The FDNY Super Pumper - Worldest most powerful fire engine ever built

The FDNY Super Pumper - Worldest most powerful fire engine ever built.
Museum Link - toyandfiretruckmuseum.org/
History link - bangshift.com/bangshiftxl/mack...
NOTE: The pictures in this video do not include the original Semi Tractor. It is on display at the museum, however it was not able to travel to this event due to mechanical issues.

[@tjinytjiny6615]

I grew up in NYC and got to see this beast in operation 1 Saturday Evening. AN impressive sight to see and hear as the Tender laid hose for 2 blocks to draft from the Harlem River.Glad to see its still in existence and on display.

[@MrRCGNL]

The most interesting part of this "system" was the Deltic engine .

[@formidable38]

Just for anyone that didn't know. The engine that powered this pump was a Napier Deltic 18 cylinder, 32 piston opposed engine built in the U.K. At the time , it was the most powerfull diesel engine of its size anywhere in the world when it was built. These engines still power some heritage diesel locomotives in the U.K to this day. They didn't do to well with reliability in rail use though and seemed more successful in marine aplications.

[@MrRCGNL]

Ik think the Deltic Engines where to complex for railway use with constantly changing loads and rpm's. On a ship, that's different. Same with gas turbines: OK on a ship for constant rpm over hours, not for trains (ref. the German 210)

[@formidable38]

They had mega power to weight ratio but they were very maintenance intensive in rail use has to be said. There are still a few in use today.

[@zoperxplex]

I remember reading about this in the magazines when it was brought. There were several tenders and one enormous Super Pumper this thing fed into.

[@tommyd1542]

Saw the original Super Pumper, Super Tender and all three satellites in action dozens of times throughout the 1960's and 70's at multiple alarm fires. The Super Pumper and Tender were originally quartered with Engine Company 211 and Ladder Company 119 on Hooper St. in Williamsburg. At the time it was the only building FDNY owned that the apparatus could fit into that was centrally located within the NY City area and the building wasn't even originally designed as a fire house. When they moved to Tillary St with Engine Company 207 and Ladder Company110 and the 31st Battalion the fire house was custom designed to fit those apparatus. The other half of the building housed the NYPD's 84th Precinct. The Super Pumper was originally replaced by the Maxi-Water Unit which looked and operated exactly like one of the satellite units of that era. ABTW, the rear steering wheel was eventually removed once the apparatus was placed into service.

[@duenge]

Know what's sad? I live in Bay City, 3 miles from the Museum. I am a retired Bay City firefighter, but I have never been to the Museum. I think I shall gave to make it a destination of fun with my little granddaughters this summer....

[@LICHBKLYN1]

WOW! I remember the Super Pumper, and, the Super Tender On Tillary St, in BK. It was a battalion, adjacent to I think was the 84th PCT of NYPD. I saw this puppy in action, in the winter of 1974. Holy Bajeezus! Such force was actually practically knocking down the bldg. It was a 5 alarm on Smith & Pacific St's. Impressive.

[@emt5330]

Yes, the firehouse was, and still is next to the 84 precinct. If you go by it, it still says " Super Pumper" and "Super Tender" above the doors. Currently, it houses Engine 207, Ladder 110, Satellite 6, and the chiefs of the 31 Battalion and 11 Division.

[@RDC_Autosports]

like a frack pump… i can’t believe i can’t find one video of this running!

[@rj4590]

The ratings were actually 4400GPM @ 700psi,8800GPM @350psi ,and 10,000GPM @300psi.I remember the Napier Deltic diesel pump engine being rated at 2400HP.

[@GTFD8215]

+rj4590 Thank you for the updated information. I believe there are a few corrections to my video that should be made. I did my best to pull all the information together that I could get at the time. I think I will try to add some annotations to my video with some of these corrections. She was an amazing machine for sure

[@oktfc1]

I use to go down the Brooklyn Navy yard on Sundays to watch a drill. An amazing sound when it cranked up (with air no less). Station was in lower Manhattan but it was too heavy for some bridges and would take a tunnel as needed.

