25th AnnualGreat Fire Engine Rally

     The 25th Annual Great Fire Engine Rally was held down town as usual, but on the River Front, rather than Market Street.  It was a pleasant change, however, things were a little more cramped, but the Rally was a great event as usual.  The event is organized so all people with a love of fire engines and the firemen who operate them can have a chance to gather and show pride in their rigs as well as pride for their city and our country. 

     The Rally stared out with a parade of all the engines participating in the event, over 150 trucks.  Each of the trucks passed in front of the main seating area, the steps of the Arch, and then proceeded past the Eads Bridge, turned around and then drove back in front of the arch, with all of the trucks parking along the way.  This provided an opportunity for all the spectators and other fire enthusiasts to view all of the unique trucks.  There was a range of apparatus from a turn of the century hand pump, all the way up to the newest and most technologically advanced trucks.

     This year Greg Rhomberg participated in the event with his 1948 American La France Ladder Truck.  Many people enjoyed viewing this large ladder truck, which are rarely seen in such good condition, being that they are so large and take up so much space.

  For more information from the September 6, 2008 event, click on any of the thumbnails below which give a description of each image.