With the long awaited onslaught of spring comes the array of events and parades sometimes making it a tough choice as to which I will attend. The weekend of May 1 brings me either a long ride to Winchester or the as I chose closer Delmarva Association parade held this year in Parksley Virginia. For those unfamiliar with the sho' thats in Accomack County about an hours drive. The Delmarva parade while not huge often brings less frequently seen rigs out of the back corners and bays of some stations. As for this year in Virginia, departments in both Accomack and Northampton County are often receipients of many a used rig. With all that said, lets get on with I saw. Also a word of caution I had a camera failure and had to use my "stand in". Its lousy as digitals go hence some shots are lets just say "not great".
First off few Maryland Departments were in attendance no surprise. Princess Anne with their new Ford brush truck, Marion with engine, Easton with engine and Denton with Velocity rescue. From Delaware was Delmar's ladder quint, the '50 ALF engine from Ellendale plus the '70 Cadillac ambulance from Gumboro.
Most surprises if you will were as expected from Virginia. First off Tasley recenlty sold their ex Lewes Delaware International, Saulsbury rescue. UPDATE: As per Mike Sanders and Jerry Puryear this has gone to a film company in Vancouver BC. In its place they have added (reportedly in service April 2010) a Pierce "Lance" rescue engine. (photo at right) UPDATE: Thanks to Mike Sanders I now know why this was so familiar as its from the Ashburn VFD&RS in Loudoun County. A '96 Lance with 1250-gpm pump 500-gallons of water and 40 of foam. Looks a little different in red!
Greenbackville brought their new Tanker 2 and yes I photographed it twice. Both shots came out awful so sorry 'bout that I'll have to make another trip. This striking new water wagon is a tandem rear axle 2010 Kenworth "340", Freedom Fire 500-gpm with 3000-gallon tank. It like a recent new ambo there has a slate grey roof over red.
Farther south on US 13 is Cape Charles known for its various used apparatus over the years. Several new additions there including a rescue squad that happens to be the '84 Ford "C-8000", EVF outta Denton in Caroline County (photo left). This was replaced in 2008 so I'm not sure exactly when this one made it south.
Also in Co 15's line-up is another Maryland piece the '77 International "S-2654", '99 New Lexingron with front mount 1000-gpm pump and 3000-gallon brushed elliptical tank. Tanker 15-8 (photo at right) last ran with the Pittsville VFCo in Wicomico County and originated with now thankfully gone orange paint scheme from Allegheny Township Pennsylvania.
The last surprise from the Cape is a '88 E-One "Hurricane" 95-foot tower with 1500-gpm pump. (photo at left) UPDATE: Thanks again to Mike Sanders who confirms this as from Independence Missouri east of Kansas City and birthplace of Harry S Truman. It has 300-gallons of water and serial number 6453. Cape Charles has run other used aerials over the years including an all red open cab waterfall grill '45 Seagrave midmount and another possibly ex Norfolk aerial the details of both not at my disposal. (Anybody out there who knows more do tell) Yes they stil have their ex Virginia Beach '84 Duplex, E-One as Engine 15-3 described as their "favorite". Reportedly their ex Richmond '84 GMC, Grumman mini-pumper 15-5 is gone.
Nearby Cheriton, is running as Tanker 14-4 the tandem rear axle, '88 Pierce "Lance" 2000/2500 that originated from Sharptown in Wicomico County. This actually ran with Dagsboro in Sussex County from September 2005 until sometime in 2009. Sorry no shots on this one. UPDATE: And yes they still have their Oshkosh, Snorkel from Monmouth New Jersey pics came out bad on that one too!
If you have any input on any of these or other mentioned rigs please post.
Visit here again soon as I'll have another post on the goings on at Bloxom.
-Rusty
