mfc2257

I honestly cannot see the allure of a rear mounted tower. Can someone shed some light on why anyone would want such a cumbersome rig?

2007(I think) Mustang GT

I don't care for raised roof rigs. The flat roof'd Pierce Lances that have become popular in the mid Atlantic I like a lot. Super short wheelbase, basic engine company compartmentation, flat roof.
It's been a while since I've packed up in the back, but I'll tell you honestly that if being able to stand up is a priority while your heading out the road to a working job with the radio squaking then I'm not sure that you are focused on the right things. The only time you should need to stand is when your feet hit the curb. The busiest FD's in the world have done without raised roof cabs for a century. Not sure why we'd spend money on them now.

I don't care for raised roof rigs. The flat roof'd Pierce Lances that have become popular in the mid Atlantic I like a lot. Super short wheelbase, basic engine company compartmentation, flat roof.
It's been a while since I've packed up in the back, but I'll tell you honestly that if being able to stand up is a priority while your heading out the road to a working job with the radio squaking then I'm not sure that you are focused on the right things. The only time you should need to stand is when your feet hit the curb. The busiest FD's in the world have done without raised roof cabs for a century. Not sure why we'd spend money on them now.

I don't care for raised roof rigs. The flat roof'd Pierce Lances that have become popular in the mid Atlantic I like a lot. Super short wheelbase, basic engine company compartmentation, flat roof.
It's been a while since I've packed up in the back, but I'll tell you honestly that if being able to stand up is a priority while your heading out the road to a working job with the radio squaking then I'm not sure that you are focused on the right things. The only time you should need to stand is when your feet hit the curb. The busiest FD's in the world have done without raised roof cabs for a century. Not sure why we'd spend money on them now.

No doubt.. I think I was misunderstood... I'm not advocating for a city department to use a commercial cabbed rig... rather that what is attractive to other departments (the ones not running 24/7) is that they are fixable anywhere. Where the hell do you get a Pierce Quantum fixed in Harlan Kentucky?

Call volume I have little doubt that these rigs will hold up. Their performance on the west coast has been quite good. The biggest problem is potholes and a*******. That's it. Potholes and a*******.
Potholes... If the suspension and chassis can hold up to the jarring of NYC streets it'll be a big victory. Then there are a*******....The ones that cause the chauffeurs to have to constantly be on and off the gas and brakes. If the drivetrain can sustain the abuse (I realize that drivetrain is an independent component, but how it is fitted to the rig determines a good deal of its success) it will be an equal victory.
Potholes and a*******... The Bain of FDNY apparatus for decades.
Seriously we are adults here I think the word a.hole can be allowed in context.

Chief Tome was a close friend of my wife's family.
http://www.wotimes.com/articles/2014/02/12/news/obituaries/obituaries01.txt
Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Program Legend Dies â ROGER DALE TOME, longtime Windermere resident and active-duty firefighter for 52 years, died Monday while out running through the town he so dearly loved. At 71 years old, Roger had no plans to retire from the job he loved at the Kennedy Space Center. He was on the very first Astronaut Rescue team and served as its team leader for the shuttle program. He enjoyed great experiences with the Apollo, Space Lab, and Space Shuttle programs, including travels to North Africa to head up the rescue operations at the contingency landing sites. Roger Tome is one of the few people to have worked at the Space center during the entire Shuttle Transport System history, recently completing 42 years service at the Center and listed as a Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Program Legend. Prior to his position as Assistant Fire Chief at the Kennedy Space Center, Roger served on the Orlando Fire Department where he served for 10 years. He also served his country in the Army Reserves attached to a Ranger Battalion as a medic during the Vietnam era. Roger Tome is known as a man of honor, service, and genuine kindness. He never knew a stranger and was the quintessential person you could always count on to âhelp the little old lady cross the street.â When not on-duty in his younger days, you could find Roger fishing on the beautiful Windermere Chain of Lakes. He had the foresight to buy property in Windermere before he ever married because he knew he wanted to raise a family in this town. The day Roger died was another ordinary day. He picked up his granddaughter from Windermere Elementary as he regularly did. They enjoyed ice cream at Allenâs Creamery on a regular basis. Shortly after, he went for a run, chatting with neighbors along the way. He stepped from this earth to the next spending time with the people he loved in the town he loved. Roger leaves behind his wife, Judi, two daughters, Kristin and Karin, and two grandchildren. Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Central Florida on Saturday, February 15. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Roger D. Tome memorial fund to benefit the town of Windermere Parks and Recreation department. Checks can be made payable to the town of Windermere Parks and Recreation, in the memo: Roger D. Tome Memorial.
(*)

