The 2026 RCHS Transport History Book of the Year Awards were presented on Saturday 30th May 2026 at the Met Hotel, Leeds.
Philip Brown presented details of those books shortlisted by this year’s judging panel and then announced the winners in each award category.
The Society’s annual Transport History Book of the Year Awards were launched in 2004 to recognise and encourage the writing of original, well-researched and well-written transport history books. Each year up to four winning authors are presented with framed certificates and cash prizes. One of the winning books is then chosen as Book of the Year and its author receives a further cash prize and the David St John Thomas trophy to hold for a year. The prize fund was generously bequeathed to the Society for this specific purpose by our former President, David St John Thomas, author and co-founder of the David & Charles publishing house.
In no particular order, this year’s six short-listed books were:
John Curr: the man who revolutionised mining, by Charles P. Dixon
The Battle for the Railways: how Britain’s rail staff defied the Luftwaffe, by Matthew Richardson
Our Canal Heritage, compiled by Phil & Ros Prettyman for the Historic Narrow Boat Club
Midland Red – Evolution or Revolution? by Ashley Wakelin
William Thomas and a new appraisal of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, by Les Turnbull
The First Canal Guide: a translation of Hogrewe’s 1780 book on English canals, by Mike Clarke
Rise & Decline of the Grand Union & Erewash Canal Carrying Companies by Della Sadler-Moore & Lorna York
To view a recording of the event, click 2026 Transport History Book of the Year Awards