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"The Exhaust Was Louder Than The Siren …"

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I AM ADDICTED TO THE SPECIALIZED BOOKS PUBLISHED BY JOHN A. CALDERONE. Publisher of the bi-monthly Fire Apparatus Journal magazine, FDNY Chief Calderone has cranked out small specialty books and larger reference books on FDNY apparatus.

APPARATUS PORN

Each book provides pictures of examples of every model used by the department. For the more specialized books, every single rig is documented.  For this book on 900 series FDNY aerials, all 37 rigs are shown.

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DELIGHT IN THE DETAILS

Each specialized book has a meticulously detailed history of the type of apparatus, the department conditions that resulted in purchasing the rig and notable issues related to the utilization of the rigs. This book includes information on the Jamaica Gas Explosion, a January 13, 1967 incident that destroyed Ladder 127 and Engine 298 and required a 13 alarm assignment (news article).

This book also details on the departmental response to the “unbelievable increase in fire duty” that lead to the establishment of four additional ladders in 1968 and one of two Tactical Control Units in 1969.

The title of this item is an adoption from this description of the 1968 rigs:

These apparatus were equipped with Cummins Diesel engines that had a very unique, distinctive, loud sound when accelerating. The noise, at times, was so loud that it competed with the siren. On calm nights with the wind carrying sounds the right way, the engine acceleration noise from these apparatus could be heard over a mile away.

To order FAJ books:  http://www.fireapparatusjournal.com/catalog/4/books

Mike “FossilMedic” Ward

Also on FireGeezer…

Posted by on July 23, 2009 • Filed under: apparatus, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: , , ,
  • Thom

    Still trying to figure out the “Apparatus Porn” reference. Could it have something to do with the ground ladders on these old rigs being made of WOOD?

  • Thom

    Still trying to figure out the “Apparatus Porn” reference. Could it have something to do with the ground ladders on these old rigs being made of WOOD?

  • http://www.engaugeinc.net/ en-Gauge

    I love the vintage fire truck. It is nice to see how they fought these fires back in the good ole days. I know it is not really old but still nice piece of fire history

  • http://www.engaugeinc.net en-Gauge

    I love the vintage fire truck. It is nice to see how they fought these fires back in the good ole days. I know it is not really old but still nice piece of fire history

  • Kuh Shise

    The headline caught my eye. Growing up, we used to listen to the exhaust of the two old Macks and later a 900 series ALF none of which had mufflers. The exhaust was indeed louder than the sirens, and gave a sound that was easier to follow and estimate the route of travel to the fire. Then it was time to jump on our bikes and rush to the scene so we could watch the proceedings. I think that was partly responsible for my continuing interest in the fire service.

  • Kuh Shise

    The headline caught my eye. Growing up, we used to listen to the exhaust of the two old Macks and later a 900 series ALF none of which had mufflers. The exhaust was indeed louder than the sirens, and gave a sound that was easier to follow and estimate the route of travel to the fire. Then it was time to jump on our bikes and rush to the scene so we could watch the proceedings. I think that was partly responsible for my continuing interest in the fire service.

  • http://firegeezer.com/ FossilMedic

    Thom:

    Nice analogy. The term was from my ex-wife who noted that I would gaze at the apparatus pictures with the same intensity as I would when looking at adult content magazines.

  • http://firegeezer.com FossilMedic

    Thom:

    Nice analogy. The term was from my ex-wife who noted that I would gaze at the apparatus pictures with the same intensity as I would when looking at adult content magazines.

  • Craig Ammons

    From 1977-1980 I lived just outside the Richmond, Virginia city limits in Henrico County. I remember many a spring evening sitting at my work bench building models with the windows open. Just about every night I would here the roar of the diesel engines and the wail of the “Q” siren as the City and County trucks responded to calls.

    After 29 years in the Fire Service I still enjoy hearing that diesel sound from an old truck. The new ones just don’t sound the same.

  • Craig Ammons

    From 1977-1980 I lived just outside the Richmond, Virginia city limits in Henrico County. I remember many a spring evening sitting at my work bench building models with the windows open. Just about every night I would here the roar of the diesel engines and the wail of the “Q” siren as the City and County trucks responded to calls.

