Just when you thought it was safe...........

Just when you thought it was safe to look at Truckfax again, here I am to shock you with more of those European RVs. Several of them left port yesterday, but there are a few still around apparently.
On September 29 I spotted this very luxurious looking Mercedes in the rain. I suspect it was among those that sailed yesterday.

By contrast I spotted this hardy looking VW 4WD yesterday, so I hope he did not miss the boat:

I been workin' on the railroad

There's a lot of rail work going on the Halifax area at the moment, and I spotted this new looking Sperry Rail truck checking out some new sidings:

The last Sperry Rail truck I saw looked like a bread van, but this one looks a bot more comfortable.

CN's tie replacement crew runs a long string of equipment, to dig our, replace, nail and tamp new ties. Each unit is self-propelled, and obviously they need fuel from time to time. This is the fist hi-rail fuel truck I have ever seen. As with most CN equipment is carries Manitoba license plates:

On my way through Moncton in September I spotted this Peterbilit LCF with CN logos on it:

 Built by R.P.M. Tech Inc. it is used for blowing debris, snow out of rail switches and tracks, but strangely it is not fitted with hi-rail gear. R.P.M.Tech is an interesting company-they also build the TOR trucks, see more at:
http://www.grouperpmtech.com/en/home.aspx

When, if ever, will it end

There must be an end to the parade of European RVs through Halifax, but it hasn't passed me yet.
Remarkably another Swiss RV showed up this week, and this time it's an MAN.
Usually known for their big trucks, this is a small MAN, TGL model, with a very luxurious looking RV body by Phoenix.

MAN is now 75% owned by VW and has been merged into their Scania truck line. They buils trucks, buses and engines (including marine and industrial).

Still no end in site - even more Euro RVs

Two more European RVs today, both Swiss plated, and both Fiats, but quite different.

First up is a larger Frankia motorhome on a Fiat chassis. Frankia apparently builds the entire body, and badges it, but uses the Fiat (Ducato?) chassis, engine and drive train:

Second is also a Fiat, but this time a cab chassis, nicely augmented by a small Rapido RV body:

Rumours persist that Chrylser Canada will begin to import the Ducato van into Canada for Dodge starting in 2013. After losing the Sprinter when Daimler backed out of Chrsyler, Dodge has no commercial van, and the Ducato is the most popular in Europe.

No end in sight - Euro RVs keep rolling in

The European RVs keep rolling oin to Halifax, now at the end of summer, on their way back home. Today's entry is based in the Renault Master chassis/cab, with a very nifty Knaus SunTi RV body, and Swiss plates.

Although it is a relatively small vehicle, it appears to have lots of room and good amentities. The SunTi model has apparently been superceded by the SkiTi.

CFB Halifax Fire Apparatus

Canadian Forces Base Halifax is a large military operation in the Halifax area. It consists of three separate, large properties and several smaller installations. In at least three of these locations they have their own fire departments consisting of engines, rescues, an aerial and crash trucks.
They also have some form of mutual aid in which apparatus from one location travels through city streets to reach other locations.
I don't have photos of all their apparatus by any means, but during the past summer I have been able to see several pieces, and two retired engines.

1. The naval base, HMC Dockyard, has a full scale fire service, seen here on a practice session in July. The E-One aerial is blocked by the others, so no photo was possible.

2. This Sterling-Fort Garry rescue is based in the Dockyard. It entered service in 2012.

3. Spartan-Fort Garry engine also serves the Dockyard. I believe it was new in 2011.

4. On the other side of the harbour CFB Shearwater is an air base, with a large housing area. Another new Sterling-Fort Garry rescue is based there, along with other apparatus.

5. Also at Shearwater, a number of surplus military vehicles are in storage awaiting disposal. This Spartan-Thibault was once based at HMC Dockyard.

6. Another view of the same engine.

6. A second Spartan-Thibault is also in storage awaiting sale.

Other installations in Halifax are the Bedford Magazine, an ammuniton storage depot, which has its own fire apparatus and Windsor Park, where all military vehicles are maintained. The latter is served from HMC Dockyard.

More Mercs from across the pond (updated)

It in the tourist season, but the campers keep rolling in from Europe.
Recent arrivals include these two Mercs:

1. This Sprinter chassis camper looks more North American in its style, and certainly isn't as rugged looking as many of the expedition type campers we see. However there is lots of checker plate and other European features on the "bimobil" body.

It says "Alemania" on the hood, but I don't think it refers to someone who is mad about beer.

2. I've never seen a Mercedes Vario in North America before, so this was a surprise. Normally used as delivery vans, this one has been very capably transformed. It took some digging to discover the meaning of the name "Fuchur" on the sign. This is the German name for the flying dog Falkor, from the Neverending Story. Despite that there is a a seahorse superimposed on the world map.

3. The rear view reveals Swiss plates and symbols, including I believe, the "Arosa" plate, which is a region in Switzerland, It may also be the van converter's name, but I can find no reference to such a company. Update:This one is on the return leg to Europe, and will be leaving by sea next week.

Added September 19, not a Merc, but it is from Germany:

4. Well travelled Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 spotted on a city street.

5. This one has a sandwich/canopy type bike carrier under the rear overhang, and a strange bit of artificial greenery on its back window.