JBE

I drove up to Middletown to check out the Fire Expo, and after some skillful maneuvering of the Rock Box, dodging soccer Moms on Route 211, I strolled on up and did a little shooting. However, those rigs inside the building will be the subject of an out an about somewhere along the way. It was good to see some friends (HI JEEPER!!!!) and network a little. Here's what I shot there. Middletown Chief Now, I'm not really big on rigs from the 50's. I've been more fond of rigs from the years from like 1965 to present. But, this rig is sharp looking. Major respect to the Fire Cats. On my way to lunch with an old friend, I spotted Middletown Engines 4 and 5. Did a U turn and off I went. Today's festivities to come...

Due to circumstances beyond my control, the next few weekends are pretty much out for me. I will be planning one in the next few months. I will be in touch.

Can someone explain this whole Oniontown thing to me?? Why all the trouble, etc.??

I did Rombout and Glenham about a year and a half ago. I want to do East Fishkill and Pawling. However, I have a friend or two up in Dover, and I think one of them is one of your new probies and town supervisor. He was my little brothers best man and one of his closest friends. I could be persuaded to head up that way. I remember the old Cadillac ambulance you guys had back in the 80's when I was a Boy Scout going to Camp Siwanoy.

Another nostalgia shot...Since I understand this is going to be replaced soon.. After some more thank yous, we headed over to Carmel to shoot 12-2-2. I had been griping about shooting this for a while. Finally got around to it. Extra added bonus for the chiefs car. Took a crapshoot with Mahopac, and got the privately owned former 18-2-1. With a little bit of luck, we ran into a friendly face at the firehouse, and got some shots of 18-6-1. And with this, and a trip to Putnam 911, we bid Putnam a fond farewell. Lessons learned, set the alarm clock for 7 next time, look a little harder, it's no fun driving up there on an empty stomach. UNBUNCH!!!!! Big thanx to the following people, Mr. and Mrs. FF274, LCFD968, the gang at Put Lake, EJS1810, Fitzjr11, Ex-Chief Drew in Mahopac, and Chief Earle from Carmel. Enjoy!!!!

Chiefs car.. My old rig, 17-4-4. I miss riding in that thing, because I stunk at driving it. Yes, it's a bus. Sorry, I'm a born again city boy.. I'm starting to like this rig, it's an interesting set up..Although the old 17-2-2(1986 Ford) has a special place in my heart. A few more coming...

While shooting 23-2-5, 23-3-1 showed up.. LCFD968 had filled me in on some training they were doing up in East Fishkill and we worked our way there. But, not before I stopped into Patterson to get 22-6-1 before it gets retired. 22-2-1 was an added bonus. After going up to East Fishkill, and seeing absolutely nothing, we went over to LCFD station 2 and got told to look a little closer(Thanx, Craig!!!!), like in the back. Ta Daaa!!!! Now for some strange reason, Lake Carmel had this rig for almost 6 years before I left in 1998, and up until last summer, I had never gotten a picture of it. Here's one with better lighting than the parade. More coming..

Last week, while on our Lazy Sunday excursion, Bronx Fire Radio and I discussed heading up to my old stomping grounds. I hadn't shot Put Lake and wanted to get a few rigs I hadn't shot on the east side. Fret Not Mahopac Falls and Put Valley, you're coming up. So after getting up, and meeting up, we headed up the Saw Mill, 684, and 84 at Ludicrous Speed. I had an 0900 appointment, but if anyone knows me, I kinda operate on Jimmy time. It's like Daylight Savings time, but you just add a half hour to my ETA. First stop Brewster Station 1. I hadn't shot 11-4-1 and 11-2-3, so that was my goal. Unfortunately 11-2-3 was OOS, so I was happy with 11-4-1. After saying our thank you's and discussing Brewsters new firehouse, it was off to the North Brewster Deli for a little grub(Anyone want the Boars Head Card??), then we hit the Lime Green Jackpot!!! 23-6-1 23-4-1, Good Lord, is this thing big!!! 23-2-3 BFR was liking the LaFrance.. 23-2-4 and 2-5 were out on hydrants, and we went to catch up to 2-5. Granted it is a different color and few years younger, but I see this rig and it reminds me of the old 17-2-3, and teary eyes at 40 miles an hour with Robbie Shannon on the backstep in 1992. Still more up ahead..

