@zaffdoc Hmm. Buffalo purchased 13 ALF Pioneer IIs in 1974. Nine Engines (two were Telesqurts) and Four Ladders. Then in 1977 the BFD purchased two Pioneer IIIs (One and one), so I had assumed that the Pioneer III had not rolled out until 1977. Incidentally, Buffalo had originally ordered an additional Pioneer III Telesqurt Engine in 1978 as Engine 13, but was sent back and a Century Cab replaced the Pioneer.
My favorite style of ALF. I think it is a model from the late 70's or early 80"s, a Pioneer II. I drove a 1967 Pioneer I for several years, I loved that truck. An easy way to tell the difference is the headlights. The Pioneer II's had quad headlights while the Pioneer I had dual headlights.
I love the old ALF Pioneers, I started on them, we had two in my department. Still my all time favorite, and nothing like the sound of a Detroit Diesel and a Federal Q siren.
Ah, back in the day when Shreveport's fire trucks actually sounded like fire trucks and not like ambulances like they do today (with Q's only at intersections).
That truck doesn't seem too underpowered to me. Our old Seagrave K-cab weighed 13 tons fully loaded including a full 500 gallon tank. It had a Fuller 5-speed manual with overdrive and a 6:1 rear. According to the scan sheets the local Detroit Diesel shop provided before we sent the truck out, the truck could go from 0-35 in 14 seconds with the 6V-53T. When we got the truck back and tested it, it came very close if not right on the money for acceleration. Compare this with the ALF's stats.
It may have been very common in tanks but this engine in the 1970's was virtually everywhere on the roads, too. LOTS of GMC, Diamond Reo, International, White, a few Fords, even one or two Mack MB tilt-cabs all had 6V-53's in them. In addition very many Seagrave, American LaFrance, Hahn, Pemfab, and Maxim custom fire apparatus had 6V-53's as well. I miss their distinctive electric motor-like scream. You could look at an old Seagrave or ALF and just expect to hear a 6V-53 start screaming.
American La France used to be horrible until they started using the stainless steel construction of their product(s). But, there's nothing like the sound of a classic ALF Engine taking off. 2nd only to Seagrave
That's why they used to be called "American LaJunk" back then. We used to have an old saying that went, "On a Clear Cold Night You Can Hear An American LaFrance Fall Apart, Piece by Piece."
I admit I never cared much for American LaFrances but the sound of that 6V-53 brings back memories of the Seagrave tillers in Philadelphia and the one we dropped in our old Seagrave pump, only that had a turbocharger and a manual transmission. Back then the 6V-53 was THE signature engine for fire apparatus.
@Thunderbolt505 >>---> No it did not. It sounded just like a 1974 American LaFrance Pumper Pioneer III.
zaffdoc 1 year ago
@zaffdoc Actually, the Pioneer III did not come out until 1977.
BassmanII 6 months ago
@BassmanII >>>---> The third generation American LaFrance - The Pioneer IIIs had their coming out in 1975, but there were some out as early as 1973.
zaffdoc 6 months ago
@zaffdoc Hmm. Buffalo purchased 13 ALF Pioneer IIs in 1974. Nine Engines (two were Telesqurts) and Four Ladders. Then in 1977 the BFD purchased two Pioneer IIIs (One and one), so I had assumed that the Pioneer III had not rolled out until 1977. Incidentally, Buffalo had originally ordered an additional Pioneer III Telesqurt Engine in 1978 as Engine 13, but was sent back and a Century Cab replaced the Pioneer.
BassmanII 6 months ago
Nice
adamevans67 1 year ago
My favorite style of ALF. I think it is a model from the late 70's or early 80"s, a Pioneer II. I drove a 1967 Pioneer I for several years, I loved that truck. An easy way to tell the difference is the headlights. The Pioneer II's had quad headlights while the Pioneer I had dual headlights.
mondo78 1 year ago
@mondo78 The Pioneer III had a wider cab and black trim around the upper section of the front.
BassmanII 6 months ago
I love the old ALF Pioneers, I started on them, we had two in my department. Still my all time favorite, and nothing like the sound of a Detroit Diesel and a Federal Q siren.
firemanquick 1 year ago 3
@firemanquick I LIKE TRIPLE THAT!!!!!!
CORYSPHOTOS 1 year ago
Comment removed
edgelyfire10 2 years ago
Ah, back in the day when Shreveport's fire trucks actually sounded like fire trucks and not like ambulances like they do today (with Q's only at intersections).
SeagraveRules 2 years ago 5
fire trucks sound like ambulances
schemer1991 2 years ago
no tailboard riders?
rrobertsnot5150 2 years ago
fire fighters standing the running boards every fire department intil the late 1980s
schemer1991 2 years ago
Love the looks of a Pioneer ALF.
mondo78 2 years ago
goose bumps and hard nipples. I had the "detroit diesel international 6v53" The green dump truck I loved it.
polishdickhead 2 years ago 2
YESSS ...the pioneer. My friend owns a pioneer II tiller out of pittsburgh, gorgeous rig...
barkracing02 3 years ago 3
I saw that truck at the Philly Fire Muster last year. Nice rig and a rare one, too!
RDG484 3 years ago
What is the music playing at the beginning and end?
SheriffTankStoner 3 years ago
That truck doesn't seem too underpowered to me. Our old Seagrave K-cab weighed 13 tons fully loaded including a full 500 gallon tank. It had a Fuller 5-speed manual with overdrive and a 6:1 rear. According to the scan sheets the local Detroit Diesel shop provided before we sent the truck out, the truck could go from 0-35 in 14 seconds with the 6V-53T. When we got the truck back and tested it, it came very close if not right on the money for acceleration. Compare this with the ALF's stats.
RDG484 3 years ago 3
It may have been very common in tanks but this engine in the 1970's was virtually everywhere on the roads, too. LOTS of GMC, Diamond Reo, International, White, a few Fords, even one or two Mack MB tilt-cabs all had 6V-53's in them. In addition very many Seagrave, American LaFrance, Hahn, Pemfab, and Maxim custom fire apparatus had 6V-53's as well. I miss their distinctive electric motor-like scream. You could look at an old Seagrave or ALF and just expect to hear a 6V-53 start screaming.
RDG484 3 years ago 2
somersworth nh had that same truck only red the real fire truck color
chevman4 4 years ago
One thing's for sure, this truck sure SOUNDS great!!!!
fanoseagrave 4 years ago 8
American La France used to be horrible until they started using the stainless steel construction of their product(s). But, there's nothing like the sound of a classic ALF Engine taking off. 2nd only to Seagrave
NC403Firefighter 4 years ago
That's why they used to be called "American LaJunk" back then. We used to have an old saying that went, "On a Clear Cold Night You Can Hear An American LaFrance Fall Apart, Piece by Piece."
fanoseagrave 4 years ago 2
I admit I never cared much for American LaFrances but the sound of that 6V-53 brings back memories of the Seagrave tillers in Philadelphia and the one we dropped in our old Seagrave pump, only that had a turbocharger and a manual transmission. Back then the 6V-53 was THE signature engine for fire apparatus.
fanoseagrave 4 years ago