Raleigh's Tillers - A Historical
Perspective
RALEIGH -
The
Raleigh Fire Department's first tractor-drawn aerial ladder was a
1916 American LaFrance Type 17, equipped with a 75-foot,
spring-assisted, two-section, wooden aerial ladder. The ground
ladders were single-stacked beneath the ladder bed, and the
tillerman's steering assembly had to be removed before raising the
aerial. The unit was delivered painted white and repainted red in
a later decade. Truck Company 1 was housed with Hose Company 1 at
112 W. Morgan Street.
In 1939, the aerial ladder was reconditioned and a new tractor was
purchased, a 1939 American LaFrance Series 600. Now named Aerial
Truck Company 1, it was housed at Station 1 until 1942. With the
demolition of the Morgan Street station, the city's tiller was
moved to Station 2 in Memorial Auditorium. In 1953, the apparatus
was moved to a newly constructed Station 1 at 220 W. Dawson
Street.
In 1958, the
Capital City's first metal aerial ladder was delivered, a 1958
American LaFrance 700 Series. Unlike its spring-assisted
predecessor, the 100-foot, four-section aerial did not require
hand-cranking to raise, rotate, or extend the ladder. It operated
as Truck 1 until 1977, and as Truck 5 until 1980.
In 1980,
Truck 5's American LaFrance tractor was replaced with a 1979 Mack
Model MC. In 1988, the aerial ladder was refurbished and the
apparatus painted white over red. New warning devices, a rear
bench seat cover, and an enclosure for the tillerman were also
added. It operated as Truck 5 until 1987, as Truck 1 from 1987 to
1988, and as Truck 16 from 1988 to 1995. The apparatus remained a
reserve unit until 1999, when it was sold at auction. It's
presently operated by the Wendell Fire Department in Wake County.
On August 16, 2004, Raleigh received it's newest tiller, a Pierce
Arrow XT with a 100' Heavy Duty Ladder. For full details visit
here.
For more historical information on Raleigh fire apparatus, see
http://www.legeros.com/ralwake/register
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