You may recall a week or two ago, I published two pictures from 1969 of firemen “putting in a little training for Watford Fire Station’s open day” in August that year.

Well Roger Middleton, who is curator at the Herts Fire Brigade Museum, has been in touch with extra information.

The “quadricycle”, he says, was constructed about that time [1969] from plans found at Buntingford Fire Station and used as a fund-raising item. I attach info.
As for the steamer... that’s it in all its full colour glory above.

It’s an 1896 Shand Mason steam double vertical engine. Roger writes:

“Built in 1896 at a cost of £500 for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, it was based at New Cross fire station in London.

“While at New Cross, the engine was damaged as a result of an accident when the horses, on returnming to the station after a fire, turned too quickly. They missed the fire station entrance, fell into the basement and the steamer landed on top of them.

“Sadly, both horses died and their bodies were taken through the station. It is said that on some nights, the ghosts of the horses can be heard if you are in the basement.

“The steamer – which could get a steam pressure of 100lb per square inch in seven to eight minutes with a working pressure of 125lb – went back for repair.

“In 1912, it was sold to Sturminster Newton council down in Dorset.
“A couple of decades later, in October 1938, it was purchased by St Albans water board from Messrs Merryweather and Sons, who had taken over original maker Shand Masons. The cost was £85 including ARP materials – but they never used it.

“Ten years later it was presented to Hertfordshire County Council Fire Brigade and was renovated to full working order by 1962 – 29 years after attending its last major fire in 1933.

“It is now kept at the Herts Fire Brigade Museum at Watford Fire Station,” Roger concludes.

If you’d like to see it, the fire station, in Lower High Street, has open days this year tomorrow (August 8) and September 26, from 1pm to 4pm, when it will be on show. Sadly it’ll be a static display only (no rides around the area!) but should be a sight to behold even so.