This is the pumpathon Info page

Appearing on

Sunday 16th of September 2001 at Spiers Wharf, Glasgow, around 1130 hrs.

This is a View of Spiers Wharf, looking to the North

	Green Goddess	Landrover	Its round the back	pump
Promotion		Water carrier	Dodge pump	View South
pump	bigcheeses	Fwp	Fwp needs a polish

Water carrier	Alex Mosson and Jeff Ord	Petrol goes some where	1915 dennis	Busy doing nothing
Landrover	Landrover		View South West	View North West

Photographs courtesy of Strathclyde Fire Brigade Audio Visual Department

reduction of photograph quality by webmaster, all photographs reduced by 60% minimum. Sorry John....

The Bells Millennium Pumpathon

On Sunday 3^rd September the eighth Pumpathon took place  at Spiers Wharf Glasgow.  For the last seven years, Ratho had been the venue for the Pumpathon, but it became so successful that a bigger site had to be found.  The decision was taken to move the event to Glasgow.

Bells were the main sponsor, with assistance also coming from British Waterways.  An organising committee comprising of representatives from Bells, British Waterways, Strathclyde Fire Brigade Preservation Group, Strathclyde Fire Brigade, Strathclyde Police and the Forth and Clyde Canal Society was set up and met monthly.

The weekend of the Pumpathon started with a social gathering on the Saturday night at the Iron Horse public house.  A deal had been engineered between Bells and the Iron Horse whereby our revellers were given a special discount on various alcoholic beverages. The night was a great success,  but it did result in a few soreheids the next morning.

Pumpathon day got off to a great start with blue skies over the dear green place (Glasgow).

My main concern was that absolute bedlam would ensue at |Cowcaddens Fire Station with 19 preserved appliances all due to arrive at the same time. However, all our preplanning paid off  and the marshalling of the appliances went like clockwork. We were now ready for the off. The convoy was headed by the superb 1915 Dennis ‘N’ Type which had been brought down from Aberdeen the previous day.

This appliance was a former Glasgow Fire Brigade vehicle and was making its first visit back to the City in over 60 years. 

Strathclyde Police Motorcycle Unit provided the cavalcade with an escort to ensure safe passage through the streets of Glasgow. We were now underway with looks of amazement coming from the bewildered spectators. At George Square the cavalcade was joined by another 6 operational appliances from Strathclyde Fire Brigade. Firemaster Jeff Ord, Assistant Firemaster Rab Coke and Lord Provost Alex Mosson then waved the procession off from the City Chambers.  The sight of so many appliances making their way along the specially chosen route was nothing less than spectacular. The Police Motorcycle outriders did a magnificent job by ensuring their charges had a trouble free journey to Spiers Wharf.

With all  appliances in position, the pumping displays began, and that is what makes the Pumpathon unique.  Firemaster Ord judged the event and the prizes were presented by Firemaster John Early of Central Scotland Fire Brigade , the overall winner being the 1915 Dennis from Grampian Fire Brigade.

The Bells Millennium Pumpathon was an overwhelming success and thoroughly enjoyed by all those participating. The good news is that Bells have agreed to sponsor the event again next year.

Bells Millennium pumpathon

The pumpathon is the largest gathering of preserved fire appliances in Scotland and is unique in that unlike other events and rallies, all the displays attending will be using their own pumps to provide spectacular water displays.

The pumpathon will take place on Sunday 3rd of September 2000 at Spiers Wharf, Glasgow, around 1130 hrs.

Spiers Wharf is situated at the terminus of the Glasgow branch of the Forth and Clyde canal less than 1/4 of a mile from Junction J 16 of the M8 Motorway. Its elevated position provides excellent views over the city and the abundance of deep water makes this an ideal site for the pumpathon.

In addition to the pumpathon event we intend to have a cavalcade of fire appliances leaving from George Square at 1100Hr under police escort,  proceeding to the pumpathon site at Speirs Wharf off the A879( Craighall Road), at north side of the M8 near Junction 16

                                              North

East

South

                   Why not come along to Glasgow and make a weekend of it ! There are many reasonably priced accommodation establishments in Glasgow and overnight parking for your appliance will be available in Cowcaddens Fire Station, at Milton Street/Port Dundas Road, south of Junction 16  M8. 

Directions to Cowcaddens Fire Station from East (M8)

                  Those approaching from the East,  on the M8, exit at Junction 16  down the ramp to the traffic lights, straight on to the next set of lights at Dobbies loan at port Dundas road, turn left into Port Dundas road, take the first right at next set of lights into Milton street and after 100 Meter turn right into cowcaddens fire station, park at  wall 200meters from entry gate.

 Directions to Cowcaddens Fire Station from West (M8)

Those approaching from the West, on the M8, exit at first Junction after the Kingston bridge, J 17 to A82 Dumbarton, St George's Road, turn right to second set of lights right on to A804 (running parallel to motorway, now on right hand side) to set of lights, straight on to Dobbies loan (M8 now on left hand side), to the  next set of lights, right into Port Dundas Road, to lights at Milton street, turn right, 100 m turn right into fire station.

We also hope to have a social gathering in some local hostelry close to the fire station (   Iron Horse, West Nile Street, buffet for all the anoraks and that he will sell us whisky, gin and vodi all for 70p ) 

             Bells Whisky under the auspices of United Distillers and Vintners, along with British Waterways will be sponsoring the pumpathon and have agreed to provide a fuel allowance of £25.00 per vehicle attending., Strathclyde Fire Brigade preservation Group, Strathclyde Fire Brigade, Strathclyde Police and the Forth and Clyde Canal Society, will be assisting with the organizing and providing displays and water borne events.

                For the last 7 years the Pumpathon has been held at the Edinburgh Canal Center, Ratho, and has always been hugely successful and well attended. During those seven years, Ronnie Rusack and his staff have worked tirelessly to promote the Pumpathon and turn it into the premier event in Scotland. We now feel that the event has outgrown the site and so we have decided to move it to Spier's Wharf, Glasgow. Glad to say that Ronnie is very much involved in the organizing of this year's event and we hope that with his expertise, we can build on the success of previous Pumpathons and make this year's bash a day to remember.

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