[quote name='Roto-Ray' post='255655' date='Oct 21 2008, 11:17 ']Henrico Engine 6 will probably be in service in the next 4 weeks or so. We're expecting it in-quarters any time.[/quote]
I found this on the Pierce website while looking for more information on Henrico rigs. Photographer unknown, source = Pierce Mfg website public downloads.
Looks like Henrico changed the specs slightly from the 2006 deliveries. In addition to the more obvious (Alcoa rims, bus-style mirrors) I noticed some more subtle differences, including additional warning lights on the front bumper, different style electronic siren speaker on the chauffer's side of the bumper, racks for two lengths of hard suction, slightly different configuration in the pump area, Whelen LED bar on the roof and company number now printed on the grille and not on the bumper. I also noted there is no bell on the front bumper, but after seeing other pre-delivery pics of Henrico rigs before going into service, I observed the abscence of bells (which are present in "in service" pics). I assume that is something the Henrico shops add when prepping the rigs for service, or is the county forgoing bells on 2008+ apparatus?
I guess I can make some comments about this since I'm on Henrico's apparatus committee. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' />
You have a good eye and caught many of the things that we changed for the newest batches of rigs. We did add the LED's to the bumper after experimenting with these on Engine 8 for about a year, they work well. As for the electronic speaker, we just let Pierce install whatever they have, there's little consistancy on the siren speakers on our rigs. We started putting hard sleeve racks on new deliveries about 3 years ago. There is a 72" fully populated Whelen Freedom bar on the roof. Wanted the three mini-bars (a'la FDNY) but couldn't get it to work based on the AC condensor and light tower locations on the roof. In fact, ALL exterior lights are LED now with the exception of the headlights.
One thing you don't notice in the Piece photo is the longer wheelbase due to the addition of speedlays in front of the pump compartment. We've also gone back to two rear-facing and two forward-facing seats in the rear, as the previous batch had three forward-facing seats only. We addeda 2.5" auxiliary fill to the driver's side pump panel, there used to only be one on the officer's side. Powercall 6-B sirens are now standard also.
There are only three Quantums in Henrico that have bells on them, Engines 1, 10, and 17. These bells have been moved from rig-to-rig (as Engine 10 had the same bell on thier 1985 ALF, 1998 Quantum, and now their 2007 Quantum) for many years. So why do the TWH collectables all show bells on E10, E4, E21, and E11? Because the molding was done from photos of E-10, and since the other three Quantums were built as sister rigs to E-10, all of the models were done exactly the same, minus the graphics. Bells aren't part of our standard engine spec!
Hope this helped!
Taylor Goodman Captain - Henrico County (VA) Division of Fire Fire Chief - Huguenot VFD, Powhatan, VA
[quote name='Roto-Ray' post='297651' date='Apr 17 2009, 11:57 ']I guess I can make some comments about this since I'm on Henrico's apparatus committee. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' />
You have a good eye and caught many of the things that we changed for the newest batches of rigs. We did add the LED's to the bumper after experimenting with these on Engine 8 for about a year, they work well. As for the electronic speaker, we just let Pierce install whatever they have, there's little consistancy on the siren speakers on our rigs. We started putting hard sleeve racks on new deliveries about 3 years ago. There is a 72" fully populated Whelen Freedom bar on the roof. Wanted the three mini-bars (a'la FDNY) but couldn't get it to work based on the AC condensor and light tower locations on the roof. In fact, ALL exterior lights are LED now with the exception of the headlights.
One thing you don't notice in the Piece photo is the longer wheelbase due to the addition of speedlays in front of the pump compartment. We've also gone back to two rear-facing and two forward-facing seats in the rear, as the previous batch had three forward-facing seats only. We addeda 2.5" auxiliary fill to the driver's side pump panel, there used to only be one on the officer's side. Powercall 6-B sirens are now standard also.
There are only three Quantums in Henrico that have bells on them, Engines 1, 10, and 17. These bells have been moved from rig-to-rig (as Engine 10 had the same bell on thier 1985 ALF, 1998 Quantum, and now their 2007 Quantum) for many years. So why do the TWH collectables all show bells on E10, E4, E21, and E11? Because the molding was done from photos of E-10, and since the other three Quantums were built as sister rigs to E-10, all of the models were done exactly the same, minus the graphics. Bells aren't part of our standard engine spec!
Hope this helped![/quote]
Thanks Taylor! After I'd posted, I went back in my collection of pics and realized E10 was the only one I saw a bell on.... and looked at my TWH E4 and E21 and wondered why...? By the time I logged back onto the boards to edit my post regarding bells it was too late to change it. As always, thanks for the great info! Despite their mistake, I think I'll keep the bells on my TWH E4 and E21.... wouldn't want unsightly holes in the front bumper (I also noticed another TWH glitch... the rear side facing light on the cab was placed lower down on the body inside the white stripe instead of higher up just below the grab-iron for the rear door in the lime portion of the body)! <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
Any other pending deliveries for Henrico? Were there more from the same order as E6? Keep us posted!
The Stafford VFD/VA once operated this interesting Western Star with bodywork from 3-D Fire Apparatus. Sorry, no specs. 3-D Fire Apparatus photo / Kiefer collection