70s/ 80s questions

[mercurygrandmarquis1]

i have a few questions about apparatus from the 70s-80s
1. were the ALF engines well received by firefighters?
2. what sirens did FDNY use before the pa300s?
3. did FDNY get any mack rearmonts?
4. when were seagraves phased in?
5. what SI companies got ALF engines?
6. is it true FDNY tested quints in the early 80s?

 

[downtownmedic]

1) No.
2) No idea.
3) Yes - 2 1982 Mack CF/LTI 106' Rear-Mounts at Ladders 30 and 132.  Lasted into the early 1990's, when they were replaced by reassigned Seagraves.
4) Engines 1992...Towers (FWD 1994) and Seagrave 1997...Rear-Mounts 1969
5) Engines 152, 153, 154, 157, 160, 167 (1980), and Engine 163 (1982)
6) No idea.

 

[anesti]

i have a few questions about apparatus from the 70s-80s
1. were the ALF engines well received by firefighters?
2. what sirens did FDNY use before the pa300s?
3. did FDNY get any mack rearmonts?
4. when were seagraves phased in?
5. what SI companies got ALF engines?
6. is it true FDNY tested quints in the early 80s?

i dont know if it was a testing period but in the 70's/80's there was a telesqurt on city island before ladder 53 was formed,it then went to serve as a foam unit,and know might still be around in another department.

 

[downtownmedic]

Oops...coffee did not kick in yet...4 tower ladder quints...1980 Sutphen at Ladder 14, 1981 Sutphen at Ladder 119, 2 1984 ALF Century/LTI's at Ladders 14 and 163. (Plus the two 1970 Mack CF Squrts)...Sorry!!! ;D

 

[nfd2004]

At one point, there "WAS" talk of getting about Ten Quints to replace some Engine and Ladder Companies. I remember City Island was one place where the talk was of replacing the Engine and Truck there. This goes back to maybe the early 80s, just a guess. That talk didn't last very long though.
 

 

[69 METS]

i have a few questions about apparatus from the 70s-80s

2. what sirens did FDNY use before the pa300s?

PA200's. Prior to that Federal Model 28's.

 

[raybrag]

60's, not 70s-80s, but see the thread on "High Ladders" for Mack rear mounts.

 

[mercurygrandmarquis1]

just another few questions tacked on
1. does anyone have any pictures of an ALF engine on SI?
2. why werent the ALF engines liked?
3 what did FDNY use for foam carriers in the 70s and 80s?
4. does anyone have any pictures of the FDNY sutphens or the mack squirts?
thanks for the answers so far

 

[downtownmedic]

Many of the pictures you are interested in are posted on the "firepics.net" message board under the FDNY thread.  As far as why the ALF's weren't liked, I believe I read in FAJ that there were many operational and maintenance issues with the 1980 models, and that many company captains actually requested older Mack pumpers that were spares be assigned to them instead of the ALF's.  Additionally, all 12 of the 1986 Mack/Ward 79 pumpers replaced 1980 ALF's, while older 1979 Mack's remained in service.  I know as far as the 1980 ALF's on SI go, 152's was replaced by a 1985 Mack CF/Ward 79, 154's was replaced by a reassigned 1979 Mack, and 160 got one of the 1986 Mack/Ward 79's.  153, 157, and 167 kept their ALF's for their full life-span, although 167 got a 1979 Mack for a few months before their 1993 Seagrave, and 157 used a spare for a short time before they got their 1993 Seagrave.  Foam rigs on SI were converted Mack pumpers, including one of the 1970 54' Squrts, as well as two of the four 1970 pumpers with 750gallon tanks.

 

[nfd2004]

I think those Macks just spoiled everybody. They were such rugged fire trucks. They just would not die. Just to add a bit of history, in my dept we got a used Mack Engine that another dept had bought used from FDNY. I don't remember what Engine Co it orginally was for the FDNY but we ran it as a Reserve piece for several years AFTER it served the FDNY and then another Volly Co. It was one Tough Rig.
  The Mack Tower Ladders were the same. The rigs would be all beat up but they still functioned as a Tower Ladder. I remember when Providence, R.I bought two used one's from FDNY. With a little work they put them in front line service At Ladder 1 and Ladder 2. Probadly the two busiest ladders in the city. They fought fires in that city for many years too.
  With that said, I can probadly understand why the members of FDNY were not too happy with their new ALF Engines. Those Macks were a very Tough Act to Follow. Plus they had proven themselves during the busiest time for fire activity in FDNY history.

 

[vbcapt]

Bill: My hometown Dept. purchased a former FDNY Mack Tower Ladder and placed it in service in 1985. They kept it until 1999. It was formerly TL146 and was a 1972 model.

http://www.fdnytrucks.com/files/html/otherstates/Middlesex%20County/Woodbridge%20Twp%20Dist%2012.htm

 

[nfd2004]

Bill: My hometown Dept. purchased a former FDNY Mack Tower Ladder and placed it in service in 1985. They kept it until 1999. It was formerly TL146 and was a 1972 model.

http://www.fdnytrucks.com/files/html/otherstates/Middlesex%20County/Woodbridge%20Twp%20Dist%2012.htm

  That's a Good Example Deano, of the quality of those Mack rigs that just wouldn't die. In your case, that's 27 years of service, 13 of which served the busy FDNY. Not too many rigs today can claim that kind of track record. I can still picture seeing those Mack Tower Ladders, all faded in color, held together with duck tape, rope etc, with a temporary number on the door made with masking tape. I can still hear the sound of those buckets going up as they start to go to work. They out lived their life, and worked way past retirement. No matter what, I just don't think we'll ever see that kind of quality fire truck today.

 

[vbcapt]

Probably right. Too many of the "powers that be" are more interested in how fancy the rig looks rather than the quality or functionality. 

 

[downtownmedic]

Original photographer(s) unknown - from personal collection.

 

[R1SmokeEater]

E-70's Squirt:

TL-14's Sutphen TL:

Older Foam rig:

 

[FDNY150]

Lake Carmel FD in Putnam County had the old TeleSqurt that was assigned to E-70. It served for a little more than 4 years(1987-Early 1992) before it was sold to Wall, PA. After that it went to Texas.

The Foam Units were old 50's era rigs. Macks, Wards.