The Mack Super Pumper was a locomotive engined fire fighter (2018)

Napier Deltic and Exotic Engine Designs

• Many comments focus on the Napier Deltic engine used in the Super Pumper: opposed‑piston, triangular layout, three crankshafts (two in one direction, one opposite), requiring forced induction and producing a distinctive whine.
• People connect it to WW2 torpedo boats, British “Deltic” locomotives, and broader Napier experimentation (Sabre, Nomad, turbo‑compound concepts).
• There’s enthusiasm for complex mechanical engines vs today’s “magnets and coils,” even among commenters who still support electrification and renewables.
• Other unusual engine layouts (radial, Wankel, axial, etc.) are mentioned as part of a now largely historical design arms race.

Firefighting Megamachines and What Replaced Them

• The Mack Super Pumper is compared to modern systems: FDNY has a new “Super Pumper” with high output but in a more conventional package.
• Some argue its role can now be performed by multiple standard pumpers (e.g., four engines at ~2,200 gpm each), offering flexibility and redundancy.
• Chicago’s “turret wagons” and industrial high‑flow units (e.g., “Big John”) are cited as conceptual cousins.
• At the extreme end, commenters note jet‑engine based oil‑well fire rigs (e.g., “Big Wind”) and even historical nuclear options.
• Better building fire suppression, flame‑retardant materials, and modern codes are cited as reasons fewer cities need such singular mega‑apparatus.

Hydraulics, Pumps, and Water Supply Constraints

• Several comments unpack why higher pressure often means lower flow: power is roughly pressure × flow; for fixed power, increasing pressure reduces volumetric flow.
• Discussion on hydrant supply vs static sources: residual pressure must be kept above a threshold (e.g., ~20 psi) to avoid damaging mains, hose, and pumps.
• The “7,000 ft of hose” anecdote is analyzed: likely spread across multiple hydrants and lines; long hose runs incur major friction loss, requiring relay pumps or assist valves.
• Space‑shuttle and Saturn V turbopumps are invoked to illustrate how extreme pump power can become.
• Pump selection for hot, corrosive, or unusual fluids is said to be highly specialized, with buyers relying on datasheets (temperature/viscosity ranges) and niche manufacturers.

Torque, Power, and Design Priorities

• Debate over torque vs horsepower: commenters note they’re related via RPM, but practical design cares about where in the rev range torque is available and what gearboxes can survive.
• Applications like marine, rail, and pumping prefer high torque at lower RPM for durability and efficiency, rather than peaky high‑RPM power.
• Electric vehicles (e.g., high‑power sedans) are contrasted with the Super Pumper: similar headline horsepower but limited duration at peak due to battery voltage sag.

Fireground Operations and System Thinking

• Multiple firefighters describe rural vs urban tactics: engines arriving with limited tank water, dropping large supply lines, tenders shuttling from ponds/tanks, and the need to park “close but not too close” to avoid losing apparatus to heat.
• In many modern incidents, pump capacity exceeds municipal water availability, making the network the bottleneck.
• One commenter uses the “first engine / second engine” model as an analogy for incident response in tech: later arrivals should stabilize infrastructure, coordinate, and communicate rather than immediately “grab a hose.” A detailed bullet list describes the value of an incident commander role.

Technology Transitions and Nostalgia

• Several comments express nostalgia for visibly complex machines (steam engines, piston aircraft, old fire apparatus) compared to today’s cleaner, more efficient but less “romantic” turbines and electronics.
• This is linked to the broader theme that as systems become more optimized and software‑driven, they often become less tactile and visually impressive, even while performing better.

Procurement, Regulation, and Industry Structure

• A side thread notes that modern fire apparatus procurement is slower and more complex than in the 1960s, citing today’s layers of certification, regulation, and market consolidation.
• Barriers to entry, safety requirements, and risk‑averse large buyers are mentioned as reasons a few manufacturers dominate, inviting discussion of private‑equity‑driven consolidation and potential antitrust concerns.

Miscellaneous Technical and Safety Notes

• Lithium‑ion battery fires are discussed; one firefighter characterizes them as manageable but slow to extinguish fully, with the main tactic being prolonged cooling.
• There are brief notes on seawater‑rated pumps (materials for corrosion resistance), the risks of agricultural fires (e.g., wheat harvest machinery), and design lineage from marine diesels to locomotive engines.