Finding out the history of any old vehicle is fascinating, but Green Goddesses often come with lots of the stuff!
That said, as they moved around, sometimes this did go missing, so PGW 326 has lots from 1982 onwards but nothing before....
The summary so far:
Built: 1954
Chassis: Bedford
Body: Willowbrook, Loughborough, body number 54626
Lightweight pump: F2229
Service:
1954-1968 with the AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service) somewhere
1968: AFS disbanded
1977: Op Burberry, fire strike, location unknown
1982 (13th Jan): in store at Home Office Supply & Transport Store (G57), Branston, Burton-on-Trent; mileage 2115
1989: lockers 3/7 modified - floor strengthened
1991/1992: transferred to Marchington, Staffordshire, as out-station storage of GGs was centralised, maintained by TNT Truckcare, initial service saw much minor work done to bring it back up to standard, mileage 3rd March 92 - 2276
1994 (10th Jan): damage to near side rear body first noted
1996 (May): Major work - cylinder head, studs, all 6 pistons and liners replaced on the engine, converted to negative earth electrical system, cab heater and battery charger removed, coolant system replaced, dynamo replaced. 257 mile road test where it used 134 litres / 29.7 gals of fuel meaning 8.6 mpg (took 10 hours). 192 hours of workshop time in total(!!), mileage 4045
1998 (3rd Aug): mileage 4304
2002 (14th May): mileage 4311
2002/2003: deployed on Op Fresco, fire strike, stationed at RAF Innsworth in Gloucestershire. Start mileage 23rd Oct 02 - 4314, end mileage - 5297.
2005/2006: out of service, sold via Witham SV in Colsterworth, Grantham
2011: bought by me, mileage 5328
With thanks to members of RSOLES, the GG and Bedford RL owners site.
I am the owner of PGW287 I have owned it since 1996 it is Willowbrook body no 54627. It lives in the GVVT Garage in Glasgow. I live in Fife. Hope to see you on the circuit of shows.
ReplyDeleteHi Ron. Thanks for your comment! Another quality Willowbrook product, although I,ve never found any evidence on mine of the body number - one of the disadvantages of having a dash transfer rather than a badge! Was yours one of the early Scottish batch sold off well before the main fleet was sold 10 years later or just an escapee? I rarely get to shows anything like that far north but will try to do Welland in Gloucestershire at the end of July which is turning into quite a major AFS gathering.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Duncan.