There are lots of neat mechanical stories out there in the world. Some are more about the people that operated the machines and some are about machines that sold problems in an ingenious way for people. This is a story more about the latter than the former. The Mack Super Pumper System is a fire fighting masterpiece that was designed and engineered by a man who helped the United States win WWII, designed the fastest ocean liner of all time (still), and who was determined to help a city that needed his assistance.

The Mack Super Pumper cost the city of New York less than $1-million in the 1960s. From the time it was unveiled to the time it was required, the Super Pumper System responded to some 2,000 calls, protecting billions of dollars in property and lives. It was likely one of the best dollar for dollar investments that the city ever made.

I have written about the Mack Super Pumper before but this is a very deep dive into not only the machine itself but the people involved in creating it, why it was necessary, and how it all worked as a symphony of fire crushing awesomeness.

When brilliant people are able to apply their minds and ideas in unrestricted ways, the result is stuff like this. A locomotive engine pumper system that could move 10,000 gallons of water per minute. could supply a multitude of satellite trucks, and could suck water from the ocean up to a mile away from a fire.

This thing is a beast among beasts.

Listen on Dork-O-Motive.com

Hit the image below to check this podcast out on iTunes! – Awesome gearhead history!