On Sunday May 3, 2015, the Thorndale Fire Company delivered its treasured 1982 Sutphen Custom Pumper to its new home in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania at the Schuylkill County Historical Fire Society. After 21 years of active service and 12 years of reserve service to the residents of Caln Township, the engine is the first Sutphen being placed into the museum collection.

This engine was ordered in 1981 by Chief Fred Eckenbach at a cost of $122,000.00 and featured a 1,500 GPM top-mount pump, 750 gallon water tank, Detroit Diesel 8V-71 motor, and 5-speed manual transmission. It represented a lot of first’s for the company which included the canopy cab, which provided seats for the Firefighters inside an open cab as opposed to all needing to ride exposed to the weather conditions on the tailboard, a top-mount pump for increased safety and visibility, a 1,500 GPM pump, large diameter supply hose, permanent mounted deluge gun, and the company’s new paint scheme of white over lime green. Chief Eckenbach and Captain Scott Smith spent countless hours planning to bring the Thorndale Fire Company into the cutting edge at the time with this piece of apparatus. After all their hard work, the engine was housed on July 30, 1983.

In 1996 it was decided to refurbish the engine as it moved from its role as first out engine to second out engine after the company received a new engine in 1995 from 4-Guys Fire Trucks in Meyersdale, PA. The classic Sutphen was sent to J.C. Moore in Fredonia, Pennsylvania for a $33,000.00 rehab in March of 1996 which included repairing rust on the cab, new diamond plate, and total repaint. It returned back from the rehab on August 21, 1996. A few months later a crack in the water tank developed, so a custom built poly tank was ordered and installed in January 1997.

As the engine approached 21 years of active service the company ordered a new 2002 Spartan/New Lexington Custom Rescue Pumper, which replaced both the 1982 Sutphen Custom Pumper and 1989 Mack MR/Swab Heavy Rescue. The Sutphen went into reserve status and was called upon many times to fill in for the either the 1995 HME/4-Guys Custom Pumper or 2003 Spartan/New Lexington Custom Rescue Pumper. The engine not only filled in for the active service apparatus, but was also used as a training engine for evolutions so that in service apparatus could remain ready to respond.

During it’s time at Thorndale, the engine also made several trips to the Pennsylvania Pump Primers Fire Apparatus Parade and Muster in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and represented one of the first Sutphen pumpers to be brought to the show. It also made a special appearance to the Schuylkill County Historical Fire Society’s Parade and Muster one year, not knowing it would inevitably end up there.

This fire engine was very near and dear to many Thorndale Firefighters, all with lots of fond memories. Some highlights of its history from our members:

- Many prizes at local parades for Best Appearing Suthpen.
- When it was delivered, Caln Township did not realize it ran on diesel, so after they filled it up a few times they quickly realized they needed a larger diesel fuel tank at the township building to supply the vehicle.
- It traveled to Holloway Terrace Fire Company in Delaware for a standby while they attended their State Fire Convention.
- Thorndale brought a force to be reckoned with to fires with this piece of apparatus, three in the front, two in the jumpseats, and four on the tailboard for a total of nine Firefighters ready to work.
- It brought a rivalry between the Alert Fire Company of Downingtown and Thorndale about who’s pumper was better, Alert’s Mack or Thorndale’s Sutphen…obviously the Sutphen was hands down!

Notable Working Incidents:
- April 28, 1985 – G.O. Carlson Stainless Steel Building Fire in Downingtown Borough
- July 3, 1985 – Hazardous Materials Incident on the Route 30 Bypass in Caln Township
- December 24, 1986 – Ingleside Bowling Alley Building Fire in Caln Township
- Unknown Date – Pennsylvania House Apartments
- Unknown Date – K-Mart Building Fire in Caln Township
- Many more…

While we will miss having this fire engine around, we all know our friends at the Schuylkill County Historical Fire Society will take good care of it.

Please visit the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society online at: www.theshfs.org