[@danielsemergencylighting1281]

I have the whole code 3 set with 3 satellite trucks and a hose truck and the superpumper

[@cfol1382]

I remember seeing this unit in NY city when it was still in service. If I remember correctly it was a 5 piece response just for the super pumper. Just an unreal unit. Very cool. Code 3 Collectibles came out with a model of this when they were still in operation. Might be worth looking for if your a fan. Code 3 made many FDNY unit models. I had most of them. The Tower Ladders were the best I thought, but the old Mack pumper were very cool also, especially the "CF" models.

[@catolic2004]

It was lucky for me, but I think, a shame that when I bought the Code 3 set some years ago they had it on clearance for $99. Had to be a bunch more kids like me back when it was active, who were engrossed in reading about this rig. I also remember that my paperback copy of Dennis Smith's "Report From Engine Co. 82" had the Super Pumper's big Stang gun in action on the cover

[@invertedv12powerhouse77]

When the fire gains 5 stars in new york he gets the super pumper

[@campcarver342]

Wow that looks like it got the job done! Thanks for sharing

[@danzmitrovich6250]

FDNY got the fire trucks from heaven

[@vartilaknovehestum4947]

When I was an Auxiliary Fire Captain, I was reassigned to the Community Relations Bureau at 110 Park Place in Manhattan. The Chief of Department gave me permission to ride with any company in New York. I picked Satellite One which was on Spring Street. The Satellite Officer was there too. But he responded in a Battalion Station Wagon to EVERY second alarm in the city. There was the Super Pumper Officer who was stationed with the actual Super Pumper in the Quarters of Tower Ladder 119 on Kent Avenue in Brooklyn. He responded in a Ford Sedan often mistaken for a Deputy Chief or higher. The Super Pumper System was to have at least one of its Satellites respond to a second alarm with an engine company and the Satellite Officer. The entire Super Pumper System responded to all second alarms in Manhattan below 59th Street and in The Rockaways. Originally Satellite One was quartered on Spring Street lower Manhattan. Satellite 2 was in Queens and Satellite Three was in the Bronx. Each Satellite carried a Manifold and massive 41/2 in lines. The Stang Intellegaint Monitor (Deck Pipe) would whistle when being feed by the Super Pumper. There was no Tiller on the Super Pumper. I use to spend the entire weekend with Satellite One. Most of the time the Satellite Officer would tell me to ride with him. The Station Wagon also had a Manifold and I would help his driver unload the Manifold. Those were the good ole days. Riding with the Satellite was awesome. I still remember Firefighters John Kelly and Jimmy Press, Lieutenant Selige and Captains Edmund and O'Mally. "Division 15 to Queens." "Division 15 proceed." "Division 15 to Queens, the Super Pumper hook up site is..."

[@infanatorgaming6577]

I believe theyve got a new super pumper now that isnt as big as the old one but still does the job

[@davidhoffman1278]

Thanks. Interesting engine. I had previously read about those opposed piston engines from the UK but never knew there was a firefighting application.

[@harrisongrant8558]

This was really the only one. This engine was used in some patrol boats for the Royal Navy, and it was used in two railway locomotives (British Rail class 55 and the British Rail class 23), but as far as I know this is the only firefighting application, and the only American use of this engine.

[@invertedv12powerhouse77]

The deltic engine on this thing is also one of the most impressive internal combustion designs produce while being reliable

[@Trojanny]

P.S. We also built the 4 "Satellite" trucks, meant to supply her. Super-Pumper sold for commercial use, however, the other 4 stayed .

[@FireNewsPhotography]

I have actually seen this in full operations way back in the 1970's in NYC

[@Trojanny]

Built one block away from me, here in Allentown, PA, by Mack Trucks. (Mack also supplied New York w/ the two largest ladder trucks ever built).

[@Ed-pn9id]

I believe several boroughs each had tenders. For a short while the super pumper was found behind a warehouse in Mahwah NJ in really bad shape. I remember getting a call from another Mahwah fireman saying he found it there. This was at 2am but hey it was the super pumper so we got up to see it. Where it went after that I don't know. On a fire department tour when it was still in service it was stationed in Brooklyn I believe Right across from Manhattan. We were told that almost all the crews retired with hearing disabilities from the huge roar it made. I t was a interesting idea and way ahead of its time.

