Who the heck was Tom Rolt ?

Tom Rolt was born in Chester in 1910 and trained as an engineer. He had a lifelong interest in Victorian engineering and vintage cars and was instrumental in starting both the Canal and Railway preservation/restoration movments.

In 1939 Tom and his wife angela had a wooden Narrowboat Cressey converted at Tooley's boat yard in Oxford and cruised the length of the Shorpshire Union. This cruise led to the founding of the Inland Waterways association and his book "Narrowboat" an account of the journey did much to publicise the plight of the Canal system.

In 1959 Tom became involved with the Talyllyn Railway and founded the worlds first Railway preservation society saving the railway from closure. The Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society continues to operate the railway to this day and became the model for many similar societies. Tom wrote about his experiences on the railway in Railway Adventure and this was the inspiration for the Ealing film the Titfield Thunderbolt.

Both books are still in print and are well worth the read for anyone interested in the Canal or Railway preservation movments.

Over the weekend of 26/27th June the IWA Chester & District branch has organised an Event in Chester which will cover Tom's interest in the Canal, Railway and Vintage Car worlds, further details availiable here.

Chelonian will be making its way to Tower Wharf in Chester for the event on Friday 25th June and then returning to a temporary mooring in Tattenhall on the Sunday evening.