Thornicroft-Big Ben
Submitted: Thursday, Sep 24, 2009 at 20:12
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Member - Julie P (VIC)
Hi - has anyone recently been on the
Simpson Desert and seen a big,ugly truck type thing? Four guys inside - including - Greg - say g'day from Julie and John from Mt Isa CP and Robyn & Kev, Woopsie the chook,and Wooser the dog.
The Thornicroft used to be a fire tender at airports - it has been modified - new motor - etc - but still has lots of original features - make sure you say hello if you see it on your travels.
jules
Reply By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Friday, Sep 25, 2009 at 09:23
Friday, Sep 25, 2009 at 09:23
Got any photo's Jules?
Pesty
AnswerID:
384563
Reply By: Member - Richard H (NSW) - Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 10:03
Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 10:03
There were a number of these vehicles around Australia, and operated by the the then Department of Civil Aviation Fire Service. I think the R.A.A.F. had a couple at
Richmond too.
The vehicle was manufactured by Thornycroft, and it was called the Nubian. It was a 6 x 6 with a Rolls-Royce B81 straight 8 petrol motor. Surprising, they could really move, but I suppose they had to, they had a tendency to lift the front
wheels, this being due to the weight of the
water carried 3600 litres
water, 200 litres of foam.
Anyway here's a couple of photos.Image Could Not Be Found
AnswerID:
384691
Follow Up By: Member - Richard H (NSW) - Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 10:14
Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 10:14
Here's one that turned up in Oz.
Image Could Not Be Found
Just as an interest the U.K. motor vehicle manufacturer Alvis also made airport crash tenders, though they were on a different chassis.
The R.F.S. at Wyong, in the early 1990's, had one of these donated to them. It was intended for it to be placed at Warnervale Airport, however, bureaucratic wrangling placed this idea on pernament hold.
We got it going one day, and drove it around the yard, it was a real bitch to steer and had a turning circle that was enormous, but gees the engine had some power.
Where it is now, is a mystery. I wonder if the vehicle Julie saw is it?
FollowupID:
652432
Follow Up By: Who was that again? (Vic) - Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 11:55
Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 11:55
With a RR straight 8 petrol, you could want to keep the
water tank ready to carry fuel for a SD trip. Would it have had the pre-selector gear box like the armoured vehicles?
FollowupID:
652569
Reply By: Numpty S - Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 20:23
Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 20:23
There were many of these in Australia and were replaced in the 70's and 80's at major airports and RAAF bases. We had one in Sutherland Shire Bush Fire Brigades in the 80's bought from Dubbo and I actually got my heavy vehicle licence in it.
I have seen one converted to a motorhome (probably the same one) which featured in Caravan and Motorhome Magazine, and one actually competed in one of the Variety Bashes a number of years ago
AnswerID:
384746