[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Full Steam Ahead: Royal Mail Celebrates the Legacy of UK Steam Locomotion

• Issue date: 25 September
• As Britain marks 200 years of the modern railway, six stamps celebrate British steam locomotives and the development of UK railways
• A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, mark the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, in 1825
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available at www.royalmail.com/steamlocomotives and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has released a striking new set of 10 stamps celebrating the rich heritage of British steam locomotives and the pioneering development of the UK’s railway network.
The main set features six iconic locomotives that helped to shape the history of rail travel in Britain:

• Locomotion No. 1
• Rocket
• City of Truro
• Mallard
• Duchess of Hamilton
• Evening Star

In addition, a miniature sheet containing four stamps, marks 200 years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR).
The miniature sheet includes:

• Artwork depicting the opening of the S&DR, in 1825
• A historic image of Locomotion No. 1 at Darlington, circa 1890
• A commemorative postcard from the S&DR centenary in 1925
• A photograph of a replica Locomotion No. 1 from 1975

Royal Mail worked closely with the National Railway Museum and Darlington Council on the stamp issue.

Steam Locomotives:
The steam locomotive was the machine that enabled the Industrial Revolution to advance, moving goods and people around the United Kingdom as never before. Key to its development were Richard Trevithick and the father-and-son team of George and Robert Stephenson. Trevithick was the first to have a steam locomotive pull a train, while George Stephenson designed both locomotives and the routes on which they could run.

The main line of the S&DR, which opened in 1825 using the engine that came to be known as Locomotion, was powered by steam locomotives from the start. Four years later, Robert Stephenson created the prize-winning locomotive Rocket, which proved steam’s worth at the Rainhill Trials for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Steam locomotives became key to that enterprise’s financial success, prompting the rapid development of powered railways across the country.

With each passing decade, faster, heavier and more powerful locomotives were developed, including City of Truro, which was unofficially timed at 102mph (161km/h) in 1904 (the first official UK record, achieved in 1934, belongs to Flying Scotsman). This trend saw its culmination in very fast express passenger locomotives such as Mallard, as well as powerful heavy-freight engines in use on goods trains through to the 1960s, epitomised by British Railways’ last completed steam locomotive, Evening Star.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail, said: “To coincide with the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, Royal Mail is releasing a set of stamps honouring Britain’s enduring legacy of steam locomotion. This stamp issue captures the spirit of an era that transformed travel and trade forever.”

Craig Bentley, Director, National Railway Museum, said: “We are delighted to have collaborated with Royal Mail to develop this special set of stamps with images of these iconic steam locomotives and to share with the nation in this celebration of railway history.

Mike Crawshaw, Head of Heritage and Culture, Darlington Borough Council, said: “We are truly honoured and thrilled with these commemorative stamps that celebrate the importance of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR). They beautifully capture the spirit and significance of the S&DR and Locomotion No.1, and we’re proud to see this moment celebrated in such a meaningful and lasting way.”

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available www.royalmail.com/steamlocomotives and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps is priced at £17.90. The stamps went general sale from 25 September.