Why are there no Engine Companies numbered 98-150?

[Darrell]

I've been looking through a list of FDNY Companies, I've found only a few companies numbered between (Referring to Engines, not Trucks) 98-150. They are

Combination Fire Co. 121 (Disb. 11-22-75 to reorganize E70)
Combination Fire Co. 131 (Disb. 11-12-77 to reorganize L76)
Combination Eng Co. 130 (Hose 8 then E296?)

Along with multiple Co's that used to be BKLYN FD.

(just gonna list the current assigned number)

E201,202,203,204,205 (side question, why was 205 disbanded for LITERALLY 2 days between 7-2 and 7-4 of '75.) and almost all of the other Bklyn Co's.

Did the Dept just decide to not use 98-150?

 

[fdhistorian]

I've been looking through a list of FDNY Companies, I've found only a few companies numbered between (Referring to Engines, not Trucks) 98-150. They are

Combination Fire Co. 121 (Disb. 11-22-75 to reorganize E70)
Combination Fire Co. 131 (Disb. 11-12-77 to reorganize L76)
Combination Eng Co. 130 (Hose 8 then E296?)

Along with multiple Co's that used to be BKLYN FD.

(just gonna list the current assigned number)

E201,202,203,204,205 (side question, why was 205 disbanded for LITERALLY 2 days between 7-2 and 7-4 of '75.) and almost all of the other Bklyn Co's.

Did the Dept just decide to not use 98-150?

From 1899 until 1913, Brooklyn and Queens engines were numbered 101 - 176 and Staten Island engines were numbered 201 - 208.
To allow for potential northward growth into Westchester County and eastward growth in Brooklyn, Queens and potentially Nassau County, 100 was added to Brooklyn and Queens engine numbers. To avoid future conflict with Staten Island, 50 was subtracted from Staten Island engine numbers.
The renumbering opened 101 - 150 for Manhattan and Bronx growth and potential Westchester expansion. Staten Island now had 159 - 199 available, and Brooklyn and Queens had 277 and up for expansion. 100, 200, and 300 were never intended to be used as they would be very long telegraph bell signatures tying up the circuits. 98 and 99 were never needed as the department started to reuse numbers in 1914. 322 was planned but has not been established to date.

Hose 8, later Engine 296 were not combination companies. The original Ladder 80, located with Hose 8, was renumbered 130 in 1913.
Hose 8 and Ladder 130 ran together from 1908 - 1918.

19 Engine companies, 3 Ladder Companies, 1 CFC and 3 Squads were among the units disbanded on July 2, 1975 during a fiscal crisis. Most units were restored by July 19.