Liam's Fire Engine Page
(click on above picture to enlarge)
last updated 10th September 2006
This page is dedicated to the Land Rover Series 3 Forward Control Fire Engine commissioned by the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade and converted by F.I. Bates of Evesham between 1973 and 1978, I managed to pick one of these unusual machines up in Jan 2004 for a few squid and am now trying to gather info on its brothers (and sisters)
If you have any more info on these (or similar) Fire Engines please forward to
liam@iacservices.co.ukalso please email me if you would like your engine displayed here (must be a landy of some sort)
STOP PRESS: you can now hire a fire engine (but not at short notice for a fire!) visit
http://www.starcarhire.co.uk/action_vehicles_ireland1.htmSPECIFICATION
Donor Vehicle - Land Rover Series 3 109
Chassis upgraded to "one-ton" spec
2625cc, 6 cylinder petrol engine, 86bhp @ 4500rpm, 132lb-ft @ 1500rpm,zenith-stromberg carb (eats exhaust valves and alum head can corrode/warp)
600 psi pump
100 gallon tank (later reduced)
150ft of 3/4inch hose
Michelin XZY 7.50x16 tyres
12v battery charger
electric water heater
electric cooling fans
DGW 3540kg
unladen weight approx 2600kg (so i'm told)
Upgraded anti-roll bars
4 seats
4 speed synchromesh gearbox with 2 speed transfer box
part time 4 wheel driveTo see more closeup and interior pics click here
To see pics of other land rover fire engines click here
Total Constructed - approx 52, 44 of these served with NIFB - Where are they now? - see below
LIA 2680 (photo taken Sep'04 on way to Kilbroney Show), 1977, 16500 miles-
Current Owner: Liam Smyth of Downpatrick, Co.Down, N.Ireland
Former Owners: Jack Mitchell of Armoy & Someone on Rathlin Island
Current Condition: running well but pump not yet tested
LIA 2681 (photo by me in UF&TM Nov 2002)-
Current Owner: Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Cultra, Co. Down, N.Ireland
Former Owners: direct from NIFB
Current Condition: nice and shiny exterior but unsure if it goes
IIA 8861
Current Owner: Rodney Hughes, Bicester, Oxford, England
Former Owners: Billy McCormick of Moy, Co.Armagh, David Faulkner of Downpatrick
Current Condition: very good condition, in use as tender for animal feed factory on farm
KIA 8559, 1977, 8500 miles,
Current Owner: Ketil Oftedahl, Norway
Former Owners: Pete Stringer, Gainsborough, England
Current Condition: very good condition, preserved in a norwegian museum
IIA 7173 (photo taken at South West Truckfeast 1995 by B.Savage of Bristol and placed small article in LROi Sep'95)
Current Owner: ?
Former Owners: Midland Fire Protection Service
Current Condition: ?
JIA 803
Current Owner: unknown, believed to be in South of Ireland
Former Owners: Ulster Flying Club, Newtownards, Co.Down, N.Ireland
Current Condition: ?
YJF 962S
Current Owner: Mr. N. Gough, Scarborough
Former Owners: UK Guarding Services
Current Condition: ?
KIA 6916
Current Owner: Ted Rance, Slough, England
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: ?
KIA 8560 (photo taken by me at BLRC in 2002)
Current Owner: Belfast Land Rover Centre, Saintfield, N.Ireland
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: scrap - no engine or gearbox, may have pump
IIA 2872 (photo taken by me at BLRC in 2002)
Current Owner: possibly Ernie McGuckin?
Former Owners: BLRC
Current Condition: engine believed to be running but no pump
GIA 8251 (photo taken by me at BLRC in March 2004)
Current Owner: Belfast Land Rover Centre, Saintfield, N.Ireland
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: scrap - has engine, gearbox and pump
KIA 2966 (photo taken by me in 2003)
Current Owner: Garvin Gillespie, Limavady, N.Ireland
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: believed to be running but has sat a few years unused, 1st gear gone
KIA 4837 (pic from for sale ad in LROi March 1995)
??? ????
FIA 4089 (photo taken Jan 2005)
Current Owner:
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: converted to a recovery truck (obviously) but in VERY bad condition - beyond restoration but fairly complete, 23437 miles
FIA 4672 (photo taken May 2005)
Current Owner: Andy, Downpatrick
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: converted to a pickup (obviously) running but needs some more work, Andy plans to put a double cab on it. approx 14,000 miles
LIA 2676
Current Owner: ?
Former Owners: Bobby Barr?
Current Condition: ?
JIA 802 (photo taken May 2006)
Current Owner: Darren Grundy, Bolton.
Former Owners: Ray Harvey ( www.rjharvey.co.uk ) see article in Land Rover Monthly July 2001
Current Condition: Has been converted to and offroad support vehicle with 200tdi engine, LT77 5spd gearbox ,
9.00x16 tyres, permanent 4wd, parabolic leafsprings, pro-comp es9000 shocks, range rover axles, disc brakes,
cd system, raised front bumper and the rear has been "bobtailed"
HIA 4475 (photo taken by Keith Day at Londonderry Fire Station)
Current Owner: ?
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: ?
GIA 4587(photo taken by Keith Day at Portstewart Fire Station)
Current Owner: ?
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: ?
LIA 2675 (photo supplied by James France)
Current Owner: Premier Foods occupational fire team based at Premier Foods, Knighton, Adbaston, Stafford, ST20 0QJ
Former Owners: Alan Harper, Belfast, N.Ireland, & LW Vass, England
Current Condition: Fully Operational
others without pics
KIA 5861 (now 77 C 1002)
Current Owner: Noel Deady, Cork
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: Preserved and in very good conditionHIA 1386
Current Owner: Philip, Dundalk
Former Owners: Jonathon Culley, Newry
Current Condition: Good but being made betterLIA 2673
Current Owner: ? spotted in garden near ballyclare
Former Owners: ?
