Fire tankers lovingly restored
From the Autumn/Winter 2010 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
1960 R Series Bedford tanker driven by the now retired Joe Corby in the ‘Festival of the Falling Leaf’ at Tumut in 2005. Photo by David Booby
Walking into Forests NSW Batlow workshop is like taking a trip back in time - the workshop is home to five restored fire fighting vehicles dating back to the La France and Chev Blitz in 1942.
Other fire fighting vehicles lovingly brought back to life include a 1920s Furphy water cart, 1960s R series Bedford, 1970s M series Bedford and 1980s Isuzu.
These machines are now the ‘babies’ of southern area workshop manager Peter Smith, involved in tanker restoration for 20 years.
Peter took over as chief custodian of the tankers when restorer extraordinaire and local identity Bill Callinan retired in 2002, after being in charge of the Batlow workshop for 24 years.
The La France engine - a Pierce-Arrow V12 with 24-sparkplug dual ignition - has a pump capable of delivering 1000 gallons of water per minute. It is one of a batch sent from the USA to Australia in World War II to equip RAAF fire fighter crews, and it is believed to be the only one in working order in NSW.
After the war, 45 of these tankers became the mainstay of the Forestry Commission fire tanker fleet.
The 1942, the Chev Blitz forest fire fighter was also designed for wartime use. Unlike the La France, the Blitz has four-wheel-drive capacity and a separate pump motor on the back, which allowed it to fight fires while on the move.
This machine was very effective in rugged forest terrain, and once again there are very few Chev Blitz fire tankers in working order in Australia, making this machine an item of great interest, especially for fire tanker buffs.
Peter said each of the restored vehicles has a unique past. Take for instance the La France, which Bill found in a paddock behind the police station in Narrandera in 1990. It belonged to the Narrandera Historical Society and the workshop purchased it for $800.
“It was with great pride that we took the La France back to Narrandera in 2002 to the John O’Brien Festival Parade,” Peter said.
The restored fire tankers have also been a feature at local events, as well as travelling on low loaders to Walcha in 1998 for a Timber Expo and Bombala in 2000 for an Engine Rally.
In 1997, the La France travelled across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to launch ‘Bushfire Awareness Week’.
“It’s a big honour to look after such a wonderful part of our history and the younger guys working in the workshop also have the opportunity to work on these fabulous old machines,” Peter said.
“We get fire tankers enthusiasts visiting the workshop. One man has been visiting to take photos so that he can get his restoration of a La France as close as possible to the original.”
Peter said as well as the tankers, the workshop has an extensive photographic collection of old fire tankers and forestry vehicles (the walls of main office are lined with photos), and they are also collecting old Forestry Commission signage.
“We’re very keen to collect more signs, so if people have any lying around in back sheds, could they please contact the workshop because we would love to add them to our collection.
The Forestry Commission was established in 1916, and here at the Batlow workshop, we feel that we are doing our bit to ensure that its heritage is not lost to the passage of time,” he said.
Howard Spencer Public Affairs & Media, Coffs Harbour
