2011-Classic Locomotives of England FDC from GB

FDC Name:Classic Locomotives of England.

Issue Date:1st FEB'2011

Details:

Royal Mail pays tribute to the ‘workhorses’ of the railways in the first of a new series of miniature sheets.Railway buffs and philatelists alike may be interested in Royal Mail’s latest miniature sheet of commemorative stamps due for issue in February 2011 celebrating the workhorses of the railways.

Classic Locomotives of England, is the first of four issues which looks at the vital role played by these hardworking steam engines, which made a massive contribution to UK industries in the 18^th and 19^thcenturies

When the world’s first main-line railway, from Liverpool to Manchester, opened in 1830, it heralded a new age of mobility and trade. Across the emerging railway network, steam locomotives of all shapes and sizes faithfully hauled their loads, cared for by a vast army of drivers and firemen, engineers and mechanics.

With working lives of several decades on the public railway network and in industrial locations like factories, quarries and docks, these unsung heroes of the railways soldiered on for years before diesel and electric technology completely took over in the 1960s.

The Classic Locomotives series takes a look at the fascinating working lives of some of the less glamorous locomotives which powered their way around UK’s railways.

Here are the stamps details;

1st Class : BR Dean Goods No. 2532 A Newbury bound British Railways local service Dean Goods Class locomotive at East Garton photographed in 1951. These sturdy Victorian goods locomotives saw a great deal of use in both world wars, but by the 1950s they had been relegated to light duties, such as hauling passenger trains on rural branch lines.

60p – Peckett R2 Thor. This Peckett 1689, named Thor was built in 1925 for the Tunnel Cement Company of Purfleet, Essex. Compact, powerful and rugged, industrial locomotives were the all-purpose workhorses of plants such as Tunnel Cement and many were used continuously for several decades.

88p – L & YR 1093 No. 1100 : The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway locomotive photographed here at Liverpool Exchange Station in 1909 is pulling the 2.10 to Hull. From the middle of the 19th century, British companies offered integrated travel to continental Europe, combining rail services with steamships which sailed from ports around the United Kingdom.

97p – BR WD No. 90662 : During the Second World War heavy-freight “Austerity”’ locomotives were built for military service, transporting goods and troops. Before the Normandy Landings, the Army had very little use for these locomotives, so they were loaned to the Big Four railway companies. After June 1944, Austerity locomotives were shipped out to France. Eventually British Rail had 733 of these locos.

(Source-Royal Mail) 

Technical details:
Working in collaboration with railway expert Professor Colin Divall of the National Railway Museum, Brian Delaney of Delaney Design Consultants, trawled through thousands of photographs to find these contemporary photos of steam locomotives in England.  The sheet is printed by Cartor Security Printing in lithography. Dimensions: 179mm x 74mm, with all over phosphor.  The 41 x 30mm stamps are perf 14.5 x 14.

Remark:Great FDC and stamps