A historical look … from NYC The Super Pumper System

A friend thought this story might interest others, so please bear with the slightly tangential topic: Back in the early '60s, the New York City Fire Department was grappling with unprecedented challenges. As skyscrapers grew taller and urban spaces became increasingly dense, firefighting methods struggled to keep pace with these changes. There were moments when the very systems meant to provide water for firefighting failed, either by running dry or simply not delivering enough pressure. Equipment that once seemed adequate now appeared inadequate in the face of large-scale fires that caused extensive destruction—homes, businesses, lives lost, and millions of dollars in damages. A catastrophic event occurred in April 1963 on Staten Island, where a massive fire pushed the city's firefighting capabilities to their absolute limits, causing millions in property damage. This day became known as "Black Saturday" among those who lived through it. Due to scarce water resources, the fire spread far beyond what it should have, exacerbated by a severe drought that year. Many traditional water sources had dried up completely. This crisis spurred a series of developments that eventually led to the creation of the most powerful land-based fire truck ever built—the Mack Super Pumper System. Comprising five specialized vehicles working together as one cohesive unit, it was designed to handle the city's worst infernos. From 1965 until the early '80s, the Mack Super Pumper System responded to over 2,200 emergency calls, with approximately 900 firefighters operating its components at various points. These five trucks included a central pumping unit—a massive, locomotive-powered beast capable of drawing water from eight hydrants simultaneously—and a tender truck loaded with hoses, manifolds, and other essential tools. Additionally, there were three smaller trucks resembling standard fire engines but lacking their own pumps. The initial cost for New York City was $875,000, and we'd argue it was among the best investments ever made for public safety. Nothing quite like it has existed since. The heart of the system was undoubtedly the pumping unit. It could draw water from eight hydrants concurrently, lower suction lines into bodies of water, and deliver water to countless outlets simultaneously. Under low-pressure conditions, it could pump over 10,000 gallons per minute; at maximum pressure (350 psi), it reached an impressive 8,800 gallons per minute. This output was sufficient to supply both the other satellite trucks and a massive water cannon on the tender truck capable of projecting water up to 600 feet—nearly half a mile—in any direction. What made this possible? Innovations in diesel engine technology during World War II played a key role. The powerhouse behind the Super Pumper was a Napier-Deltic diesel engine, originally developed by the British during WWII as a lightweight, high-speed propulsion solution for naval vessels. Generating 2,400 horsepower and immense torque, the engine was compact enough to be mounted on a trailer pulled by a tractor. Used initially to power locomotives and large land vehicles, its design featured three crankshafts and an opposed-piston configuration where pistons moved toward each other. With turbochargers and a two-stroke setup, it stood as one of the most efficient piston engines of its era. However, it consumed prodigious amounts of fuel—about 137 gallons per hour—and operated at ear-splitting volumes, necessitating protective ear gear for nearby firefighters. Mack won the contract to construct the vehicle in 1964, and by year's end, the unit was almost ready for deployment across NYC. The tractor towing the pumping unit was a F715FSTP cab-over model equipped with a 255-horsepower Mack END864 engine. While its top speed was only 42 mph, speed wasn't the primary concern given its urban mission; maneuverability and agility at lower speeds mattered more. Custom-built Power Take-Offs (PTOs) powered the priming pump for the water pump and ran an air compressor requiring 450 psi to start the pump engine. Inside the specially designed trailer rested the engine along with all necessary components to maintain it, such as cooling systems and fuel tanks. At the back of the trailer stood the six-stage pump manufactured by DeLaval, where the real magic happened. When the Deltic engine drove this behemoth, fires up to the 60th floor of a building stood little chance. The entire rig weighed 68,000 pounds, yet despite extensive research, there are no documented instances of it malfunctioning or failing under pressure. We've encountered numerous tales of remarkable machines that turned out unreliable or prone to breakdowns, but not this one. Here are some striking facts about the truck and its performance: - At 8,800 gallons per minute, it discharged nearly 70,000 pounds of water onto fires every minute. - During a Bronx fire, firefighters stretched 7,000 feet of hose to reach a viable water source, and the truck pumped as though it were sipping from an ocean. - In 1967, the Super Pumper tackled a postal annex blaze in NYC, supplying water independently to the massive gun on the tender truck, its three satellite units, two tower ladder trucks, and a portable manifold with multiple handheld lines. Hoses on the truck were pressure-tested to withstand 1,000 psi but usually operated between 350 and 800 psi depending on the scenario. This was several times stronger than typical modern fire truck setups. Derived from Navy-developed high-pressure hoses from WWII, they were heavier than contemporary options but cutting-edge for their time. Today, the truck remains intact, housed in a Michigan museum, serving as a testament to human ingenuity and creativity when faced with life-threatening situations involving significant property loss. Thanks, Dan! The article on bangshift.com includes several photos.

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