New 137-foot aerial ladder for Chicago (more)

This from Danny Nelms:

Some factory photos on the new 137′ ladder under construction. Photos from mick smith.

Mick Smith photo

E-ONE so 142704

Tags: Chicago FD orders 137-foot E-ONE aerial ladder, Chicago Fire Department, chicagoareafire.com, fire truck being built for Chicago, Mick Smith, new fire truck for Chicago

This entry was posted on September 20, 2019, 9:34 AM and is filed under Fire Department News, Fire truck being built. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

35 Comments (and one trackback)

#1 by Mitch on November 6, 2019 - 7:04 PM

Anyone have a set of the full prints for this truck that I could possibly get? Thanks….
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#2 by Danny on November 1, 2019 - 12:59 PM

No delivery yet
#3 by Eugene O on October 31, 2019 - 2:36 PM

Please anyone can you tell me is the new eone 137 aerail been delivered to chicago
#4 by Bill C. on September 23, 2019 - 9:59 PM

I have compared the top photo, using the Cab Clearance Light next to the Warning lights on top AS My reference point, to the July 9, 2018 posting . The 1st photo IS a Tower Ladder Cab !!! Perhaps that was an old picture, Not going any further on that myself .
#5 by Mike C on September 23, 2019 - 10:41 AM

The first picture looks like the roof is notched for a rear mount tower. The second picture looks like it’s notched for the 137′ ladder w/waterway. I’m assuming CFD is also getting a rear mount tower in the near future too???
#6 by Chris on September 22, 2019 - 10:12 PM

Image 1: City of Chicago signage in windshield
Image 1: 3 yellow/orange lights centered on cab NO light on
officer side on cab
Image 1: Very large WIDE notch on cab center

Image 2: What happened to City of Chicago signage
Image 2: Suddenly appears a yellow/orange light on officer side along with presumptive centered lights
Image 2: A very narrow notch on cab center

Image 1 and 2 are not of the same rig !

Add fuel to assignment of new rig – Obvious placement somewhere near loop / major hi-rise densities – makes no sense to place in neighborhood of bungalows – assign to Truck 2 perfect sense and relocate T2 to E18 qrtrs if E5 qrtrs would be a tight fit
#7 by ffpmtom on September 22, 2019 - 8:51 PM

Anyone who thinks the first and second pictures are the same rig needs to get their vision checked. The are clearly different.
#8 by Chris on September 22, 2019 - 8:49 PM

” I wish they would get a few tillers as well it would really help a few companies in tight areas. But they are afraid of accidents..”

A tillerman would cost more dinero – never happen, especially since the last tiller used was decades ago and the bean counters would decide CFD has gotten along fine w/o them
#9 by Sebastian on September 22, 2019 - 2:17 PM

Danny, with all do respect to the gentleman that took the picture, i think he needs his glasses cleaned or his eyes checked because you can clearly see that they are two different rigs. No offense to anyone.
#10 by Danny on September 22, 2019 - 11:20 AM

Luke I’ll take the word of the gentlemen who took the photos as hes an employee building this rig. And also this is the only CFD truck in production that is this far along… the remainder are later this year but most likely early 2020 to start commind in
#11 by Mike on September 22, 2019 - 10:19 AM

Bill you bring up valid points but truck 2 is also an ALS TRUCK and I think that plays a part in availability and not running the wheels off of this. Years ago you did have aerial tower 3. Maybe that’s where it may go. Although truck 3 is busy too.
#12 by Tim on September 22, 2019 - 9:18 AM

More than likely the trucks are not getting stainless bodies is because of the weight. Stainless is twice the weight as aluminum.
#13 by Bill Post on September 22, 2019 - 12:34 AM

Apparently there is something to the rumor that the new aerial tower could be assigned to Truck 7. I too have read that from someone with Chicago Fire Department connections, though that could change.

What would the logic be of putting a 137-foot aerial at Truck7? Would that entail moving some of the tower ladders as well? I fail to see what purpose that would fill. Tower Ladder 5 already covers a good part of the west side with a pre-piped waterway and they are only about 2 miles south of Truck 7. The far west side is covered by Tower Ladder 14, part of the near west side is covered by Tower Ladder 10, and Tower Ladder 54 covers the southern part of the far west side.

As it doesn’t look like the new rig will be assigned to Aerial Tower 1, it would make the most sense at Truck 2, assuming it could fit in their station. Truck 2 is in the perfect place to get around the city. They are near the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Dan Ryan interchange (the spaghetti bowl) and close to the Loop. They have easy access to the west side without being too far west like Truck 7.

Engine 5 and Truck 2’s house is a large two bay station. Over the years they have been the quarters of some large special duty apparatus. When Chicago operated 3 water tower companies, Water Tower 1 and High Pressure Wagon 1 were there in addition to Light Wagon 1 and Engine 5. The water towers had a large front overhang. The bays in Engine 5’s house are pretty deep. Snorkel Company 2 was there after Water Tower 1 was taken out of service. So if it can fit into the station, it makes sense to put the aerial tower at Truck 2 as opposed to Truck 7.

