Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor

Talus MB-764 is a four-wheel drive launch tractor which was specifically designed for the RNLI, to launch and recover inflatable inshore lifeboats from beach and shorebased launched lifeboat stations.[2] The Tractor is produced by the British company of Clayton Engineering Limited who are based in Knighton, Powys.[3]

Talus MB-764
Talus MB-764 RNLI Launch Vehicle
TypeLaunch vehicle
ManufacturerClayton Engineering Limited[1]
Length3.880 m (152.8 in)
Width2.260 m (89.0 in)
Height2.950 in (0.0749 m)
PropulsionAll Gear 4 wheel drive
Engine model4 cylinder Diesel
Gross power80 hp (60 kW)

Development

The MB-764 was the first launch tractor designed and developed in conjunction with the RNLI to launch the institutions smaller inshore inflatable lifeboat fleet. Clayton’s based the design of the MB-764 on tried and tested reliable County Commercial Cars[4] conversions of a Ford tractor, which they marinised and modified to allow the tractor to wade safely to a depth of 1.5 m (59 in) in calm water. At the design and development stage the company presented two Prototype models. The first being the main take up by the RNLI. The second example was equipped with a propeller and fully amphibious. The first of these launch tractors went into service with the RNLI in 1975 and since then over 30 tractors have been operated by the Institute around the United Kingdom and Ireland. The basic design, operating and performance characteristics have not changed from the initial design concept vehicle, with the exception of the propelled wading capability.

RNLI Talus MB 764 Fleet
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Op. No. In service Station Reg No. Image Current Lifeboat Pay-load
TW 02 Lyme Regis[5] LRU 581P Atlantic 85 Spirit of Loch Fyne (B-857)
TW 03 Largs[6] RLJ 367R Atlantic 85 R A Wilson (B-854)
TW 05 Rhyl [7] UJT 151S D-class (IB1) Godfrey and Desmond Nall (D 632)
TW 06 Cleethorpes VRU 611S D-class (IB1) James Burgess II (D-757)
TW 07 Skerries [8] 88 D 437 Atlantic 75 Rockbill (B-747)
TW 08 Kilrush [9] 87-CE-3065[10] Atlantic 85 Edith Louise Eastwick (B-844)
TW 09 Abersoch [11] PEL 169W Atlantic 75 Margaret Bench of Solihull (B-790)
TW 10 1982–1992[12] Hunstanton [13]
Beaumaris.		 VEL 99X Atlantic 85 Spirit of West Norfolk (B-848)
TW11 Weston-super-Mare B251 HUX[14] Atlantic 75 "Coventry and Warwickshire" (B-769)
TW 13 Beaumaris D948 SAW Atlantic 85 Annette Mary Liddington (B-838)
TW 15 Appledore[15] E592 WNT Atlantic 75 Douglas Paley (B-742)
TW 30 Lymington [16] L123 HUX Atlantic 75 Victor "Danny" Lovelock (B-784)
TW 31 1994–present Red Bay[17] L526 JUJ[18] Atlantic 85 Geoffrey Charles (B-843)
TW 33 Mudeford [19] M562 OUX Atlantic 85 Mudeford Servant (B-806)
TW 34 Kessock M71 RUX Atlantic 75 The Moray Dolphin (B-771)
TW 35 Tighnabruaich [20] N506 WNT Atlantic 75 Alec and Maimie Preston (B-743)
TW 39 Clifden[21] 96-D-61119[22] Atlantic 75 Benjamin Dowing Fairbridge (B-751)
TW 40 Kinghorn[23] P472 CUJ Atlantic 85 Tommy Niven (B-836)
TW 41 Portishead P301 DAW Atlantic 85 My Lady Anne (B-884)
TW 42 Youghal[24] 97 G 8631[25] Atlantic 75 Patricia Jennings (B-780)
TW 43 1983–2008[26]
2008–present		 Hayling Island [27]
Mablethorpe[28]		 S540 UNT Atlantic 85 Derrick Battle (B-829)
TW 47 Lough Swilly [29][30] Atlantic 85 Minnie and Ernest George Barry (B-819)

See also

References
  1. "Clayton Engineering Ltd – Home Page". Home Page of Company web-site. Clayton Engineering Ltd. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  2. "Talus MB-4H Tractor". Description and details of the Model. Clayton Engineering Limited. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  3. OS Explorer Map 201 - Knighton and Presteigne Tref-y-clawdd a Dyffryn Elan, Author: Ordnance Survey. Publisher: Ordnance Survey. Work: Folded Map. ISBN 978-0-319-23758-8
  4. "The foremost in four-wheel drive - The Definitive County Register Online". Information about County Commercial Cars. County Commercial Cars. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  5. "Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Lyme Regis station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  6. "Largs Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Largs station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  7. "Rhyl Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Rhyl station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  8. "Skerries Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Skerries station. RNLI © 2014. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  9. "Kilrush Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Kilrush station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  10. "Kilrush – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW 08. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  11. "Abersoch Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Abersoch station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  12. Hunstanton Lifeboats. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Tempus Publishing, First edition,2008. Works: History of The Lifeboat Station in Hunstanton.Work: page 48, Reference to the arrival of TW10 on to the station. ISBN 978-0-7524-4749-0
  13. "Hunstanton Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Hunstanton station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  14. "Skerries – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW11 and registration No. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  15. "Appledore Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Appledore station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  16. "Lymington Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Lymington station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  17. "Red Bay Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Red Bay station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  18. "Red Bay – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW31 and registration No. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  19. "Mudeford Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Mudeford station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  20. "Tighnabruaich Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Tighnabruaich station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  21. "Clifden Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Clifden station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  22. "Clifden – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW 39 in the boathouse at Clifden. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  23. "Kinghorn Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Kinghorn station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  24. "Youghal Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Youghal station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  25. "Youghal – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW42 and registration No. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  26. Hayling Island Lifeboats. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Foxglove Media, 2010 edition. Work: Chapter – 1995 to 2005, page 47: reference to the arrival of TW43 in 1998. Chapter – 2005 to present, Page 54: reference to dates of service of TW43. ISBN 978-0-9513656-9-4
  27. "Hayling Island Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Hayling Island station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  28. "Mablethorpe Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Mablethorpe station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  29. "Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Lough Swilly station. RNLI © 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  30. "Lough Swilly – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW47 in the boathouse at Lough Swilly. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
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