Andrew Messer Photos

[e290l103]

originally Capital View, SC





[quote name='Andrew2340' timestamp='1341174542' post='490798']

The last rig at West Swain was wedged in the back of Station 2 longways, and they said it would take quite a while to get it in & out. I'd previously taken this photo of the rig last time I was there. Nothing had changed about the rig. The rig was at Station 1 that time.



West Swain, NC "1485"



1979 Chevrolet C-70/American LaFrance

1000/1000

Reg. # 1-6579

X: Balsam-Willetts-Ochre Hill, NC "853"



Andrew Messer Photo (2006)





[/quote]

[Andrew2340]

Our last scheduled stop for the day was at the newly-formed Meadow Branch VFD also in Graham County. They've just formed in the past few years. They had quite the collection of rigs! The sun was quickly fading, but we found one good spot up a small one-lane driveway beside the fire station.



The first rig (and the second rig) are the reasons I wanted to visit Meadow Branch. Last time I shot these rigs, it was in the parking lot across the road from Newell, NC's fire station with Micah Bodford at the wheel. When Newell's fire department closed the doors, both of these rigs were donated to Meadow Branch.



Meadow Branch, NC "Engine 1"



1984 Mack MC686F

1500/1000

Cha. # 1150

X: Newell, NC "Engine 3"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

and the other one...



Meadow Branch, NC "Engine 2"



1987 Mack MC686FC/KME

1500/1000

Cha. # 1286

GSO # 0343

X: Newell, NC "Engine 2"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

The last time I shot this rig, it was parked in front of the Graham County/Santeetlah/Pine Ridge fire station.



Meadow Branch, NC "Brush 1"



1980 Chevrolet C-30/SaSo

250/250

X: Santeetlah/Pine Ridge, NC "703"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

This rig has quite a history of its own. It was manufactured for the sole purpose of starring in the movie "The Fugitive" which was filmed in the Robbinsville, NC area. After the movie was over, and the ambulance had fulfilled its role in the movie, the movie production company was stuck with an ambulance that they didn't really need anymore. They asked around and eventually ended up selling the ambulance to the Stecoah Fire Department just outside Robbinsville, NC. Stecoah ran it as "608" for years. It eventually became the backup ambulance when a newer one was purchased. Recently, Stecoah purchased another newer used ambulance, bumping their current ambulance down to the backup ambulance and leaving this ambulance as an extra. The ambulance was recently donated or sold (not sure which) to Meadow Branch.



Meadow Branch, NC "805"



1987 Ford E-350/Ashley

Ambulance

X: Fugitive movie

X: Stecoah, NC "608"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

This rig was sitting alongside the fire station, so I just shot it where it was. It looked like a work in progress. It's going to be some sort of equipment truck for them. I also shot this one when Stecoah ran it.



Meadow Branch, NC



1986 Chevrolet Van 30

Support Truck

X: Stecoah, NC "613"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

And lastly, this rig was parked in the station. It was also a work in progress. After finishing up at Meadow Branch, we began the cross-county voyage to Snowbird VFD (home of some very, very neat rigs) but nobody was home when we got there. We ended the day with 45 rigs! It was a very very good day and we were so thankful that God had blessed us with such good weather, plenty of rigs, and willing people to pose them for us!



Meadow Branch, NC



1972 Ford E-200

Equipment Van

X: Atkinson, NC "1191"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Guest]

Meadow Branch, NC "Brush 1"



1980 Chevrolet C-30/SaSo

250/250

X: Santeetlah/Pine Ridge, NC "703"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)







Wow..............a SaSo........I forgot about those guys. A 1970's mail order fire apparatus manufacturer werent they?

[Andrew2340]

Not really sure, this was the first SaSo rig I've ever shot. Definitely not something you find in the mountains of Western NC often!

[Andrew2340]

Here are some more trucks I've been blessed to shoot lately. I re-shot all the trucks at this department, but I'll only post the new additions...



North Transylvania, NC "Rescue 13"



1983 Ford F700/EVF

Heavy Rescue

S/N # RM-628

X: Falmouth, VA

X: Round Hill, VA

X: Boyce, VA "Squad 4"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

North Transylvania, NC "Engine 13"



2011 IHC 4400/E-One

1250/1000

SO # 136627



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

North Transylvania, NC "Brush 13"



1981 Dodge 300/Baker

250/250

X: South Toe, NC "1307"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

This is an interesting kitbash of a mini-pumper & a rescue truck!



North Transylvania, NC "Engine 13-3"



1979 Chevrolet C-30/FMC

300/300

S/N # ??

Cab & Chassis: X: Rosman, NC "Service 65"

Body X: Cedar Mountain, NC "Brush 126"



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

My contact at North Transylvania set up for me to visit Little River next to shoot their newest additions...



This truck replaces a 2002 FL112/Semo 3000gal elliptical tanker that they rolled in 2010.



Little River, NC "Tanker 1"



2012 Freightliner Coronado SD/Alexis

1500/3000

S/N # 2157



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

Little River, NC "Brush 2"



1984 AM General/Howe

250/300

Skid Unit X: South Mountains, NC and X: Salem, NC before that



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

After talking to the EMS crew at Slater Marietta, they managed to find a firefighter hiding downstairs to pull this rig out for me.



Slater-Marietta, SC "Ladder 1"



1982 ALF Century

1500/300/100' ALF Water Chief

Reg. # CE-7752

X: Boiling Springs, SC "Ladder 2" (Greenville County)



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Guest]

A rare FMC mini pumper!

[Andrew2340]

I know not everyone likes ambulances, but this one was kinda different...



GHS MedTrans Ambulance Service, SC



200? Chevrolet C5500/Braun

NICU Ambulance



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

I'd been trying to track this helicopter down for sometime now. It used to be painted a very plain burgundy paint scheme, but it received a makeover sometime either last year or earlier this year.



GHS MedTrans of Greenville Memorial Hospital, SC



1997 Bell 407

Medical Helicopter

Tail # N407CR

S/N # 53254



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)



   

[Andrew2340]

Here's a sign of things to come whenever I get a chance to post again...



Franklin, NC "Ladder 11"



2011 Pierce Impel

2000/500/75' Pierce PAL

Job # 24110



Andrew Messer Photo (2012)