Current Condition: ?LIA 2679
Current Owner: possibly in Rathfriland
Former Owners: Jack Mitchell of Armoy, N.Ireland
Current Condition: ?
LIA 2680 with its recovery vehicle/animal
Relevant Magazine Articles
LandRover World Sep 1997, 5 page article on Rathlin's Fire Engine (HIA 1387)
Land Rover Monthly July 2001 , 5 page article on Ray Harveys conversion of JIA 802.
LROi, small article, Sep'95
LROI, for sale ad, Mar'95
LR World, pic of S3FC at LRW Show 2000 in Feb'01 edition
LROi Dec'97, small article by Alan Harper requesting info on S3FC (Alan - please contact me if you see this)
LR Enthusiast Aug'01, small article on FC fire engines
LR Monthly Sep 2006, page 127, article on Bates conversion with pic of LIA 2680
Relevant Links
www.firespg.freeserve.co.uk Fire Service Preservation Group
www.firetrack.co.uk/galleries/landrover/landhome.htm Land Rover fire appliances
www.turnout.ws/bookshop.html Fire Appliance books for sale
www.btinternet.com/~archie.mckinnon Archie McKinnon's Scottish Fire Engine Site
www.firevehicles.co.uk Firefly Special Vehicles Ltd.
www.talbottrng.freeserve.co.uk/homepage/homepage.html FSPG East Anglia Branch
www.uftm.org.uk Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
www.nifb.org.uk Northern Ireland Fire Brigade
www.landrover-club.com Northern Ireland Land Rover Club
www.landroverclub.net//Club/HTML/Fire_fighters.htm Some more fire engine pics (like you hadn't seen enuff already)
http://mysite.freeserve.com/FCRegister/fcr.htm Forward Control Club
http://www.tacr2.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ TACRII AND TACRIIa fire appliances by Rab Forsyth
http://groups.msn.com/TheSixAppealWheelGroup/ 6 wheel Range Rover Fire Engines
http://uk.msnusers.com/ExRAFFireAppliances/ Ex RAF Fire Appliances
http://www.old.vicarage.btinternet.co.uk/Carmichaelinfo.htm bit of info on the "Carmichael Estate"
http://www.series2club.co.uk/fcontrol.htm Series 2 club Forward Control Section
www.geocities.com/onetonlandrover/ one ton 109 Land Rovers 1969-1977
www.lr-mad.co.uk/fc.html more info on forward control land rovers
www.geocities.com/guide2landrover/tender.html land rover fire tenders, series 1 to defender
http://maltelec.no-ip.org/das/index.htm Land Rover Forward Controls brought to you by DasLandRoverMan
S3 FC Landys used by NIFB
YEAR PURCHASED BY NIFB REGISTRATION STATIONS SERVED REMARKS Landrover FC108/Bates 1978 LIA 2681 Kilkeel, Spare 92/93 1978 LIA 2680 Ballymena, Rathlin Island DO 1996 1978 LIA 2679 Ballycastle 1978 LIA 2678 Downpatrick 1978 LIA 2677 Coleraine, Enniskillen 1978 LIA 2676 Magherafelt 1978 LIA 2675 Warrenpoint, Dungiven 1978 LIA 2674 Armagh, Keady DO 1995 1978 LIA 2673 Lisnaskea 1977 KIA 8561 Maghera, Spare 92/93 1977 KIA 8560 Omagh, Ballycastle DO 1995 1977 KIA 8559 Banbridge 1977 KIA 6916 Strabane 1977 KIA 5874 Glengormley 1977 KIA 4837 Castlereagh 1977 KIA 2966 Rathfriland 1977 KIA 2965 Ballynahinch 1976 JIA 804 Enniskillen 1976 JIA 803 Portaferry 1976 JIA 802 Newtownards, Warrenpoint 1975 IIA9851 Donaghadee 1975 IIA 8861 Larne, Fintona DO 1995 1975 IIA 7173 Portadown 1975 IIA 7172 Newcastle 1975 IIA 4925 Newtownhamilton 1975 IIA 4924 Cookstown 1975 IIA 2873 Ballyclare, Pomeroy DO 1995 1975 IIA 2872 Bangor 1975 HIA 4476 Clogher 1975 HIA 4475 Irvinetown 1975 HIA 4474 Belleek 1975 HIA 2954 Dungannon 1975 HIA 2301 Holywood, Whitehead 1975 HIA 1387 C'Fergus, C'reagh, Rathlin 1975 HIA 1386 Dromore then Spare 92/93 1973 GIA 8252 Lurgan 1973 GIA 8251 Newry 1973 GIA 4587 Portstewart 1973 GIA 2526 Whitehead 1973 FIA 9121 Carnlough Landrover 108/Fasguard - I believe these are a very similar machine 1973 FIA 4673 Pomeroy 1973 FIA 4672 Keady 1973 FIA 4089 Reserve 1972 EIA 4048 Reserve So if you made it all the way down here then you must be a real landy fire engine nut, all the others will have got bored by now so well done and welcome to the club.
Thanks to the following for the supply of photos or information:
All those listed above as owners and those to whom I have added links and anyone else I have forgotten to mention, you know who you are.
ok, so it's not a fire engine but it is one of the few other Series 3 Forward Controls made,
if only NIFB had specified 6 wheel drive and a v8 engine!
Found another few S3 Forward controls, I believe thay are made by Carmichael
FFF169
OJC285S
YDU600S at Gaydon 2003
RLR831R
