High Ladders

[mack]

Anyone remember the high ladder units put in service for a few years in the 1960s?  L 119 had one of the units.  I believe there was a second.  Built on a Mack, the ladder extended 144 ft.  I believe they were unpopular because of the very narrow width of the ladder bed in the top section.  Must have been fun to work from.  

 

[nfd2004]

"mack" your old stand by (NFD2004) remembers them. Didn't they use one of them for the TCUs later on ? I think they were called a "Migrius Ladder" (???). I think you're right about one being Ladder 119, but I can't remember the second. I'm sure if I look around somewhere we can find out.

 

[1261Truckie]

mack,

They were initially assigned to Ladders 13 and 24 as their regular rig. After some short period of time, they were designated "High Ladder 1" and "High Ladder 2" and were made special units (13 and 24 were assigned new 1962/1963 Seagraves).
119 got one when the Super Pumper and Tender were placed in 211/119's quarters (space saver).
When Tactical Control Units 712 and 731 were organized, they received these trucks after the Magirus aerials were removed and replaced with Grove ladders and seats were installed under the aerial.
After service with the TCU's I know one was assigned to Ladder 164 but I don't know what became of the second one.
They did not carry a compliment of ground ladders and it seemed as though storage/compartment space was limited, not like subsequent rearmount apparatus.

Hope that helps,
1261truckie (aka Jim Boyle)

 

[mack]

I found a TCU sketch:

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1205/316094897130fd64744d.jpg

 

[mercurygrandmarquis1]

didnt these "high ladders" have somthing to do with FDNY testing quints?

 

[raybrag]

They were Magirus ladders, and the overall truck was designed very much like a typical European fire service turntable ladder truck.  They were later replaced by shorter (100', I think) Grove ladders.  These were, if I'm correct, the first rear-mounts FDNY ever bought. Magirus is now Iveco-Magirus, a German fire apparatus manufacturer (owned by Fiat).  Magirus ladders are pretty much the standard in Europe and many other parts of the world.  BTW:  although previously mentioned on this board, their web site has a neat firefighting game you might want to try (have your browser translate if it's in German):

http://www.iveco-magirus.de/  

I can't seem to locate a photo of one of the FDNY high ladders, but this pic is of a similar truck (just imagine it on a Mack C chassis instead of the Magirus-Deutz):

 

[HCO]

For Mack and 1261Truckie - a more detailed history of the high-ladders:

The first one (reg.#455) went to Ladder 13 on 3/7/62, and was later designated HL 1, a special unit quartered with Engine 1 and Ladder 24, on 2/3/64. It was moved to the quarters of Engine 324 on 4/21/64 (for the NY Worlds fair) and later to Engine 21 on 12/19/64. The Magirus 146 foot high ladder was removed and replaced with a 100 foot Grove and assigned to TCU 712 on 11/15/69. It was finally assigned to Ladder 171 in Rockaway on 6/27/71. Was replaced by the one and only 1966 Mack 75ft tower ladder at Ladder 171 on 5/4/72. Ladder 171 was disbanded on 11/22/75.
 
The second, with Reg.#456, was first assigned to Ladder 24 on 3/20/62. It was later designated HL 2, a special unit,  and quartered with Engine 324 (again for the Worlds Fair) on 4/24/65. It was again made into a regular apparatus and assigned to Ladder 119 on 8/14/65. After the Magirus high ladder was removed, it became TCU 731 with a 100 foot Grove Ladder on 11/16/69. It then became the regular apparatus of Ladder 164 on 7/10/71 and finally became a training unit at the Fire Academy in early 1972.

 

[catry]

HL2 as Ladder 119: http://nyfd.com/brooklyn_ladders/ladder_119.html

 

[1261Truckie]

HCO,

Thanks for the information.

Regarding Ladders 13 and 24, I know L-24 received a new 1963 Seagrave to replace the Mack-Magirus. Did L-13 receive their 1963 Seagrave new or was it a hand-me -down from another company?

Thanks,

1261truckie (aka Jim)

 

[HCO]

1261 Truckie - Ladder 13 got its 1963 Seagrave 100 foot tiller second hand on 1/31/64 from Ladder 48 who only had it for a few months.

 

[1261Truckie]

HCO,

Thanks for the info. Next question - what did L-48 replace the Seagrave with and why was 48's truck reassigned to L-13?

Thanks,

1261truckie (Jim)

 

[fdny442]

Found Rig  Marked High Ladder

 

[HelsinkiVolunteer]

What is the highest ladder in the history of FDNY?
And how high was/is it?

 

[johnd248]

I believe they were 144 feet.

 

[raybrag]

Yes, John, 144 feet.

 

[guitarman314]

Found Rig  Marked High Ladder

  The rig in your photo already had it's Magirus 144 ft. aerial replaced with a 100 ft. Grove.

 

[mack]

I made a mistake.  The "telephone booth" ladders were the 100' Seagrave Rearmounts (1970).  These had seating for 7 members, one on the side.

 

[HelsinkiVolunteer]

Yes, John, 144 feet.

Only 144 feet.
It's understandable as you guys use a different kind of laddertruck philosophy than we in Europe.

 

[bklyndisp54]

Yes, John, 144 feet.

...a different kind of laddertruck philosophy than we in Europe.

Please give us a summary of these different outlooks.  Thanks! 

 

[raybrag]

Magirus makes aerials up to 55 meters (178 feet) today. They're widely used in Europe and other places around the world.