Although not involved in the design of this rig it has been discussed for quite some time. MA-10 has always been a unique rig with much to offer not only to the residents of Millwood but to anyone in need of mutual aid. The current MA-10 with 750gpm pump and 1000+ feet of 4 inch hose could go places that a traditional Class A pumper couldn't and provide nearly as much capacity. With a good water supply I personally have pumped over 1000gpm through it. Unfortunately, not many other departments recognized (despite our efforts to let its capabilities be known) that this was more than a typical 200-400gpm brush truck / mini pumper.
The new rig will undoubtedly take the next step in providing even greater versatility and firepower by doubling the amount of water to 300gal and increasing the pump capacity to 1000gpm. Although the rig will be slightly longer due to it being a crew cab, the addition of 3 more firefighters and air paks will make this rig a fully functioning engine and create a great all terrain all weather suppression unit. It's perfect for operating in gated driveways, narrow alleys, off road behind large residences, static water sources, etc.
Even though I no longer live in Millwood, I would encourage Northern Westchester departments to learn as much about the capabilities of this rig as possible and see where it might be of beneficial use... I believe Goldens Bridge has similar capabilities with E139 also carrying LDH and having a 1000gpm pump on a F550 chassis.

Honestly I'd be worried about back injuries trying to pack hose in there.... You'd be standing without the ability to bend at the knees and dragging hose using nothing but your lower back as motive power... I'd rather have another few hundred feet and kneel to pack hose.

Honestly I'd be worried about back injuries trying to pack hose in there.... You'd be standing without the ability to bend at the knees and dragging hose using nothing but your lower back as motive power... I'd rather have another few hundred feet and kneel to pack hose.

I agree that an updated version of the rig is needed....
I do however, have a few comments to respond to:
Rigs should not be used based on levels of "interest". Rigs are to respond based on SOP/SOG's set forth by the officers of the department. MA-10 always had its assigned runs and never had a problem getting on the street when I was an officer. Historically a rookie chauffeur had to qualify on MA-10 before they could begin driver training on any of the full sized rigs with the truck and tanker coming last. I'm not sure if that changed in the past 7 years but honestly it shouldn't have.
Finally, the fact that the rig having a manual transmission was a factor to folks not driving it is frustrating to me. In my mind, if you are not capable of mastering the relatively simple task of driving a vehicle with a manual transmission, then how can you possibly master the complex study and execution of fire-ground hydraulics, rural water supply, aerial operations, etc, etc... The old MA-10 has a silky smooth, fully synchronized transmission, a very predictable clutch action, and enough torque that it's nearly impossible to stall.... If anything its a great rig to teach someone how to operate an emergency vehicle AND how to drive stick on simultaneously. I taught more then one member how to drive stick on it....
Just try and drive the Brockway and see what a real manual transmission is like!!!!
I'm not sayin'... I'm just sayin'

No the chip gets scanned if the dog is found to reveal the owner. It's not like LoJack.