    After 29 years in the Fire Service I still enjoy hearing that diesel sound from an old truck. The new ones just don’t sound the same.

  • http://firegeezer.com/ FossilMedic

    Thanks for the post, Craig.

    I remember sitting in the Engineering/Physical Science library study carrel at the University of Maryland with the window open.

    Hearing the response of Truck 12, a 1971 Peter Pirsch rearmount, as it drove north on Route 1 was a treat, as the sound would carry across Chapel Field.

    First a staccato burst of air horns as the rig pulled onto Baltimore Avenue, then the roar from the unmuffled exhaust as the driver floored the accelerator and finally the scream from the Federal 2QB as the rig approached the Campus Drive/Route 1 intersection.

    It sounded better when I was riding the rig.

  • http://firegeezer.com FossilMedic

    Thanks for the post, Craig.

    I remember sitting in the Engineering/Physical Science library study carrel at the University of Maryland with the window open.

    Hearing the response of Truck 12, a 1971 Peter Pirsch rearmount, as it drove north on Route 1 was a treat, as the sound would carry across Chapel Field.

    First a staccato burst of air horns as the rig pulled onto Baltimore Avenue, then the roar from the unmuffled exhaust as the driver floored the accelerator and finally the scream from the Federal 2QB as the rig approached the Campus Drive/Route 1 intersection.

    It sounded better when I was riding the rig.

  • Joe Bideau

    Half way between Bigfork and Bovey Minnesota we had a chimney fire , the Bigfork fire dept coming south with the siren blazing, and the Balsam TWP fire dept heading north, my neighbor on a deer stand near the location of the house could hear the wolves howling after every siren blast. It really gets em going. The house was a total loss.

  • Joe Bideau

    Half way between Bigfork and Bovey Minnesota we had a chimney fire , the Bigfork fire dept coming south with the siren blazing, and the Balsam TWP fire dept heading north, my neighbor on a deer stand near the location of the house could hear the wolves howling after every siren blast. It really gets em going. The house was a total loss.

  • Don

    When working for FDNY was detailed to E-281 in Flatbush Brooklyn and they had an engine (ALF) and it was so loud that we had ear muffs to wear in the crew cab. Sound was deafening.

  • Don

    When working for FDNY was detailed to E-281 in Flatbush Brooklyn and they had an engine (ALF) and it was so loud that we had ear muffs to wear in the crew cab. Sound was deafening.

  • Darryl

    We just replaced our last old ALF. Even though they still had mufflers, those trucks still had a distinct sound. When in Lewisville for an Honor
    Guard academy, I heard one down the street. It turned out to be an old ALF engine converted to a stake bed truck. Hope they never go out of style.

  • Darryl

    We just replaced our last old ALF. Even though they still had mufflers, those trucks still had a distinct sound. When in Lewisville for an Honor
    Guard academy, I heard one down the street. It turned out to be an old ALF engine converted to a stake bed truck. Hope they never go out of style.

  • Dal90

    I’d love to know what this one sounded like:

    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,938715,00.html

  • Dal90

    I’d love to know what this one sounded like:

    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,938715,00.html

  • http://firegeezer.com/ FossilMedic

    The sister to the ALF “turbo-chief” was Engine 9 in Fairfax County. A piece of sheet metal was installed about the exhaust stack at the Mount Vernon station.

    Bill “Firegeezer” was at Station 9 and tells me the rig sounded just like a single engine jet fighter powering up or powering down. Almost as loud as the fighter plane.

    This article from Mike Sanders talks about the gas turbine power American LaFrances.

    http://www.vafirenews.com/2009/03/virginia-unusual-apparatus-mount-vernon-vfd/

  • http://firegeezer.com FossilMedic

    The sister to the ALF “turbo-chief” was Engine 9 in Fairfax County. A piece of sheet metal was installed about the exhaust stack at the Mount Vernon station.

    Bill “Firegeezer” was at Station 9 and tells me the rig sounded just like a single engine jet fighter powering up or powering down. Almost as loud as the fighter plane.

    This article from Mike Sanders talks about the gas turbine power American LaFrances.

    http://www.vafirenews.com/2009/03/virginia-unusual-apparatus-mount-vernon-vfd/