This is the latest installment from Bill Friedrich exploring the fascinating history of Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-2, a unique piece of firefighting equipment that played an important role in the city's emergency response efforts.
Turret Wagon 6-7-2 was officially organized on September 19, 1966, at the Chicago Fire Rescue Headquarters located at 1244 N. Wells.
On that same date, the unit was initially equipped with a 1962 Willys Jeep FC150 4×4 (G-196). The Chicago Fire Department Shops later fabricated and installed a custom body featuring twin deluge monitors capable of delivering up to 4,000 gallons per minute (GPM).
6-7-2 (G-196) – 1962 Willys Jeep FC150 4X4, built by the CFD Shops in 1966. Photo by Bob Schalund.
Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-2 (G-196) was built on a 1962 Willys Jeep. Photo by Bob Schalund.
In October 1967, the unit was upgraded to a 1953 IHC M61 5-ton truck (G-248). The CFD Shops once again modified the chassis and installed a new body with twin deluge monitors capable of flowing up to 10,000 GPM.
During the mid-1970s, G-248 was found to be structurally unsound. The body and both monitors were then remounted onto a new chassis, G-157.
Chicago 6-7-2 (G-248) was built on a 1953 IHC M61 5-ton chassis, modified by the CFD Shops in 1967. Photo by Ron Heal.
By 1977, the unit had been reconfigured onto a 1951 GMC M135 2 ½-ton 6×6 chassis (G-157), nicknamed “Big Mo.†The Civil Defense had previously modified the vehicle, and the CFD Shops completed the installation of the twin deluge monitors, which could pump up to 10,000 GPM.
This version of 6-7-2 was always painted in the distinctive Civil Defense blue and white color scheme.
The unit was eventually disbanded on February 13, 1975.
Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-2 (G-157) was built on a 1951 GMC M135 chassis and was known as “Big Mo.†Photo by Ron Heal.
6-7-2 (G-157) “Big Mo†at the CFD boneyard after being retired from service. Photo by Bill Friedrich.
Throughout its operational life, Turret Wagon 6-7-2 served as a powerful tool for large-scale fire suppression, particularly in industrial or high-risk areas. Its evolution from a small Jeep to a heavy-duty 5-ton truck highlights the changing needs of the Chicago Fire Department over time. Although it was eventually disbanded, its legacy lives on through historical records, photographs, and the stories shared by those who worked with it.
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