Lifeboat tractors

MB lifeboat tractor - Llandudno 09 - IMG 8803 — Lifeboat Tractor at Llandudno

The Royal National Lifeboat Institute in the UK (usually just called the RNLI) has a number of specially adapted tractors it uses to launch its lifeboats.^[1] The lates of which are more like a submarine than a conventional tractor.

History[]

The RNLI which is a voluntary organisation that was started to rescue sailors and fishermen in trouble and is mainly staffed by volunteer crews based in fishing ports and harbors around the coast of the United Kingdom. The early boats were rowing boats that were pulled by hand to the nearest beach and launched just bu pushing them into the sea.

As the service developed lifeboat stations were built at some places with slipways so they could be launched straight into the sea. But at other locations with large tidal ranges and long beaches this was not possible and by the early 20th century they started to use tractors as some fishermen do to launch and recover the boats from the sea.

Later crawler tractors were used built by Roadless Traction Ltd and mased on Case Model Ls. A few example survive today. They then moved ont water proffed models tha could waid into deper swells based on Fowler Challenger tractors.

Other models were baed on County Commercial Cars conversions of Fords. Some of there had like a fish tank for the driver to sit in !! The first 2 of this style being developed by Mike Bigland for a boat yard in Abersoch based on Fordson E1A Major tractors.^[2] Mike went on to be involed in designg later County based tractors such as the Ford County MB Talus-764 built around a County 764 with a fully enclosed cabin. These being built by MA Bigland (Preparations) Ltd

Conversions based on the Case 1150B were also used from the 1970s

The latest models are custom built by ? and run on rubber flexi-tracks and look like a small submersible.

The tractors all have a number TXX and currently theire have been around 100 in service over the years. The first conversion by Clayton Engineering of tractor T1 was in 1921. They are mainly replaced as operation requirements dictate - i.e when a newer boat is asigned to a station they also get a new tractor to suit it. The latest tractors under trial also have a powered carriage unit for the boat to improve traction, The latest boats are designed by the RNLI Engineering team and external consultants to meet the very onerous service requirements encountered at some locations to be able to launch in all weathers, based on the over 80 years experience of operating tractor launched boats.

From the RNLI Web site;

There are 27 RNLI tractors in the south west area*. There are 3 10-ton Talus tractors based at St Ives,Exmouth and Ilfracombe. The next biggest vehicle is the MB4H hydrostatic tractor of which there are three at Looe, Newquay and Burnham on Sea. The RNLI has two Case 1150 track vehicles at Clovelly and Minehead and a beach clearing FL145 Fiat Hitachi at Clovelly. Six marinised County Tractors serve the lifeboat stations at Mudeford and Lyme Regis in Dorset, St Catherine’s in Jersey, Westonsuper Mare, Appledore and Penlee. Lifeboats at eight stations rely on the use of Agricultural tractors of different sizes and these are Exmouth, Teignmouth,Dart,Ilfracombe, Appledore,Rock,St Agnes and Sennen Cove. There are also three Loglogic Softrack’s at Bude,Burnham on Sea and Weston super Mare.^[3]

Supercat tractors[]

In 2013 the first of the new Supercat lifeboat tractors will enter service with a new launching recovery trailer system custem designed for the latest shore launched lifeboats. The new tractor has been under development for several years.

Tractors list[]

This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to be considered complete. Relavent additions are welcome and you can help by expanding it.

Former RNLI tractors[]

A number of these survive in preservation

T ? Roadless Case - Ex ? now at ?
T ? Roadless Case - Ex ? in the S.E. Davis & Son collection
T50 - Roadless Case LA - KLA 84 now fully restored and on show at RNLI Newbiggin by the Sea
T55 - Roadless Case LA - KXX 565 - Ex ? now in John Bownes collection
T61 - Fowler Challenger 33 Lifeboat tractor PLA 561 Ex ? in the Fox Plant Collection
T62 - Fowler Challenger 33 Lifeboat tractor Ex ? in the Chain Bridge Honey Farm collection
T65 - Fowler Challenger 33 Lifeboat tractor VYT 878 Ex ? now part of RNLI Museum at Chatham Historic Dockyard
T74 - Case Lifeboat tractor 136 HLC ex ?
? PXF 136
One is believed to be in Suffolk
Two other lifeboat tractors are believed to be in Huddersfield.
An Ex RNLI one is also believed to still be in service in the Republic of Ireland

In-service RNLI tractors[]

