Cornish steam engine fans will enjoy the Royal Mail's first set of special stamps of the year. 'Classic Locomotives', a set of six extra-wide stamps continues the transport series and marks the 200th anniversary of the first journey by a steam locomotive, Trevithick's Penydarren locomotive, in February 1804.
The stamps include a 42p showing a once famous GWR Manor 4-6-0 class locomotive. Featured is 'Bradley Manor' with a train of Great Western Railway carriages approaching Victoria Bridge over the River Severn. The engine was also familiar in the South West during the days of steam and would have been spotted by many young train spotters of the 1950s and early 60s.
Other locomotives include 20p - Dolgoch 0-4-0T on the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway in North Wales, 28p - CR 439 0-4-4, the Caledonian Railway tank locomotive pulling a train of Caledonian Railway carriages by the Forth Estuary, 47p - SR West Country 4-6-2 showing the 'air smoothed' Westcountry class 'Blackmoor Vale'.
The 68p stamp shows a BR Standard 4 2-6-4T. This stamp shows a BR Standard Class locomotive of the 1950s.
The stamps are available to collect in several formats, including the £2 coin, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the steam locomotive. The reverse design of the coin is by Robert Lowe and features imagery of Camborne's Richard Trevithick's steam engine.
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