Well we retired our second (backup) appliance last night. Old even for a fire truck at around 30 years, but amazingly on only 60,000 km. As a fire station in a semi urban, semi rural area she has operated on station for the last 8 years as rural fire fighting appliance. I heard someone recently describe her as a "man's truck", a stubborn beast that had to be "driven". Despite no power steering, no engine braking, and the belching of black smoke, she was really great fun to drive. I think it's funny that at times like these I realise how sentimental I am. On one hand she's just a hunk of old metal and tires, but on another she carries years of stories and has served her community well. Seems sad that today she will have all her communication equipment removed and possibly soon she'll be cut up for scrap. There is hope for her though, if all goes well she will get picked up by a rural fire fighting force down south so she could have years of life left in her yet.