Chicago FD Turret Wagon History (pt11) Big John 6-7-3

More from Bill Friedrich on the CFD turret wagon history – now it’s Big John, the original 6-7-3

Organized 5-12-70 @ 55 W Illinois St "Big John"

6-7-3 (G-156) - 1952 IHC M65 5-ton 6x6 chassis that the CFD Shops fabricated in 1970 when they installed the body & twin Stang HP deluge monitors capable of flowing 15,000-GPM. It was named after John F Plant who designed 'Big John'.

Overhead view of Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 (G-156) built on a 1952 IHC M65 chassis. Ron Heal photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 (G-156) ‘Big John’ @ Engine 34’s house. Bill Friedrich photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 (G-156) ‘Big John’ @ Engine 42’s house. Bill Friedrich photo

THe rear of Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 (G-156) ‘Big John’ @ Engine 34’s house. Bill Friedrich photo

Big John, 6-7-3 (G156) flowing at an unknown fire scene. Photographer unknown. Bill Friedrich collection

Chicago FD turret wagon 6-7-3 Big John


1-25-82 (G-461) 1981 Chevy C20/1981 CFD Shops fabricated and installed the body & twin Eastman deluge monitors capable of flowing 4,000-GPM

Tags: 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, Big John, Bill Friedrich, CFD Deluge Wagon Big John, Chicago Fire Department deluge wagon 6-7-3, Chicago Fire Department history, Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon Big John, Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-3, fire apparatus history, historic fire truck photos, historic truck photos, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, history of Chicago FD turret wagons, large deluge monitors, Ron Heal

This entry was posted on March 4, 2013, 7:36 AM and is filed under Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

5 Comments (and one trackback)

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#1 by Patrick on March 6, 2013 - 2:23 PM

When I was a kid, I seem to recall hearing that “Big John” had the capability to shoot a stream of water to the top of the Hancock Tower. I don’t recall where I heard that or who told me that. The point was that if there was a fire in the Hancock, they needed Big John to put it out. (I was a kid, I believed anything.)

There must have been a newspaper feature article somewhere in the late 60’s or early 70’s on Big John and Big Mo because I remember hearing about that equipment as a kid.

I do remember seeing the wagon in the old Civil Defense colors in quarters in Old Town.
#2 by Turk_WLF on March 4, 2013 - 3:24 PM

I have 3 questions about the Big John & Big Mo Era…
1) When was Big John in Service 1970-????
2) Why was Big John retired? aged, mechanical problems, etc.
3) What was the avg. pump size of the engines of the Big John & Big Mo era?

Thanks,
#3 by M21 retired on March 4, 2013 - 3:19 PM

thank goodness for LDH – look at the spaghetti in last picture.
#4 by billy on March 4, 2013 - 3:08 PM

The big john and big moe history is cool.. but enough already…
can anyone do a similar expose on Chicagos Tiller H & L Co.’s Now there is some cool history..
compare an old CFD tiller to the monster tiller running around Cicero. WoW.!!!
#5 by John on March 4, 2013 - 2:12 PM

To me,this is the crown jewel of turret wagons. Wish it was still around.