TREVITHICK
STEAMS INTO MERTHYR TO CELEBRATE ROYAL MAIL STAMPS (taken from the official
press release)
It's full steam ahead as Royal Mail celebrates classic steam locomotives with a
famous 19th century Cornish inventor ready to launch the first commemorative
stamps of 2004.
Six beautifully photographed locomotives are featured on the extra-wide 60 x
21mm format stamps, which go on sale on Tuesday January 13.
The stamps mark the 200th anniversary of the first journey of a steam locomotive
in 1804 from Merthyr Tydfil to Abercynon - Richard Trevithick's Penydarren steam
engine.
And who better to launch the stamps at Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil than
the great inventor himself, Richard Trevithick, (alias local actor Cei Phillips)
who is taking part in special celebrations this year, organised by Merthyr
Tydfil County Borough Council.
Gareth Davies, Director, Royal Mail Group Advisory Board for Wales, said:
"The association of steam and stamps goes back to the 1840s, which not only saw
the introduction the Penny Black, but also the arrival of The Steam Age -
arguably the greatest achievement in transport since the invention of the
wheel."
The stamp set includes the first railway in the world to be preserved and
operated by volunteers - at the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway in Tywyn in North
Wales.
Locomotive Number 2 Dolgoch is featured on the 20p stamp and was photographed at
the picturesque Rhydyronen Station, one of the stops on the seven mile Talyllyn
Railway, which runs from Tywyn to Nant Gwernol in Gwynedd.
The other five stamps feature locomotives on preserved railways originally owned
by the 'Big Four' companies The Great Western Railway (GWR), The London, Midland
and Scottish (LMS), The London and North Eastern (LNER) and The Southern.
The First Class stamp features the Caledonian Railway; the E stamp is a GCR
2.8.0 express goods locomotive in British Railways livery; the 42p stamp is a
Great Western Manor Class 'Bradley Manor' with a train of Great Western Railway
carriages approaching Victoria Bridge over the River Severn; the 47p stamp shows
the 'air smoothed' West Country class 'Blackmoor Vale' at Horsted Keynes Station
and the 68p stamp shows a BR Standard Class locomotive of the 1950s leaving
Haworth Station.
All products associated with this issue will be available either from Post
Office branches or Royal Mail orderline: 08457 641 641.
The Presentation Pack featuring all six stamps was written by pop impresario,
former owner of The Flying Scotsman, and self-confessed 'steam nut' Pete
Waterman and technical data on the trains was written by Phil Atkins of the
National Railway Museum, York.
A coin cover is also available, price £13.95p, featuring a £2 coin, celebrating
the 200th anniversary of the steam locomotive, all six stamps, and a unique
cancellation. The coin design features imagery of a steam engine by Richard
Trevithick.
The cover goes on sale from 13 January and is printed by Zenith Print and
Packaging Ltd. The postmark location will be Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil.