VERY Nice!!!

So Bronx Fire Radio and I decided to go shoot 81 Engines new rig, and after nearly getting run over a few times in the middle of Bailey Avenue, we got our shots. So we get done there, head over to 68 Engine and then to 96 Engine looking for a few of my friends..(a fruitless search), we start making our way back home and the all hands gets dumped for University and West Kingsbridge. Off we go.. 46 Truck, kind of a cruddy angle, but worthy of posting... 46 Engine, a little out of place. Must have been either relocated or they are a little higher up on the assignment card than I thought. More to come..

I'll keep that in mind. I'm working out the route now..

10-4 Shawn, thanx...

Just an FYI, me and BFR are heading north this weekend. Looking to hit Brewster, Carmel, Put Lake, Lake Carmel, and possibly Mahopac. I'd like to shoot 12-2-2, 17-4-1 and 17-3-1, and as much of Put Lake and Mahopac as I can.

I'm probably going to head up Saturday and check it out.

It was 1992. A piece of it is in the Museum of Natural History. Did a number on the guys car as well.

HazTac are the EMS Haz Mat/Tactical Ambulances. BLS buses have the H designator. I'm not sure if there are still HazTac Medics, but they had the Z designator at one time. Here's me dropping into what my little brother calls my "isoceles stance" for photo taking.

And that's it...Enjoy!!

EMS Rescue Medics. I'm not sure who this is, 03R?? Or, is there one in the 15th Battalion?? 37 Truck We finish up and spy a Haz Tac bus. Actually 2 of them at Terraceview Health Care.

I guess the guy could't find an alternate route to wherever it was he was going. 164 was prolly out of the question as well. I thought those tracks were a freight line. PS, gonna miss 22-6-1. I guess refurbing it and keeping it for some other use isn't worth it/out of the question??

I've seen this before, but it doesn't appear to be any bridge I can think of here in the city.

Since I had a large amount of time on my hands with vacation, and I wasn't interested in OT at work, I got home from Arizona with yet another trip in mind. I took a day to get the Rock Box ready to go and warn some people I was hitting town. 20 hours(not including a 3 hour nap) 1280 miles racked up and cursing DC rush hour traffic. It was off to Florida to meet up with Ken Martin, or FF Martin as some of you may know him as from other boards. This, my friends is the I-95 Death March!!! First Stop, Miami-Dade Station 21. Home of a very nice Pierce Velocity Tower Ladder. Engine 21. As me and Ken Cruise up the A1A, I spy Miami-Dade Lifeguards.. We head over to Station 13 and the Shops where I hit the jackpot. Just about Brand New Spartan Evolution with a Rosenbauer body. Aerial 10, also a brand new Spartan.

Sorry guy, I must have missed it. I was pretty much operating with tunnel vision. Get to where I'm going, passing glance at the side of the road or median looking for troopers.

So I'm sitting here in Chateau de Blue Eyes, when I spy ESU Truck 4 going the wrong way down the Deegan, and I see 63 Engine coming south in their new rig..(Nice detailing btw..) BronxFireRadio calls me, and I call my office and out the door I go, Camera in hand.. First shot, across the street and through the fence, looking down by the Stella Doro bakery. Then through the fence and down the hill a little bit off of Tibbetts Trail.. Hey look, here's where me and the locals got chased off by the Highway Sergeant.. Back to 238th, directly across from Da Chateau... And a little closer.. After a fruitless search for my keys, which I thought I dropped in the weeds. It was AQ at Box 3538. Enjoy..

This is why you don't date, or marry people you work with.

I wasn't either, for a very long time. They grow on you. The Quantum has been around close to 20 years. It doesn't look like your every day run of the mill rig, but like I said, it grows on you. Don't get me wrong, I think they are as ugly as sin, but it's like the ugly dogs, they are so ugly they are cute in their own special way.