And speaking of other Fairfax County "firsts", this is the first county purchased aerial ladder truck and is often found at the North county shops. It is a 1963 Maxim F 85' 250/150 that saw a variety of assigments at Fairfax County stations.
Engine 31 operated a late 70s Seagrave (nicknamed Firefox)which I believe was a PB cab also but was readily distinguishable by the twin four-lamp beacon rays located in the front corners of the cab. Again, this configuration could have easily been changed by any subequent owner.
Wagon 31 was a 1977 Seagrave PB 1000/500. Again, as Paul mentioned, it was originally ordered by the volunteers at Herndon station 4 just prior to the volunteers turning over fire department operations to the county.
The twin lights on the roof cab always set this engine apart from the other county Seagrave engines - I have always liked this one.
Cause our front-line pumper ended up at South Shop and the reserve had to be returned to the North Shop. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/banghead.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
Mike, thanks for the Wagon 24 shot. I remember seeing it as Wagon 16 as a kid. Thanks also for Wagon 31. I always thought it was cool when the unit numbers were on the front of the rigs.
Damn, I love those old county Seagraves. They were so distinct in appearance.
[quote name='mnsand' date='02 March 2010 - 09:05 PM' timestamp='1267580703' post='367571']
And here is the excellent work that was done by the county shops in restoring the Rt. 1 Rocket - 1971 Seagrave. It was to be used for parades, funerals, etc.
Mike Sanders
Winchester, VA
[/quote]
Mike, are they not planning to re-letter the rig? It's pretty but looks bare without the FFX markings.
[quote name='mnsand' date='02 March 2010 - 09:02 PM' timestamp='1267580574' post='367569']
Here is a photo I took of Wagon 24 from Woodlawn many years ago. Known as the Rt.1 Rocket, it was a 1971 Seagrave 1000/500. I know after leaving FS 24 it went to Station 16.
What makes this piece special is that it was the first "county" purchased engine.
As Paul stated, it ultimately went to Sperryville, Virginia. When Fairfax County desired to have their first county purchased engine back into the department, a rehabed 1983 Duplex/E-One was given to Sperryville in 2000. I believe both departments were happy - Sperryville had a "newer" engine and Fairfax had a piece of their history back.
I just want to add a couple of other points about the enigines 24 and 31. The Rt 1 rocket was so named because it had been delivered with a rear end that was geared for a passenger bus, high speed, and thus the name Route 1 Rocket. I never drove it with this rear but they say it was the fastest rig on the highway. To the point of being dangerous so the shops changed the rear. (It still couldn't beat 11 to the south of Mt. Vernon though, PRIDE). The Fire Fox is unique in that not only the lighting is different but the compartments and pump panel are not standard county as well.
It was mentioned in an earlier post about a Rotoray being removed from the wonderful restoration our brother in Memphis has. County apparatus in that era did not come with Rotorays. It was not until later (middle '80s) when the patent was bought by a county Firefighter and he started to remanufacture the old light that they became standard.
03-03-2010, 11:37 AM (This post was last modified: 03-03-2010, 11:38 AM by memphise34a.)
[quote name='FfxCo21V' date='02 March 2010 - 08:59 PM' timestamp='1267583952' post='367618']
Robert,
That is a nice looking Seagrave. The rear doors were also added durring rehab. I don;t remember any Ffx 'graves being four door.
[/quote]
They were added during the rehab after making it to Chinchilla.
I will have to verify this, but I was told it is E73407 PB23068 Fairfax County, Virginia VA. I also made contact with the folks in Chinchilla and they said they bought it from Fairfax.
It would be GREAT if anyone has a pic from her Fairfax days!!
X-FXCO 1983 Duplex/E-1 at Sperryville, they also had McLean's 1986 Pierce Arrow at this time.
Dave Bowen photo
[/quote]
This Engine is now privately owned by a family friend of ours who retired from the FXCO several years ago. After he bought it from Sperryville he had it repainted to look like when it ran as Engine 27. I'll try and see if I can upload a picture of it.
If we can confirm what engine it is, I will scan a slide of it and post. There are very few of the FFX Seagraves I don't have. Mike Sanders, I'm sure has it as well.
These photos were sent to me by a friend in southern VA who use to live in 27's district in the 70's, 80's and 90's. They are by no means the best quality photos but they do help capture the lineage of Engine Company 27.