the cemetery of fire trucks at Saint Barbe

Found on https://www.facebook.com/DarkTazPhotography?fref=photo
and https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.638883809504116.1073741889.193626194029882&type=1

In 1990, several departments wanted to part with their old fire engines, without selling to the public. The goal was that these vehicles become a museum. A warehouse was secured and each department of the 4 corners of France brought their old truckes to be stored, repaired and sent to different museums.

In 2002, the studio temporarily closed for lack of funding. An association restarted it a year later. Only 18 months after, it closed the doors again. Some vehicles too damaged went to the landfill, and those in better condition went to another storage site in the event that a museum in Belgium might open its doors in 2009.

Of course there is a lack of aid and subsidies and the museum never opened despite the contribution of a private collector. Fire trucks are very expensive to restore. But hope is reborn, and in 2013, a museum that may theoretically open in 2014 near the Swiss border has spoken up and might give them a good home.