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Thanks
Roland
Contact me :-
roland@magirusdeutz.co.uk |
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In 1864 Conrad Dietrich Magirus, established “Magirus Feuerwehr Requisiten Fabrik” and
started manufacturing his unique range of Fire Fighting Vehicles.
The name Magirus went from strength to strength due to many technical developments,
including the manufacture of the first Turntable Ladder unit.
In later years, indeed, up to the present day, many truck manufacturers have fitted the internationally renowned 'Magirus Leiter' unit and its modern variants.
-------------- Melbourne Fire Brigade Museum and Vehicle collection ------------------
Whilst in Melbourne I paid a visit to the Melbourne Fire Brigade Museum on Gisborne St.
My main reason for the visit was to see the retired Magirus Deutz units.
I was informed that they were no longer on the premises, but now housed at Newport, west of the City, and not open to the public.
I thought I was out of luck, but the man on reception immediately called Newport and asked if they could let me visit.
I was pleased by their response and drove over there, to be met (by name) at the gate by a friendly volunteer.
I was shown into a storage building and in front of me was:
Car 103, a 1971 200D19 44m ladder unit.
Car 150 , a DLK 23 12 Low profile ladder/basket unit.
In another shed, there was a 210D 18 with some form of pumping unit.
I was shown round all 80 vehicles and was concerned that they are not accessible by the general public.
There is a team of enthusiastic volunteers who are keeping the collection together.
Most of the visitors are birds which necessitate all vehicles being covered with tarpaulins.
I feel privileged to be allowed access to this staggering collection and thank the volunteers for their hospitality.
So a big thank you David Russell, Barry Beer and the others whose names, I apologise, I did not get.
Barry told me an interesting story and acted out his dramatic method for getting to the heart of the Fire first.
He also explained about the 'Lift' ability of the ladder of Car 103.
The machine carried 2 x extension bars which when fitted to the foot of the ladder reached down to the ground.
The ladder is fitted with a small folding platform and which rides up the ladder and enables access to the ladder without climbing aboard.
Have I got that right Barry ?
See the pictures below of these very hard-worked beautiful machines. |
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| Car103 200 D19 - NSF |
Car103 200 D19 - Head On |
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| Car103 200 D19 - OSF |
La France on left, 15m less ladder, but bulkier. |
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| Car103 200 D19 - Drivers side |
Car103 200 D19 - Crew View |
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| Car103 200 D19- slippy wood seats help dressing |
Car103 200 D19 - Ladder support frame. |
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| Car103 200 D19 - NSR The Famous name |
Car103 200 D19 - OSR The Famous name |
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| Car103 200 D19 - OS view |
Car103 200 D19 - the mighty F8L814 Deutz |
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| Car103 200 D19 - Extension Rod for 'Lift' |
Barry climbed to top of ladder to be first at fire. |
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| Car103 200 D19 - Magirus Data Plate |
Car103 200 D19 - Show Display Board |
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| Car 150 DLK 23 12- Short Nose PA cab |
Car 150 DLK 23 12 |
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| Car 150 DLK 23 12 |
Car 150 DLK 23 12 - Cab O/S |
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| Car 150 DLK 23 12 - Cab N/S |
Altona 210D18 - awaiting restoration |
I heard some years ago about Glasgow being the only area in the UK to have been lucky enough to have a Fire Brigade including several Magirus Deutz Fire Appliances. I have now managed to track down proof of their existence and here are a couple of small pictures.
------------------- MAGIRUS DEUTZ FIRE ENGINES USED IN GLASGOW ---------------- |
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PGB 276 F The first Forward Control cabbed model made. 4 Delivered in 1969.
Model 150 D 14 FL with a DL 30 Ladder unit. |
VCG 291H 30 meter ladder, with fire and rescue cage. The only one ever in the UK, and 1 of only 4 ever built. |
The above photos were taken by Arthur Smith and Ron Henderson.
I have been unable to contact Arthur for his permission, Ron has been in touch and has given his ok.
PGB 276 F was one of the appliances called to the Tragic Fire in Kilbirnie Street on 25.08.72.
when the Sher Bros. Cash and Carry warehouse was destroyed.
7 Brave Firemen lost their lives on that day. 6 died in an attempt to save one of their fellow firefighters. I asked where these amazing vehicles are Now ?
I now have further information courtesy of Derek Sneddon, a keen Fire Brigade archivist.
NGE 46F 1969 Magirus Deutz Water Tender Ladder with SMT bodywork. Based at South fire station, Glasgow.
NGE 47F 1969 Magirus Deutz Water Tender Ladder with SMT bodywork. Based at Central fire station, Glasgow.
PGB 276F 1969 Magirus Deutz Water Tender Ladder with SMT bodywork. Based at Govan fire station, Glasgow. (pic above)
PGB 277F 1969 Magirus Deutz Water Tender Ladder with SMT bodywork. Based at North West fire station, Glasgow.
