Tanker 4 at Sparta came from Bowling Green, Virginia - also located in Caroline County. I was told this Ford is the county's reserve piece, and it is kind of passed around to whatever station is in need of a truck. When Sparta receives their new Pierce, this Ford will go to another county station.
I too have seen the FMC Engines with the Omega symbol. I have only seen a couple though. I'm going to venture and guess that it was a model of FMC, but I'm not 100% sure.
Sparta also runs a 1998 Ford Expedition as Response 4 and a ALS chase car. The VFD is hoping to build a new station in the future. I saw some photos of the entire area that the station sits on flooded and they have had 3-4 feet of water in the bays in the past.
The FMC Omega was the top line body package available from FMC in the mid-late 1980's until they went out of business. It was above the Sentinnel and well above the Roughneck. The warning light in the side of the pump panel was an Omega trademark.
While driving to Sparta, I drove by a large working farm where a "red" truck caught my eye. At Sparta I asked about the fire truck I saw from the road and the gentleman at Sparta made a phone call and had someone waiting to meet me to see it.
Originally, this Mack was owned by Frog Level, Virginia and painted white. It was sold to the Upper King and Queen VFD in King and Queen County where it ran as Engine 12.
It is now out of service and for sale. The FD has no room to store it at the station, so it has been kept at this farm for the past 8 months or so. The Chief told me if needed they could place it in service, with no hesitations.
Overall, it is in good condition, although the cab interior needs a little work.
It is for sale for less than $10,000 (and the FD is very willing to be flexible on the price). Please email me at mnsand@comcast.net if someone has an interest and I can put you in touch with the Chief of this department.
At this point, it was getting very late in the afternoon and I was loosing sun and needed to be back on the road. I did however make a quick stop at the Upper King and Queen VFD to see what was behind the bay doors.
They run a Ford F/E-One engine and a Chevrolet/S&S tanker that also came from Frog Level.
They also have this mini which they run as Brush 14.
I am posting this hoping someone might know where it served prior to Upper King and Queen purchasing it. The VFD puchased it from a used apparatus dealer several years ago. If no one has the info, I will call the dealer to see if I can track it down.
[quote name='GA_Dave' post='230753' date='Jul 18 2008, 21:11 ']The FMC Omega was the top line body package available from FMC in the mid-late 1980's until they went out of business. It was above the Sentinnel and well above the Roughneck. The warning light in the side of the pump panel was an Omega trademark.[/quote]
I just learned a new fire truck fact today......thank you Dave!!
Great photos, Mike. Especially the Newport News shots....when I shot the rigs at that station last year it was pretty late in the day...about 7PM so it's nice to actually see those 2 units in good light.
Great shots Mike!! When will you be down in Chesapeake again? Maybe we could meet up and go take some pics of the new Engine 13 and the tower, I haven't had much luck getting them to pull the trucks out. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='<_<' />
[quote name='63Engine1' post='230960' date='Jul 19 2008, 18:57 ']Great shots Mike!! When will you be down in Chesapeake again? Maybe we could meet up and go take some pics of the new Engine 13 and the tower, I haven't had much luck getting them to pull the trucks out. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='<_<' />[/quote]
My trips to that area are usually work related and quick, so I don't have much time to stay around.
I have found the firefighters in the Tidewater area extremely nice and accomodating with apparatus photographs.
[quote name='mnsand' post='231034' date='Jul 19 2008, 20:30 ']My trips to that area are usually work related and quick, so I don't have much time to stay around.
I have found the firefighters in the Tidewater area extremely nice and accomodating with apparatus photographs.
Work had me in Southwest Virginia near the West Virginia line this week and I was able to visit several FD's in Virginia during my travels (For those interested, I also visited some West VA FD's - check them out in the West VA thread).
Selma, Virginia is located in Alleghany County between Clifton Forge and Covington, VA - not far from the West Virginia state line.
I am telling you, I had to work hard to get these photos on a Monday at around noon - nobody was around. After a variety of phone calls including an accidental call to the Sheriff's Department who wanted to know my emergency, the good folks at the Sheriff's Department provided me the phone number to the Chief at Selma who made arrangements for someone to come down. Another episode of Virginia Southern hospitality.
First up is Engine 90, a 1994 Freightliner 80/KME 1250/1250 with s/n GSO-2082
Sorry for the above post on Selma's brush - obviously it is the Ford F350 stats.
I love this era of fire trucks - Selma made the decison to keep one of their older Chevrolet fire trucks as an antique/parade piece. At one time, Selma operated three similar Chevrolet/Orens (1964, 1968, and 1976). The 1976 is at a local auto shop with hopes of a restoration.
This is the 1964 Chevrolet 80/Oren 750/750 with Oren s/n 1998.
And here is what the new Attack 93 replaced - old Brush 93.
This is kept at a auto repair shop (same place as the 1976 Chevrolet/Oren) and is currently for sale - any interest, let me know - I have the contact numbers. Selma VFD no longer owns this truck, it was purchased locally and then put up for sale again.
The guys at the auto repair shop were a little surprised that a guy from Northern Virginia wanted a photo of the fire truck kept on the lot - they were great and moved it around for photos.
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