1958 F.W.D.

From what I am told the accident occurred at the intersection of Third and Maclay (sp?) during the parade procession while enroute to the muster grounds.

ANTIQUE FIRE APPARATUS OWNERS: There have been two high-profile accidents within the last two weeks involving antique rigs- one having a fatality. The most recent one (yesterday) occurred during the parade for the annual Pennsylvania Pump Primers Muster in Harrisburg, Pa. Although the reports are still unclear as to what happened, at least two, if not three rigs were involved and one was towed away. This accident also may have involved some parked cars. Thankfully there were no injuries reported with the PPP/Harrisburg accident. Both of these accidents are being attributed to a sudden and total loss of brakes. Again reports are third-hand and investigations are still underway, however it goes without saying: **ARE YOU PERFORMING PROPER PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE?** *ARE YOU PERFORMING PRE-TRIP INSPECTIONS OF YOUR DRIVELINE EQUIPMENT?* No, you are not delivering freight, you are not operating the vehicle every day and you are not putting high amounts of miles on it weekly. However that DOES NOT RELIEVE YOU from ensuring that your antique rig is road-worthy and safe to drive- not only for yourself and for other motorists. Additionally, just because many states (Pennsylvania being one of them) relieve you from annual safety inspections- does not relieve you from the due diligence of ensuring your rig is ready to go. In light of these occurrences, I predict annual safety inspections to be mandated by SPAAMFAA for members very soon. Are you ready? Are you ready whether you are a member of SPAAMFAA or not????

You should go to the Museum on "STEAM DAY" when they put a fire to the tea kettle of their 1893 American Lafrance Steam Pumper- one of only about 12 operating steamers known to be left in existence. They usually pump into their 1907 Hale Water Tower. I am pretty sure the paddy wagon is part of the Gary Mahan Family truck collection.

VIN- is that like a Cereal number?

There's a couple of Superdog firetrucks out there.............

It may or may not help. Part of the problem here in Pennsylvania (as I am sure it is everywhere else....) is the lack of knowledge, even and across-the-board enforcement and also lack of knowledge among PENNDOT offices. I have many friends and contacts who are Police Officers through my being a firefighter. I have the opportunity to speak with these guys professionally and personally at many events, and every time the subject comes up, I try a little experiment. I ask them what the laws are. And almost never do I get the same answer, never mind the correct one!!!! The biggest offenders of all are Pennsy State Police Officers!!! The ones who SHOULD know!!!!!!

Weren't they "Fire Spires?" I thought those were Hahn's ladder???

When it's time to leave please stay clear of the left-hand lane.

Leslie: I'm kinda confused here....(ok wait kinda bullshit I AM confused....) We're talking the Superdog, right? That's a full blown grown up class A tractor, which should have a GVWR of 80,000....Yes? No?? Are you sure it is only registered as 21,600? Or does it WEIGHT 21,600? He is absolutely, positively correct. I have reviewed the law inside and out, forwards and backwards and even have a letter from the Commissioner of PENNDOT to confirm it. You do NOT need to have a CDL for any privately owned antique vehicle, not operating in commerce and weighing less than 26,001 lbs. You do however have to have the appropriate-class NON CDL for anything in excess of 26,001.

I will most likely be there- Still debating whether I want to get a hotel room Friday night or just suck it up and get up early Sat AM and drive out- I'll have the three kids, so either way it's a pain in the ass/pick your poison kind of thing. (Oh and it will be in the pickup- that's a bit too far for the FWD.)

..........waiting.............

The closest I have ever come to doing that Wildland firefighting shit was range fires at Aberdeen Proving Ground- which was usually from the comfort of the cab of the air-conditioned brush truck and telling the helicopter on the radio where to go with the bambi-bucket (for air-dropping water.....) because you could not leave the road due to UXO's (unexploded ordinance.) I've been a structural firefighter my entire adult life and I will stick to structural firefighting, you can keep that wild land shit- NEVERTHELESS they are still firefighters, still my brothers, and I am absolutely heartbroken. I was literally sick to my stomach last night when I heard the news.

Yes, yes I am sure that's what it is....... THUNDER PUMPKIN FOREVER!!!!!

Slpwlkr forgot to tell you the 2-stroke surcharge he has.........

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has just declared Memorial Park in Macungie an EPA SUPERFUND SITE,

Mike if you go lemme know maybe I'll take a ride with ya.......

CONTACT: Lori Rausch Fire Apparatus Services, LLC P.O. Box 512, Auburn, PA 17922 Office/Parts: 570-366-1801

That CF ladder truck was marketed by Mack as the "Bulldog 1" in conjunction with Hahn Fire Apparatus (Hamburg Pa.) who made and mounted the aerial ladder. They were not extremely popular but did sell a few here and there. That particular one was recently donated to the Museum by a local VFD- who rather than sell it for it's fair market value (essentially the scrap price) donated it instead and did some kind of tax write-off. It was a win-win for everyone. I just can't remember which department had it originally.

When I was a career firefighter I worked at a jurisdiction that had part of AMTRAK's high-speed northeast corridor running through it- the part between Baltimore and Wilmington De and Philly.....Where the speeds get as high as 100+mph......If you are walking along those tracks with your back to the train and have headphones on (as much of America's youth seem to these days) you'll never know about it until you are a red smear all over the front of the locomotive.

Message sent to Lori Rausch. If you dont know her, she is quite well known among Hahn enthusiasts. She worked for the Hahn factory in Hamburg, Pa. and when they folded she worked for East Penn Fire Apparatus for quite a few years. Not 100% sure who she's with now, I think she and a few others may have started their own company refurbishing old apparatus. She has forgotten more about Hahn's than any of us could ever hope to know. I recently connected with her on Facebook and she helped me with a couple of oddball pieces including NOS knobs.

if you get cut off on a railroad you got a helluva lot more to worry about than the other ahole driver......LOL!!!!

There is a vintage truck tire source in Double Clutch and Wheels of Time but I'll be damned if I can remember who/where.....I just gave any copies of WOT I had laying around to Vlad. Look in there or DC....or pick up a copy of Hemmings Motor News and check the rubber guys in there.

Going back into my memory banks to when I was a junior wrench turner- the fan clutches will fail in the locked position. You will want to get that fixed because turning that thing is robbing horsepower which leads to more fuel consumption.

Oh thats right I forgot, Ken got to dine with her.....AT THE TILTED KILT of all places!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!

On the beach at Cape Hattaras, NC.......