesota. They are also a logistics company for the carpeting and flooring industry. bulldogboy

Mack CL-700, E7-427 dump truck. bulldogboy

Ford, please stop teasing us United States Ford "Ranger" owners with these videos of trucks we want but can't have. Since Ford stopped US production of Rangers I try to see how many Rangers are still on the road. My unscientific research shows a lot of them, many still in commercial operations. bulldogboy

C'mon, look at the bright side: you'll be the sharpest looking pickup at the dump/transfer station on Saturday morning. Make all those BMW, MB owners jealous. bulldogboy

I never thought about an aerial ladder; most of the "B" model straight ladders that I have seen had semi or open cabs. I should have thought about the ladder as I once operated a "C" model straight ladder. bulldogboy

"B-85", compartment under driver's door, chrome radiator shell, starter button, switches for emergency lights, and red interior, leads me to believe that this was once a fire truck. However, it has a long wheelbase and I have never seen a Mack fire truck with two sticks. Am I close? bulldogboy

A couple of red Ford pickups on the car show circuit. A 1934 and a 1950 "F-1". bulldogboy

I've got a Ranger, too. Seeing as I won't be able to get a new Ranger here, I guess I'll settle for a Ford bicycle to replace my 40 year old Schwinn. Won't be able to carry as many groceries though. bulldogboy

If the "Dukes of Hazzard" gets remade do we get residuals for our starring roles? That would look good on my resume, retired firefighter becomes international movie star. Hey, it worked for Steve Busemi, former FDNY, Engine 55. bulldogboy

Most, if not all, "R", "MB", and "MC" fire trucks had bodies built by Grumman (Howe), Hamerly, or others. Most fire apparatus built in the '70s had bodies that rusted away in no time. There probably aren't many existing "R", "MB", "MC", or "CF" models with the original body still on them (not one that saw any fire activity, anyway). Same goes for Ward LaFrance, ALF, Seagrave, etc. bulldogboy

Joe, you bought another "CF"? Do you have three "CF"s now? Pictures of them all would be great. bulldogboy

Maybe Ford will bring back the "Cargo" to the U.S; these don't look like competition for IHC, FL M2, or the Ford F-650/750. While they're at it, bring the Ranger back also. bulldogboy

The "Type 45" is a 1948, 500/250, former Rockport, MA Fire Department. Back in '60 and '61 I spent two summers in Rockport, I remember this engine in Central Station. Glad to see that it is still around and looks in great shape. The white/red "L" model stopped by our station a few years ago when it was in town, it also looks great. bulldogboy

Driving an 18 wheeler (or more) in downtown Boston has to be the biggest challenge for a TT driver. Years ago, I saw electrical conduit delivered by a flatbed to our store on a street (cowpath) opposite what is now TD Garden. Great driving job but I'm sure that the driver, from the mid-west somewhere, was glad to get out of Boston and back on the open road. As someone who only drove 5 speed "L", "B", and "C" model fire trucks, I have to admire you guys who can operate the big rigs. bulldogboy P.S. My mistake; the "L" models were 4 speed.

41chevy: Thanks for the interesting information. It sure looked like a 1950s model Volvo. It don't remember the Volvo model number but it did resemble a 1940s Ford. bulldogboy

Ironic that in the first Hemmings photo a Volvo is parked next to the Mack "E" tractor. Somebody must have had a premonition. bulldogboy

The Dodge wagon is a 1961. When I was a kid my uncle had a 1951 Dodge sedan. In 1961 he bought a new Dodge sedan that same beige color. bulldogboy

In 2011, the Plymouth, MA Fire Department put a tanker into service with this same Ford "F" chassis and a Bulldog Fire Apparatus body. It's a 1988, 500/2100, red cab with a black body. I didn't know that it is a former Army vehicle. I don't have a picture of it but there is one on the Plymouth, MA apparatus page on "firenews.org". bulldogboy

Stow, MA Fire Department used to run this 1956 Ford "C"/Farrar, 500/500, as Engine 3. bulldogboy

A big, blue Mack "RD" tanker for sale in Londonderry, NH. bulldogboy

If that yard is on Route 2 in Gill, MA, there are a lot of old Mack trucks there. There are several fire trucks, I've seen a "Type 45" and an "R" model, former St Louis engine, there. The "R" model was lettered for Indian Ford, AL Fire Department; it was originally StLFD. Been a couple of years since I was by there. bulldogboy

I'm thinking that it might be what Mack called a "Deluxe Cab". A sedan cab would have a rear seat accessed by two rear doors, one rear door on the right side, or a catwalk through the hose bed. That "E" model doesn't have four doors or the catwalk; I can't tell if there is a rear door on the right side. In any event, it looks like a solid truck well worth owning. I agree with General Ike; I started my career with semi-cab "L" models, rode the rear step on "B" models, wore rubber coats and orange, plastic gloves. Today's firefighters are well trained and respond to all kinds of calls that we never even thought of but I would not trade my career for anything. Those memories, to me, are priceless. bulldogboy