The perfect day out, a steam train and a Victorian postbox. The miniature sheet shows Locomotive Number 1 'Sutherland' at Douglas station. Built in 1873 it was, as the number indicates, the first train to run on the Isle of Man railways and was named after one of the directors, the Duke of Sutherland. Once there was about 50 miles of 3' narrow gauge track covering the island, but today only the southern line remains which runs from Douglas to Port Erin. 'Sutherland' after her working life remained in store, then was painted and put on display in Douglas and for the 125th Anniversary of the Isle of Man Steam Railway (which this sheet commemorates) was brought back into service. In 2013 she was once again put back into store pending a rebuild.
The railways proved a great attraction to the Victorian tourist and as the saying goes "build it and they will come"
2013 saw the Isle of Man issue stamps of railway posters to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Steam Railway and 120th of the Electric Railway to Laxey and reminding us of the happy holidays people have had over the years on the island. I rather like the one that says "Breezy and Invigorating" as we have had a lot of those breezy and invigorating winds this winter.
8 comments:
I saw some of these stamps at the market this week but decided on my souvenir issue instead. I'm very impressed with the IOM for keeping these old trains running so long. Impressive stamps.
Two things I like--trains and mailboxes. I like the slogans on the posters too.
Wonderful! Se-tenant stamps! A postbox! And trains! the trains remind me of the island of Sodor where Thomas the tank engine resides (my son was just watching this the other day).
Feel free to show this postbox again in two weeks!
Thank you for joining in this week.
The Victorian post box is a wonderful extra on this design, but even so it must have been a bit frustrating if the stamps were being used and you only got the 25p.
It wasn't the cleanest way to travel, but I'm sure it was much more exciting than any trains running today!
I don't have many stamps with trains on it. This is a beautiful series!
My Sunday Stamp
It would be a pity to sent the first stamp without the mailbox...
I think you aren't the only one who showed stamps from Isle of Man this week. What a coincidence!
My first thought when I saw the stamps was, "Thomas the Tank Engine"!
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