NYS 26F 1969 Magirus Deutz 105D JC Bennett Magirus Turntable Ladder. Based at Central fire station Glasgow, then Cowcaddens fire station Glasgow. Last heard of preserved down in Kenilworth, UK.
PUS 920F 1969 Magirus Deutz 105D JC Bennett Magirus Turntable Ladder. Based at North West fire station, Glasgow. Last heard of preserved by Douglas Morrison of Haddington, East Lothian.
VGG 291H Magirus Deutz 230D JC Bennett Magirus 30 metre Turntable Ladder. Based at West Marine fire station, Glasgow. Last heard of with Drimsynie Estate in Lochgoilhead, Strathclyde. It was the only Magirus Turntable Ladder in Strathclyde Brigade that was fitted with a cage. (pic above)
I would be pleased to add more pictures of the above vehicles, so if any of you are able to help, please contact me. |
It is true that Fire Fighting Teams show a special respect for their vehicles and this is
displayed by the very high level of presentation reserved for their vehicles and equipment.
They are trained that due to the nature of their work, they can only accept the highest
possible standards in all respects. Their lives and those of the public, depend on total
reliability and complete trust in every item they use in their dangerous profession. |
Magirus Deutz in a Fire-Prevention and Control Operation - Sudan 1983
My mate Ron is an experienced international fireman and his employment as Chief Fire Officer of the Kenana Sugar Company in the Sudan in 1983, was just one of his very demanding jobs.
The Magirus Deutz fire truck was provided as part of an aid package from Germany following a visit from the Chief Fire Officer of Ulm who identified a number of weaknesses within the company fire brigade.
He suggested that two fire trucks and a dry powder trailer would adequately provide fire cover for the site which covered thousands of acres and employed in excess of 70,000 people. |
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Magirus Deutz TLF24/50, 4x4, 16T GVW, with Deutz F8L413 engine. fitted with a 5000L Water tank and 500L Foam tank. Vandalism/shipping mark on cab. (Rons truck on right) |
Only one truck with some equipment and the trailer arrived, and the second truck "disappeared" after arriving at Port Sudan.
At that time the fíre brigade was operating with 6 "Green Goddesses" and a 6x4 ex-RAF Range Rover and was extremely limited with the fire cover it could provide. |
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The high level monitor control pit |
The hose unit at the rear |
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The photos were taken by Ron out in the sugar cane fields and show the fire truck being used to prevent fire jumping from one sugar cane field to another during the cane burn.
If this happened it might provide too much cane to be harvested at the time or might jump to a field that has not reached the appropriate growth and readiness, thereby leading to a significant loss of sugar from the cane.The green Nissan truck to the rear of the fire truck was a water bowser in case the water tank on the Maggie needed replenishing ! Each field is approximately 800m long by 400m wide. When the cane is ready for harvesting it is first of all burned "in situ" to remove the leaves and is then harvested either by hand or by machine. Removing the leaves by burning allows the harvesting to be accomplished faster with little damage to the cane. The minimal damage is due to the fire being so quick that little residual heat is generated, although the heat felt from the fire is quite intense.This is the reason for the fireproof suits.
It was probably nearly as hot inside the suit as outside ! |
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The Kenana Sugar Company has 100,000 acres of sugar cane and now produce more than 400,000 metric tons of sugar annually, supplying Sudan's domestic needs and exports to its regional neighbours and to Europe.
The site includes the world's largest sugar mill under one roof. |
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The Deutz engine lends itself to front end, full torque, engine speed, power takeoffs as there is no radiator to obstruct the fitting.
This fine example takes full advantage of this benefit. |
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Fire fighting vehicles built on other makes of chassis are the products of more than one manufacturer. Magirus Deutz supplied the unit, as a complete entity, with all components designed to interact with one another. This is a complete Magirus Deutz unit !
Click the picture for a better view.
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Factory Visit 1978.
I was fortunate enough to be shown around the extensive Fire Engine factory
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| Magirus Deutz S6500 factory fire unit Ulm Donau in 1978 |
Its not until you get up close to an
airport fire appliance that you get
a real impression of their size.
The 50T unit below is powered by twin
V12 Deutz engines producing 1000hp
to provide the necessary 8 wheel drive
performance for its demanding job. |
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One of the most interesting models was the DLK 23-12 Low-Profile unit which makes it
particularly useful in todays modern congested city locations. |
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Some Details of this vehicle :-
2350 mm wide
2850mm high
The ladder is a full 30 metre unit
on a turntable mount and the unit
includes a personnel cage.
Below the 3 man cab is a 256hp
engine coupled to an automatic
transmission system which all
contribute to a very high
specification fire fighting vehicle.
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Further pictures that personify the image of Magirus Deutz Brandschutztechnik.
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