Virginia apparatus - miscellaneous

[Roto-Ray]

[quote name='VFN102' date='05 July 2010 - 10:48 PM' timestamp='1278383310' post='391137']

At one time this next rig was the primary engine at Fine Creek VFD Company 4, but is now a County Reserve Engine. As part of an arrangement, it splits time being housed at Company 4 and Company 1, alternating monthly. It's lettered as "Engine 43", but I'll defer to Roto-Ray to explain the old numbering system used in Powhatan. I believe it's currently called "Wagon 4", and possibly "Wagon 1" if Company 1 personnel were to staff it as a second engine.[/quote]



Paul, nice photos.



The reserve engine was the delivered in 1985 to the Fine Creek VFD, Company 4, and was the second (and last) Ford C operated by the county. As can still be seen, it was designated Engine 43. At that time, the county was using a numbering scheme very similar to what neighboring Chesterfield County was using at the time. The first digit was the company number, and anything ending in 2, 3, or 4 was an engine. Later, the rigs were simply designated Engine 4, Tanker 2, etc. Very few of them were re-lettered although the radio designation changed.



The rig is in really good shape, but the Cat 3208 under the hood is ridiculously worn out, causing it to be terribly underpowered.



Engine 43/Engine 4 was replaced in 2002 by a Pierce Enforcer pumper, and became the county reserve engine. Anytime it's not replacing another engine in the county, it carries the designation "wagon" and the county from which it's responding.



When my company (Company 2 [Huguenot VFD]) gets our new engine next year, our 1990 Grumman will become the county reserve and this 1985 Ford C/Pierce will be disposed of.