T84
T87 -
T90 - Talus ?
T91 - Talus MB ? at Llandudno
T92 - Talus MB-H A462 AUX ? at Ilfracombe
T93 - Talus MB A496 CUX
T94 - Talus MB UAW 558Y at Llandudno -
T95 - ? at Hastings - Photo at Commons
T96-
T97-
T98 -
T99 - Talus MB-H (C82 NUX) at Hoylake, Wirral on Mersyside - photo
T100 - Talus MB-H D466 RAW
T101 - Talus MB-H -
T103 - Talus MB-H E589 WAW
T104 - Talus MB-H
T105 - Talus MB-H - Ransey, IOM - Photo
T106 - Talus MB-H (F760 BJJ) at Whitby - photo 2
T107 - Talus MB-H (F415 EAW)
T108 - Talus MB
T109 - Talus MB-H
T110 - New Holland TC45 at Moelfre ?
T111 - Talus MB (L222 MN) at Peel - Photo
T113 - St Ives
T114 - Talus MB-H (J126 WUJ) -
T11? - Adleburgh, Sufolk (K499 AUX) - Photo
T117 - Seahouses - (L784 JNT)
T118 - Talus MB-H at Newcastle, NI - Ex St. Ives - photo
T119 - Talus MB at Hastings - Lifeboat.jpg Photo
T120 - Talus MB-H at Bridlington
T121 - Talus MB-H
TA38 - Ford 6640 at Teighnmouth - Photo
TA48 - New-Holland TN? at - Bangor NI - Photo
TA56 - New Holland TC45 at ?
TA57 - New Holland TC45 at Mumbles
TA58 - New Holland TC45
TA59 - New Holland TC45
TA61 - New Holland TC45 at Anstruther
TA69 - New Holland TC45 at Achill Island
TA74 - New Holland ? (JJZ 9544) at Newcastle, NI - tractor at Newcastle - geograph.org.uk - 479971.jpg Photo
TA76 - New Holland TC45 at Conwy
TA87 - New Holland TC45 at Penarth
TW02 - Talus MB-764 (LRU 581P)?
TW13 - Talus MB-764 (County) at Red Bay - Photo
TW15 - Talus MB-764 County
TW16H - Talus MB-H BLACKPOOL
TW17H
TW18H - Talus MB-4H at Hunstanton / Flamborough Head - (H710 RUX) - Photo 2
TW19H - Talus MB ? (J20 VNT)at RNLI workshops at Pool -
TW20H - Talus MB at Newbiggin - Photo
TW21H
TW22H - Talus MB-4H (K501 AUX) at Sheringham, Norfolk - Photo
TW23H - Talus MB-4H
TW24H - Talus MB-4H (K313 ENT) at Sheringham - Photo
TW24H - Talus MB-4H 93-D-45502 from 2005 now located at Bundoran (IRL) after refit 2016
TW25H
TW26H
TW27H - Talus MB-4H
TW28H
TW30 - Talus MB-764 at Lymington - Photo
TW31 - Talus MB-764 County - Bangor (NI) - Photo
TW33 - Talus MB-764 (reg no)
TW34 - Talus MB-764 (M71 RUX) at Kessock - photo
TW36H - Talus MB-764
TW37H
TW40 - Talus MB-764 at Kinghorn - Forth estuary Scotland
TW45H - Talus MB-764 (County)
TW46H - Talus MB at Aberystwyth - Photo
TW48H - Talus MB-764 (County) Y281 EUJ
TW49H - Talus MB-4H at ST.Bees - photo
TW50H - Talus MB-4H
TW51H
TW53H - Talus MB-4H at Staithes, North Yorkshire
TW54H
TW55H
TW56H - Talus MB-4H DY52 EFR at Burnham on Sea - Photo
TW57H - Talus MB-764 (County) at Looe
TW58H - Talus MB-4H
TW59H
TW60H
TW61H - Talus MB-4H
TW62H
T?? - Talus MB (F133 FUJ) at Cromer
T ? Talus MB-H L784 JNT
T ? Tooltrak WA61 HZG
add detail here of any others

Gallery[]

Add photos here

Lifeboat tractors

front drive & 'suspension' detail
Rear track tensioning system
Early waterproof lifeboat tractor based on a Fowler Challenger tractor
(Note: waterproof covers removed for access to engine)
View of the recovery winch on a Fowler lifeboat tractor
Talus MB-H - T99 at Hoylake on The Wirral
Talus MB-H on slipway at Newcastle