California Tank Wagons/Tankers/Water Tenders

[Galloping Ghost]

Hello! After watching this website for a number of years, I am very excited to finally join. I might be young and heading off to college, but I have been researching fire apparatus for the past 4 years (Emergency! got me interested). I particularly like southern CA apparatus. My favorite type is the tanker, and my favorite style is early Cab-Over-Engine apparatus before they became popular in the fire service.

So as you can see by my screen name, the Galloping Ghost is my most favorite fire apparatus (this is a response to this: http://yngfire.com/index.php/topic,10653.msg71434.html#msg71434) After researching it for 4 years, I discovered it's fate, but I'll get to that later.

It was ordered in 1938 by Los Angeles County FD, CA along with 5 other apparatus from Seagrave. All six apparatus had 1000gpm pumps (down rated by the Department to 900gpm), five had 120 gallon tanks, and the last had a 2500 gallon tank. This was Seagrave s/n 91005 (LA County FD Shop # FD18). As with the other Model 12-J Sweetheart grill rigs, it was equipped with a Seagrave built Model J-212, 240hp, 906 cu. in. engine. LA County ordered it for Station 20 in their Norwalk district because there were very few fire hydrants. Here's the story as to why it was nicknamed the "Galloping Ghost". Norwalk was close enough to the Pacific that the fog would roll in early in the morning. If other companies where on a fire at that time, and Engine 20 was called, "The Beast" (another nickname) would roll in, Galloping around corners (the tank didn't have any baffles) with that 4 speed transmission. Ghost was in the name because the rig would appear from the fog. Interesting story I think.

Anyway, it served As Engine 20 in Norwalk from 1939 until getting replaced by an International/Coast (anyone have a year or Shop # for that rig???). Then from then until 1957 it was at Artesia Station 30, then La Mirada Station 49 briefly in 1957. Then it came around for the last time from 1961-1962 serving with LA County's only airport crash truck they ever owned, The 1958 FWD coe 6x6/Yankee (Crash 109, which ended up at Willow Run Airport in Detriot, information needed for this rig as well). THEN in 1966, it left with LA County's only 1936 Seagrave Sweetheart for Crow Valley, Oregon. It served there for 10 years before being scrapped by them in 1976.

Let me see what photos I can post that aren't copyrighted. In the mean time, I will share with you information on my second favorite piece of fire apparatus.

[Galloping Ghost]

Ironically, my second favorite piece of apparatus was the second rig posted on the thread I copied the url to in my previous post. Los Angeles City Fire Department bought their first 2500 gallon tanker in 1951. It was built by Yankee in 1951 on a 1950 Kenworth Bullnose cab/chassis (LAFD Shop # 713). It was equipped with two Byron-Jackson 300gpm pumps. It served from 1951-1956 as Tank Wagon 39 in Van Nuys Station 39. Then it jumped around from Station 90 (van Nuys Airport) to Mountain Patrol 2's Station 109, to Station 88 (Sherman Oaks). THEN in 1984, it was sold (donated???) to the City of Obregon, State of Sonora, Mexico. It served then as Unit 10 until 1999, when it was sold into private hands. I have a current firefighter down there trying to dig up information on the rig for me. I will try to post photo's of this rig as well. Information is welcome for either of these two rigs or any other you all may know about from, LA County, City, Kern County, CDF, anything and everything is welcome!

[SixbyFire]

Welcome to the forums! I think the biggest challenge for me, having moved out to California from Ohio, was the whole tanker/tender issue. Thankfully most of the water tenders near where I live (actually there aren't many) are marked WT, and not just T, the WT being a constant reminder of Water Tender, as opposed to just T for Tanker or Tender or whatever...

Jeff

[Galloping Ghost]

Thanks for your response! And I appreciate your welcoming! Ok, first the pictures of 1939 Seagrave S/n 91005 12-J 1000/2500 Engine 20 Shop # FD18.
In-service picture, from the collection of John Ackerman, taken by Tom Showers.

[Galloping Ghost]

A 1957 picture when the rig served at La Mirada Station 49 for a very short time. Rescue 49 is a 1954 Ford (Shop # FD116). Another Tom Showers photo from John Ackerman's collection.

[Galloping Ghost]

On to the 1951 Kenworth Bullnose 6x4/Yankee 600/2500 Tank Wagon 39 Shop # 713.
Engine 39 is a 1945 Pirsch 1250/200 Shop # 927.
From the collection of John Ackerman

[Galloping Ghost]

Another shot of the rig running as Reserve Tanker 109-2, photo taken at Station 88's after their new facilities opened. They still hadn't renumbered it for it's new station. The extended bumper was put on for use at Van Nuys Airport Station 90. Larry Arnold photo from John Ackerman's collection.

[Galloping Ghost]

Another from from John Ackerman's collection. Brand new extended bumper with 3.5 in. feeder line for the crash truck. This picture was taken in 1956 at Van Nuys Airport Station 90.