Chicago Ward LaFrance/Ranger/EONE (part 2)

Back in 1990, X-Engine 8 (D-374) and its companion rig, X-Engine 106 (D-375), were part of the second batch of fire trucks sent off for refurbishment. They were the final two to return in June of that year. Both D-374 and D-375 were leased to the production company that made the movie Backdraft. D-374 was marked as Engine 17 from July 1990 to February 1991 and as Engine 51 from October 1990 to February 1991 (the truck whose hose bed appeared inside Engine 8's house). During filming, most of the interior shots and many of the exterior scenes featuring Engine 17 were done using X-Engine 8. X-Engine 106 was also labeled as Engine 17 during some scenes. One way to differentiate them is that Engine 8’s interior had diamond plate and was painted glossy black, whereas Engine 106 had a flat black interior without any diamond plate. Additionally, X-Engine 106’s siren speaker was mounted higher up in front of the windshield glass.

The cab interior.

Once filming wrapped, D-374 was assigned to Engine 69 at 4017 N. Tripp Ave. Engine 69 played a key role during the Great Flood of 1992, pumping out the basement of City Hall. It was part of Chicago’s short-lived super-pumper initiative, carrying four hard suction lines and 1000 feet of 5-inch LDH. Its 140-gallon foam tank was designed with expressway responses in mind. Engine 69 was decommissioned on June 13, 1995. To keep Engine 34 operational after their transmission/PTO box blew out, Engine 69’s transmission was removed. On August 28, 1996, Engine 69 was sold at auction and bought by Erickson Trucks-n-Parts. First shipped to their yard in Sturtevant, WI, it eventually ended up in their Jackson, MN scrapyard in 1997. The current owner found it there in 1999 and acquired it in 2003, beginning its restoration journey.

Backdraft Engine 17 on the day it was purchased.

X-Engine 106 (D-375), following the film, was assigned to Engine 113. Like Engine 69, it too was sold at auction to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts and ended up in the Jackson, MN scrapyard. Engine 113 is now in the possession of a friend of Engine 69’s current owner, but it’s in terrible condition and may become a parts source for the Engine 17 project. Engine 14 (X-E113) also wound up in Jackson, MN. It was completely stripped of usable parts, had its cab cut off, and was ultimately shredded.

December 20, 2003.

Engine 34 (X-Engine 49), which didn’t feature in Backdraft, was converted into an Engine 17 replica before being sold in 1999 or 2000 to the East Norwegian Twp. PA FD. Until recently, it was mistakenly advertised as authentic. This rig was spotted online a few years ago stripped of its markings and its current location remains unknown.

Rear jump seat behind the officer.