[@raymondcowey1041]

The thing that was unique about the Deltic engine was that whilst all three cranks rotated in the same direction, one had an intermediate gear allowing it to sync with the other two onto the central output shaft otherwise there would have been contention between all three crank shafts. This was the clever part of the engines design

[@P25AES]

Check put some of the high volume deluge apparatus out there. This pales in comparison.

[@thomasfreeman7770]

Actually the 6 stage two position pump could pump 8800 gpm at 350 psi in the volume (parallel position) or 4400 gpm at 700 psi in the pressure (series position). This was from draft. If supply was a pressurized then some more. All fire apparatus pumps capacity are rated at draft. It weighs 68000 pounds.There are few actual films out there of this operating and I have not seen any on the internet. I saw this operate myself and I know there are films. Maybe somebody has some. It would be impressive to show folks that were not in the era of it’s operation.

[@joedc8169]

This was my dads truck from 65 to 74

[@lunanlass4289]

Joe DC I

[@landrover4444]

God Bless

[@Trojanny]

My hat's off to him

[@jubelet]

I read about this rig when it was delivered, I think it was Reader's Digest, but it could have been Popular Mechanics. Anyway, there's more information right here in this video, and in those two links, then I have been able to find in all these years since then. Great job!

[@GTFD8215]

+Pluff Mudd THanks for the feedback... just trying to help keep the legend alive.

[@bryanharrell190]

10,000 gpm at 700 psi? Holy fuck!

[@SmokeStack684]

OK! What about the super tender? The truck that had a trailer with a huge water cannon on it. Did that get scraped? I was lucky enough to see those two rigs in the fire house back around 1973.

[@manga12]

there were 4 super tenders and an axillery truck that went with this pumper systym, I know at least one of the tenders is around and they did a demonstation with it on video one time I saw on the innernet years ago about 12 years ago I saw a video it took like 5 firetrucks to give enough feed to the super tender they were demonstrating, kind of sad they took it out of survice, and the stat 10000 gallons? I thought it pumped 8000 gallons according to an old book about fire engines from the time period I used to read all the time.

[@Commissar0617]

the big tender went to another collector, and the fdny still uses sattelites

[@tomh3652]

Too bad its only the trailer part not the original tractor.

[@GTFD8215]

+Tom H The original tractor is on display at the museum. However it was not road worthy to travel to the show that I took these pictures at.

[@tomh3652]

Oh I'm glad its still around and not junked.

[@Trojanny]

Good observation.....something looked wrong.

[@DrKO2453]

Saw it in action at a block fire in Washington Heights years ago. What happened to the satellies?

[@darthyoda1420]

DrKO2453 they still use the satellites today still

[@michaelcels9013]

Love the music whats the name of the score ?

[@BlackieFoxxless]

Did it have a hi-lo siren?

[@ph11p3540]

I am surprise no one has not come out with a gas turbine powered super pumper.

[@ffjsb]

It would be too noisy.

[@tjinytjiny6615]

Ferrara has built a "Super Pumper, which produces 5000 GPM from its pump, and if the water supply is pressurized, it ups it to 7000 GPM.

[@MrRCGNL]

Gas turbines are not very suitable for tasks like this

[@tomcollett8309]

Are there videos of this in use?

[@terrymartin6892]

For a full description of this rig go to fireapparatusjournal,com or write to fire apparatus journal publications --po box 141295 Staten Island n y 10314-1295.they have a book w/ text and pics avail for purchase.

[@mikewagner3582]

Cool

[@155095609]

unicooo :D fantasticooo

[@kiatonews]

Music name that plays throughout the video??

[@corypatenaude2144]

I have a question about the Tender truck. I noticed that there is a tiller seat on the trailer, facing opposite from the front. What was the reason for that?