The Westchester County method of identifying apparatus is a$$ backwards. There is no reasoning to it. Departments have been able to reserve whatever number they want for their rigs with no relation to what department they are part of. The Putnam and Rockland methods at least follow a formula but are still overly complicated. The easiest way to do it, and the way the majority of our countrymen have chosen to do so is to number each department in the county... For Westchester county that would be 59 departments. If a particular department was number 25 take my former department of Millwood and it's current lineup of apparatus it would be as follows....
Station 25-1
Truck 25
Rescue 25
Engine 25-1 (Engine Twenty Five One)
Mini Attack 25
Utility 25
Station 25-2
Tanker 25
Engine 25-2 (Engine Twenty Five Two)
Chief 25
Assistant 25-1 (Assistant Twenty Five One)
Assistant 25-2 (Assistant Twenty Five Two)
This way when you hear an identifier on the radio you know exactly what department it's from (If you hear Twenty Five you know it's Millwood).
Now it's insane....
Engine 10 is in Harrison
Mini Attack 10 is in Millwood
Truck 10 is in Mohegan
Rescue 10 is in Bedford Hills
Tanker 10 is in Croton
Utility 10 is in Purchase
Really?

The Westchester County method of identifying apparatus is a$$ backwards. There is no reasoning to it. Departments have been able to reserve whatever number they want for their rigs with no relation to what department they are part of. The Putnam and Rockland methods at least follow a formula but are still overly complicated. The easiest way to do it, and the way the majority of our countrymen have chosen to do so is to number each department in the county... For Westchester county that would be 59 departments. If a particular department was number 25 take my former department of Millwood and it's current lineup of apparatus it would be as follows....
Station 25-1
Truck 25
Rescue 25
Engine 25-1 (Engine Twenty Five One)
Mini Attack 25
Utility 25
Station 25-2
Tanker 25
Engine 25-2 (Engine Twenty Five Two)
Chief 25
Assistant 25-1 (Assistant Twenty Five One)
Assistant 25-2 (Assistant Twenty Five Two)
This way when you hear an identifier on the radio you know exactly what department it's from (If you hear Twenty Five you know it's Millwood).
Now it's insane....
Engine 10 is in Harrison
Mini Attack 10 is in Millwood
Truck 10 is in Mohegan
Rescue 10 is in Bedford Hills
Tanker 10 is in Croton
Utility 10 is in Purchase
Really?

As I follow the pics and thread this little rig has more equipment on it than most of the so called heavy rescues that all the Westchester departments feel like they have to run in order to be relevant. That's a cool rig just the way it is. With a little reworking and a new chassis or motor it'll be even better.
Without a doubt, ten pounds of rescue equipment in a five pound bag....

Seth I think you are a member of Big Mack Trucks forum. These two links would be appreciated there as well. There are a few of us who are active there as well. Noroton's rigs have been mentioned there in the past but never in this detail if I recall.
BMTforums - General Ike
EMTBravo - MFC2257

When I was in Pennsylvania recall there being a certification called pre hospital registered nurse that allowed them to ride in place of a medic. I wonder if there is similar for PA's.

City of Winter Park just got a new tiller. If I get around to it this weekend, I'll grab a picture of it. 2012 Pierce Quantum 100ft replacing the tower.

0:55 - 1:05..... Ballsy move flying through the wires.

0:55 - 1:05..... Ballsy move flying through the wires.

"How about Paramedic severely injured while driving ambulance"

As far as AMTRAK goes, the last time I read about its financials I recall the data showing that the only route that is profitable is the NE corridor between Boston and DC. For the rest of the country, the taxpayers subsidize its costs as a quasi government operation just like the post office. You'll have a tough time getting the public to support an addition to service that will most likely cost them more money. The government gave the state of Florida a multi billion dollar grant to fund high speed rail on the I4 corridor between Daytona, Orlando, and Tampa. The taxpayers gave the grant back indicating that it was a poor use of government funds that in the long run would cost the taxpayers billions over the years to operate a service that most people don't want regardless if the initial costs were subsidized by the government.

One very significant reason why the comparison of high speed rail in Europe and Asia to the US doesn't work is that the vast majority of overseas high speed rail operates on dedicated tracks where local commuter service and freight don't intermingle with trains doing 200-300mph. Many think that all we need is faster trains and to replace our antiquated wooden tie and segmented rails with concrete tie and continuously welded rail. That's not the case. For high speed rail to work, its got to be able to run at high speed ALL THE TIME. Not be bobbing and weaving in and out of the 5:15 local and the mile long drag of inter-model cars that are moving at 15mph.

Anything we can do to start reversing the trade and debt imbalance between us and the Chinese is good...