Date of Issue 14 June 2011
Thomas the Tank Engine appears on new set of Royal Mail stamps
One of the world’s best loved children’s characters appear on a new set of Royal Mail Stamps issued on 14 June 2011.
LAUNCH ON TRACK The Fat Controller and Thomas the Tank Engine with the first class stamp
Thomas the Tank Engine is making the appearance to celebrate the centenary of the birth of creator Reverend W Awdry.
The stamps show iconic images from the television series Thomas & Friends, with the 1st Class stamp featuring Thomas pulling into the station under the guidance of the Fat Controller.
Thomas the Tank Engine was first seen in the book, Thomas the Tank Engine after Reverend W. Awdry created the stories and illustrations to entertain his poorly child, Christopher.
2011 marks the centenary of the birth of the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, Thomas the Tank Engine creator. Royal Mail issued a ten-stamp issue, six printed individually, celebrating the images familiar from the TV series, and a four stamp miniature sheet reflecting on the heritage of the book illustrations.
1st Class – Thomas
Thomas the Tank Engine is a 0-6-0 tank locomotive, based on the LB&SCR E2 Class. He is painted blue with red lining and is number 1 in the North Western Railway (NWR) fleet. Thomas was given his own branch line, which he operates with his two coaches, Annie and Clarabel. He was built in 1913 and arrived on Sodor in 1915.
66p – James
James the Red Engine is a mixed-traffic 2-6-0 tender engine. He is painted red with gold stripes and dome and is number 5 in the NWR fleet. He is quite vain and hot-headed, and loves showing off. He was built 1915 and arrived on Sodor in 1946.
68p – Percy
Percy the Small Engine is a saddle tank engine of indeterminate origins. He is painted green with red stripes and is number 6 in the NWR fleet. He is a cheeky little engine with a strong sense of adventure, who doesn't let anyone push him around, which sometimes gets him into trouble. He arrived on Sodor on 1949 during a railway strike.
76p – Daisy
Daisy is a unique diesel railcar, painted green with yellow lining (similar to the livery of British Railways DMUs in the 1960s), and was built specially for use on the Ffarquhar branch of the NWR. Her number is D1 whereas she originally carried the number 52627. She was built in 1956 and arrived on Sodor in 1961. She first appeared in the book Branch Line Engines.
£1.00 – Toby
Toby the Tram Engine is a 0-6-0 steam tram engine who works on the same branch line as Thomas. He is painted brown and blue and is number 7 in the NWR fleet. He is a wise, experienced engine who knows all there is to know about running a branch line. He was built in 1903 and arrived on Sodor in 1951.
£1.10 – Gordon
Gordon the Big Engine is a 'Pacific' (4-6-2) tender engine. He is painted blue with red stripes and is number 4 in the NWR fleet. He is the biggest engine on the railway, and pulls the Express. He is also very boastful and proud, but good at heart. He was built and arrived on Sodor in 1922.
1st Class – Thomas and Bertie the Bus
In this original illustration from the story Thomas and Bertie (from Tank Engine Thomas Again), Thomas challenges Bertie the bus to a race. Here he is speeding past Bertie at a level crossing in this original illustration by C Reginald Dalby.
68p – James
James ends up covered in tar when he crashes into the yard after failing to pin down his brakes at the top of a hill, fortunately it’s only his pride that is hurt. Original illustration by C Reginald Dalby from the story Dirty Objects in Toby the Tram Engine.
76p – Percy
Percy ends up in the sea when he ignores a sign in Percy Takes the Plunge (from The Eight Famous Engines). Original illustration by John T Kenny.
£1.00 – Henry
In the Sad Story of Henry (from The Three Railway Engines), Henry ends up being walled up in a tunnel as punishment for not wanting to get his paint wet. Illustration by C Reginald Dalby.
: Royal Mail
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