[@ffjsb]

I believe it was a tiller system similar to a ladder truck. But don't quote me on that, I just seem to remember reading it years ago.

[@tjinytjiny6615]

This was only to steer around really tight corners. The tiller man only went back there at a tight corner and didn't ride there all the time.

[@corypatenaude2144]

Thank you.

[@alecwest6261]

And I thought ours was the worldest..

[@ahnbra]

So do you know what happened to the other 4 units that made up the Super Pumper System? There was another tractor trailer unit that was a hose tender. Then there were 3 rigs that looked like Engines/Pumpers but did not have pumps. they were known as satellites 1, 2, & 3. I have the 5 piece model set from Code 3 collectables. That comes with an info booklet. that is where a lot of my knowledge about this 5 unit/rig system comes from. Thank you for sharing this video and adding the links to more information about this rig.

[@GTFD8215]

+ahnbra I do not know where the rest of the apparatus went. I heard a story that the pump was actually sold to a scrap yard but it was rescued by the current owner before it was melted down. I would not be surprised if they have been recycled.. Thanks for your feedback. If you find any more info I hope you will consider sharing it.

[@donpatnoude8616]

+ahnbra The Super Tender is out in California and is still in great shape and in operating condition. It makes the parade circuit there. The original Mack cab for the Super Pumper is at the museum but is in need of an engine. Great place to visit.

[@thedonmega692]

send a pic of the sattelites that's class!!

[@aussiegaigin]

+ ahnbraThnere two or three "generations" of satellites over the life of the SP system

[@MsFiregal8]

ahnbra Interesting! How was the 5 unit positioned and operated?

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

How does this compare to FDNY's current Super Pumper equipment?

[@steakandkidney3142]

If it doesn't use the Deltic, it doesn't compare.

[@pocketpenguin23]

Oh my God

[@codprawn]

They don't make them like this any more. British and American engineering at it's best. The engine used was a British Napier Deltic also used in boats and locomotives. 2400hp - these engines went on for ever.

[@akron1000gpm]

I believe it has just recently been "re-purchased" by New York!! Check out Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine.

[@relerfordable]

How often was this pumper used?

[@joedc8169]

3 alarms

[@Trojanny]

Unfortunately, only really useful when drafting from river. Thus, City sold 'cause she was too impractical :-( .

[@NeoDerGrose]

I highly doubt it's more powerful than one of those jet engine powered fire engines.

[@tjinytjiny6615]

It was basically a marine engine that was used to move boats put on wheels, so I don't think its that far behind a jet engine in power.

[@NeoDerGrose]

I highly doubt that.

[@JustMe-sb6zt]

When this was built they didnt have jet powered fire engines. Read when this was in service and figure it out for yourself. Some of the comments on these videos blow my mind.

[@NeoDerGrose]

The title sais: "World(e)s(t) most powerful fire engine EVER built" And the video is from 2015 when there were definitely jet powered fire engines around for decades.

[@horseblinderson4747]

Jet engines don't make allot of torque. This thing actually has an 18 cylinder 36 piston two stroke locomotive engine

[@theq4602]

that "marine diesel engine" is extremely unique.

[@richardryan2264]

Basically a fire boat on wheels.

[@charlesdell2864]

Why wasn't another built.?

[@tjinytjiny6615]

The advent of High Pressure Pumpers, and fire code that built more fire proof structures.It served its purpose in its time, and became a victim of progress.

[@MrRCGNL]

Outdated technology, there are fare more efficient and compact alternatives available in these days. Even FDNY now uses the submersible pump systems on a pod/hook-container base. Designed by the Dutch in the 80's en nowadays found all over the world. See hytrans.com/en/applications/fire

[@popiscoolnow]

can we get this thing to California asap please!!!

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

Most powerful concerning GPM or hp?

[@bohemoth1]

Both

[@horseblinderson4747]

Correct. This thing could shoot several hundred feet up and still make it's own hole in a concrete building

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

@@bohemoth1 I guess neither?

