L. T. C. Rolt

"Tom Rolt" redirects here. For the locomotive of the same name, see Tom Rolt (locomotive). For the British official of the East India Company, President of Surat and Governor of Bombay from 1677 to 1681, see Thomas Rolt.

Tom Rolt
BornLionel Thomas Caswall Rolt
(1910-02-11)11 February 1910
Chester, England
Died9 May 1974(1974-05-09) (aged 64)
Resting placeStanley Pontlarge
Occupation
  • Engineer
  • technical assistant
  • writer
NationalityBritish
EducationCheltenham College
Period1944–1974
GenreIndustrial history, Biography, Ghost stories
SubjectRailways, waterways, industrial history
Notable worksNarrow Boat, Winterstoke (1954), Railway Adventure, Red for Danger, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Thomas Telford, George and Robert Stephenson, The Landscape Trilogy (autobiography)
Notable awardsHon MA Newcastle University, Hon MSc University of Bath
SpouseAngela Orred (1939–1951)
Sonia Smith (1952–1974)
ChildrenRichard (1953), Timothy (1955)
RelativesLionel Rolt (father)
Website
www.ltcrolt.org.uk

Lionel Thomas Caswall Rolt (usually abbreviated to Tom Rolt or L. T. C. Rolt) (11 February 1910 – 9 May 1974[1][2]) was a prolific English writer and the biographer of major civil engineering figures, including Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Thomas Telford. He is also regarded as one of the pioneers of the leisure cruising industry on Britain's inland waterways, and was an enthusiast for vintage cars and heritage railways. He played a pioneering role in both the canal and railway preservation movements.

  1. ^ His death was recorded in The Times No 59086, 11 May 1974
  2. ^ Slater, J.N., ed. (July 1974). "Notes and News: Death of L. T. C. Rolt". Railway Magazine. 120 (879). London: IPC Transport Press Ltd: 364. ISSN 0033-8923.