What the fire department does though doesn’t necessarily make sense, but it certainly would help.
#14 by Luke Jackson on September 21, 2019 - 9:36 PM

The first two photos are not the same truck. If you look at the first photo there are supply cabinets to the left, but in the second photo the cabinets are not there. And as previously stated, the cab notches are different. Final thing is if you look at the drawing for the AT, you’ll see the siren/horn speakers are centered on the bumper. The speakers on the truck in the first photo are not. The first could be a tower and the second is the aerial tower. Just my two cents.
#15 by Danny on September 21, 2019 - 8:39 PM

Truck it has been a rumor most people with connections on the CFD say truck 7 is the most likely landing spot.

As said 100 times before we will know for sure when its backed into quarters
#16 by Danny on September 21, 2019 - 8:37 PM

John it’s all the same rig just taken at 2 different times….

7 engines 12 rear mounts and a 95′ tower slated for 2020 delivery as well as
#17 by Aidan Hughes on September 21, 2019 - 1:20 PM

I think this truck will go to Truck 8 because their firehouse is larger and one concern is that the truck may not fit into Engine 1’s firehouse because of the width of the doors.
#18 by B on September 21, 2019 - 11:40 AM

1. The first photo is probably a tower cab. It has a notched roof to accommodate the significantly larger tower ladder structure and reduce the overall height.

2. The second photo is undoubtedly the AT cab. The only notch is a small one down the centerline to accommodate the prepiped waterway. The 137′ ladder structure (which is the same as the 95′ tower structure) isn’t as large as the 100′ tower structure, so they probably didn’t need to notch the cab to lower the overall height.

3. It’s interesting that the towers and the AT are being built with aluminum bodies in Florida, while all the engines are being built with stainless bodies at the old RD Murray plant in New York. Aren’t the new ladders supposed to have stainless bodies too? Why not have stainless bodies on everything for commonality of maintenance?

4. It’s really nice to see CFD starting down the road to get its fleet into good shape. It’s long overdue.
#19 by rich s. on September 20, 2019 - 11:31 PM

Where ever the city decides to put the new AT is fine. I don’t believe it’s going to respond citywide at all. We have 9 TL’s in the city to cover still and boxes and 2-11’s. They don’t use the current AT in that manner so…. I understand there’s 13 new trucks and a tower coming in addition to more new engines. we need all of these and more. I wish they would get a few tillers as well it would really help a few companies in tight areas. But they are afraid of accidents..
#20 by John on September 20, 2019 - 8:43 PM

First and second photos are not the same rig. So which one is it?
#21 by Chuck on September 20, 2019 - 5:42 PM

It’s one thing to decide where this thing is going to go, but I HOPE they withdraw the idea of having this rig respond citywide. That will ruin this rig in a HURRY.
#22 by harry on September 20, 2019 - 4:27 PM

also this may be a slight peak at what the trucks will look like similar anyway
#23 by harry on September 20, 2019 - 4:25 PM

mike I would say it will make the most sense downtown with all the high rises and as for 34 they would wreck it fairly quick
#24 by John Antkowski on September 20, 2019 - 3:48 PM

I can’t believe it! I thought they canceled the order. Next up from the rumor mill is more Aerials? And than another round of engines. Very cool either way.
#25 by Mike on September 20, 2019 - 3:47 PM

Why don’t they give it to tower ladder 34…?
#26 by harry on September 20, 2019 - 3:23 PM

rich if the pierce fits at at1 I would think the eone would fit but at least they are getting new rigs finally
#27 by rich s. on September 20, 2019 - 2:31 PM

I really don’t think it’s going to AT 1 though. The house is very tight with all the cars parked in it (no room on the street for personal vehicles). I see them just keeping their current rig until it’s replacement in time. AH, and Sebastian, I agree the Mars 888 is the best! And it’s still manufactured ( right here in Chicago actually) as for the little Federal Signal TCL, Federal no longer makes that light and it doesn’t seem like there’s part’s since Fleet has been replacing them with two (2) rapid flashing under/over LED lights. I wish they would bring it back but at least the red/green is back. Baby steps
#28 by Sebastian on September 20, 2019 - 2:20 PM

Still would like to know why chicago has gotten away from the little light between the windshield?? It was an awesome looking light
#29 by harry on September 20, 2019 - 1:53 PM

I hope it goes to at1 because I would love to see it
#30 by Michael m on September 20, 2019 - 1:49 PM

Agreed we will just wait and see what number is placed on the door. It looks like it is going to be a nice rig!
#31 by rich s. on September 20, 2019 - 1:25 PM

Hello everyone. One thing is for sure, CFD is getting a new AT where it gets assigned will not be set until the number is on the door and the rig is actually taking runs as that number. Rumors are just that rumors. so we’ll all just have to wait n see.
#32 by DANNY on September 20, 2019 - 12:44 PM

why wouldn’t AT 1 still use there rig its newer then most of the pierce rigs on the street?
#33 by Marty Coyne on September 20, 2019 - 11:34 AM

Wherever it goes, it’s virtually certain it will not be AT1. They will become a regular Truck Co. Where it winds up, we’ll see when it backs into the house.
#34 by DANNY on September 20, 2019 - 10:44 AM

Depends on who you listen to.

one rumor says new truck 8, another rumor says new truck 7, and another rumor says truck 7 and 7s current rig to truck 1 and truck 1s current rig to engine 35s to be a special call rig like the reserve snorkel.

nothing is fact until its in the firehouse.. and even then it can still change.
#35 by KEVIN SCHULZ on September 20, 2019 - 10:36 AM

Is this going to be the new Aerial Tower 1 since it has a pre-piped waterway?