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

@@horseblinderson4747 well there are quite some units which are in that range

[@52Fire]

Were could i go and see this truck

[@GTFD8215]

+52Fire www.toyandfiretruckmuseum.org/ In Bay City, Michigan USA

[@GTFD8215]

+GTFD8215 The museum is open may through October. You will want to call and check the hours if you are planning to visit. I suppose there is a possibility the truck could be out at a show or getting repaired. I understand they are working on getting the tractor fixed as it was not able to go to the show that I attended.

[@todayztrendtv1676]

Can i use this for my mothers garden

[@psimobilepressurewashing1569]

It’s like a little baby Frack pump lol

[@THECAPPYTAN]

Anyone know the name of the music please?

[@jamesrath5004]

Actors on Stage Bakterielle Infektion.....Berlin Insane III I looked it up using a song recognition app called sound hound.

[@THECAPPYTAN]

Thank you.

[@jamesrath5004]

My pleasure.

[@ph11p3540]

As loved by the crews this thing must have been it's was just too massive and heavy. Too massive to fit in some tunnel under the Hudson and too high of axle pressure to travel over some bridges. Didn't help in it's later years that all replacement parts had to be custom machined as one off parts and it took too long to machine some of those parts. Probably the most bad assed fire truck after an Oshkosh P15 8x8 airbase crash tender.

[@harrisongrant8558]

Part of the problem is that it was not an American-built engine- the Napier Deltic was a British-built engine that was designed for marine applications. The only people who could have even supplied parts for the engine would be Napier themselves, the Royal Navy, or British Rail. British Rail actually had to fabricate a lot of their own parts for their fleet of Deltics, and that's part of why they retired them in 1982.

[@thedonmega692]

how many sattelites operated with it!

[@GTFD8215]

According to the article I posted in the description there was 5 trucks total.

[@thedonmega692]

+GTFD8215 thanx so much them sattelites worked hard!!!!

[@vartilaknovehestum4947]

THE DON MEGA : There were three Satellites assigned to the superpumper system. Satellite 1 was in Manhattan, Satellite 2 was in Queens and Satellite 3 was in the Bronx. A Satellite unit responded with the Satellite Officer on all Second Alarm fires. The entire system including the Superpumper Officer (9AM to 6PM M-F) responded to all Second Alarm fires in Manhattan below 59th Street. The entire Superpumper System responded to all Third Alarm Fires citywide. In 1984 it was put out of service because it was deemed to expensive to maintain. I remember all units operating at a 13 alarm fire at a lumber yard in Brooklyn, For their first multiple alarm fire. At that time the Superpumper System was on Welfare Island and officially didn't belong to FDNY. Engine Company 206 looked out their door of their quarters and Called "Transmit a fifth alarm." NYPD Highway Patrol Units were designated as Motorcycle Prescient Units in those days.

[@charliehitchcock7491]

It must have been a bust, only one built, didnt last long and now in a museum! narrow streets must have been a factor in its demise.

[@statix1221]

What about ferreas supper pumper

[@bluckfox]

Mack cf

[@RichardFallstich]

WORLDEST?????? Did you mean WORLD'S???

[@motorhead6763]

That Deltec engine is bizarre design..opposed pistons three crankshafts...They should retire for NYCFD.שלום

[@chevy57pkup39]

It didn't last 20 years?

[@KKEM641]

The Ferrara Inundator Super Pumper now has a 10,000+ GPM from a pressurized source, and 5500 GPM from draft. While this rig was impressive, the "new kid" is just as much, and is a regular rig, not tow like a semi.

[@trob0914]

Ferrara has the "Inundator" however Pierce MFG. has a 10k gpm Darley pump, it's (unknown manufacture), to me however I heard of a pump running mid + 10k gpm range! I'm old enough but never got to witness this "SUPER-PUMPER" in action!!🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@artmccomeskey738]

Never fought a single fire or pump a single drop of water

[@philipperiopel1911]

Big Mack attack!

[@S.D.L46XX]

Super soaker !

[@harryhighpants5789]

Did it turn out to many rubbish bin fires?? ;-)

[@danzmitrovich6250]

Hot wheels lead the way mega rig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!