Images and video from the 2014 Chicago Fire Engine Rally and Swap Meet sponsored by 5-11 Club of Chicago and the Fire Buffs of Illinois.
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
more images are at shapirophotography.net
#1 by Fred on July 18, 2014 - 5:14 PM
Gentlemen, Clone engine 17 started life as a ward lafrance ambassador. She was stripped down to the frame motor, pump and sat for years. Like her 6 sisters they were rehabbed with ranger cabs and Eone bodies by Able fire equipment in frankfort. It was the last 2 units to be completed that were used in the filming as both engine 17 and 51. Both movie rigs were D-374 (E69) D-357 (E113)
The Louisville tiller was purchased for parts but a deal was worked out to save the rig.
#2 by Drew Smith on June 18, 2014 - 6:57 AM
FFPM571 and David, thanks for the info and correction. I knew about the Ranger cabs and that Able Fire had done the work and thought they were originally E-Ones, not WLFs. My FD had a 73 WLF and and 84 E-One on a C-8000. The WLF cab outlasted the C-8000 cab by ten years.
#3 by David on June 18, 2014 - 4:09 AM
Drew the rigs were originally a 1970 (2,000 GPM) WLF Ambassadors rebuilt by the Able Fire Equipment in 1990. They installed the Ranger 4-door cabs and E-One bodies. Also there were two rigs used in the movie- D-374 (Eng. 69) and D-375 (??).
#4 by FFPM571 on June 17, 2014 - 10:36 PM
Actually all the ranger/E-Ones were Ward LaFrance’s Its very well documented by the owner of the E-17 clone, He has 2 other Rangers one being the original Rig used in the movie.
#5 by Drew Smith on June 17, 2014 - 8:33 PM
That E17 is not a WLF but an E-One. CFD had several of the E-Ones with Ford C-8000 cabs refurbed by then-Able Fire Equipment with, I believe, Ranger cabs.
I had planned to attend the muster this year but with the Kennedy construction and a tight family schedule I took a pass. Maybe many other did too.
#6 by danny on June 17, 2014 - 6:30 PM
its on the facebook group backdraft engine 17 he was talking about it on there dennis
#7 by Crabby Milton on June 17, 2014 - 9:08 AM
I really hate to say this but in addition to the added fuel and insurance costs, this and other factors dampen the interest. But you add the factor of the ability to see fire apparatus whenever you want via the web, that may make some say the heck with it as well. I plan to go to the one in South Holland since I have never been there and who knows what they’ll have down there. Nothing like seeing fire appartus in person and snapping photo’s of them. Those pics we view on the web don’t just get there without people showing up and taking pictures. We have had great musters here in Milwaukee and some real stinkers but there are always a handful of diehards who will show up regardless so we need to thank them. I had other things going on the 14th but I may come next year.
#8 by FFPM571 on June 17, 2014 - 8:59 AM
Seems like every year there is less and less rigs. I know for a fact there are more department and privately owned antiques out there. Is it the cost of fuel and time to run them or just a lack of interest?
#9 by GFD213 on June 16, 2014 - 5:29 PM
Guy’s, all the trucks were great. How about thanking all the folks at the Fire Buffs of Illinois and the 5-11 Club, plus the CFD for another great muster.
#10 by Bill Post on June 16, 2014 - 10:51 AM
Exactly right, Mike Mc, that GMC certainly reminded me of Rescue 8’s rig. Did you know that Milwaukee was also using very similar GMC model rigs for some of their Rescue Squads which were used as 2 man EMS first Responder units. I remember that they ran with at least one of them in Downtown Milwaukee out of Engine 2 and 20’s house for a while and also out of Eng 1’s house for a while.
That was in the early 1960’s that Milwaukee was using them.
T
#11 by Mike Mc on June 16, 2014 - 10:17 AM
The Louiville tiller is one sharp looking rig. I’m sure no one would want to canabalilze it. Showing my age, but the Warrenville van reminded me of “Rescue 8”.
I missed Division 7 and some fo the other “regulars”. Engine 10 will be the star of the show for decades. Already looking forward to the emergency vehilce show in North Aurora on August 2.
#12 by Dennis on June 16, 2014 - 8:44 AM
Danny, The guy who owns the Clone 17 is not the same guy who owns the tiller. I know this for a fact. The other part of your statement about transferring the aerial from the tiller to the chassis of the old Truck 15 I have never heard of until now. So that part I can not comment on.
#13 by danny on June 15, 2014 - 10:37 PM
the guy who owns the engine 17 also owns the louisville ky tiller. the ladder on which will one day be mounted on truck 15s old mack ladder as a clone truck 46 after an extensive rehab
#14 by Mike L on June 15, 2014 - 3:17 PM
The Eng 17 is actually Ex Engine 34 and was never in the movie. And since it was refurbished by E-One, that is why the wheels look like E-one wheels.
#15 by Crabby Milton on June 15, 2014 - 10:44 AM
So much eye candy here I don’t know where the heck to start. My other interest is buses so thanks for posting those too. I couldn’t make that event but I plan to go to the on in South Holland next Saturday.
#16 by cmk420 on June 15, 2014 - 8:59 AM
Pretty cool to see “Engine 17” from Backdraft. I was not aware that the rig was still around.
#17 by David on June 15, 2014 - 7:40 AM
The Fox looks just amazing. Also the WLF’s pretty iconic, seems to me that the wheelhubs are just slightly different than before the restoration. More like what the 1980s E-Ones had than the original WLFs.