Doesn't time Fly!

I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted anything, although, to be honest, not much has changed in that time.

I still haven't had the chance to get to York, and it looks like I won't get the opportunity between now and Christmas. This is so frustrating, especially seeing reports of the mainline trials in the newspapers and on the website. Still, there's always next year and, if the newspaper reports are correct, I might get the chance to see her when she'll eventually be taken through the Channel Tunnel for testing in Germany (NOT under her own steam, I hasten to add - we've already had one fire in the tunnel this year. I don't think that Euro Tunnel would want another fire..... EVER!)

Tornado has already reached 75 mph in the UK but speed restrictions here prevent her from going faster. However, if I understand correctly, Deutsche Bahn has given permission for Tornado to go much faster. It would be nice if Tornado eventually broke Mallard's speed record, but so much nicer if the record could be broken here......

Anyway, back to Railway covers. The Main Line Tests have been completed, and Tornado is now in the paint shops in York, being painted in the LNER Apple Green livery. We are hoping to get the covers ready for despatch in the next few weeks - but we certainly want them to be out in time for Christmas.

I have heard that further covers are planned for next year, with new designs, for various "firsts" like the first passenger train. I only heard this morning, so I don't know anything more at the moment.

This might be my last post for this year so, in case I don't have any more news for you between now and then, have a very Merry Christmas.

Sarah

P.S. For the younger rail enthusiasts (and the young at heart!) I can confirm that we WILL be producing a cover for the 50th Anniversary of Ivor the Engine, a great little train of Wales......! Again, no designs have been finalised yet, so more will be known in the New Year, but we are working with Peter Firmin, one of Ivor's creators, to produce a cover. It will also be a fundraiser for one of Peter Firmin's nominated charities.

2009 - Down the Line update

Just because I've been quiet over the past few weeks doesn't mean I've been slacking! Far from it. It's been very busy here but we've just about got next year's timetable finalised (and we're about as prepared as we can be for any last minute additions).

There is a bit of a cross-section - as well as the "Great Little Trains of Wales" project that I've referred to in an earlier post, there'll be some "modern traction" and anniversaries including the anniversary of the opening of the Channel Tunnel, The Centenary of the Stephenson Locomotive Society and the Anniversary of the Railway Air Service. We are also hoping to get some covers carried next year, but we'll know for sure nearer the time.

The first of next year's covers (28th February) will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the Midland and Great Northern Line (now The North Norfolk Railway, or "Poppy Line"). Apparently they are planning a "mega gala" over that weekend so we're planning great things for this cover, to tie-in with the gala.

The next cover will be celebrating modern traction (just so you don't think that we're a steam only club!). On the 3rd of March sees the 20th Anniversary of the introduction of the Class 91 electric locomotives. This link will take you to an illustration of it on our website http://www.buckinghamcovers.com/shop/productdisplay.lasso?product_id=893

I hope that this has whetted your appetite for next year. If you're not already a member of our Rail Club, and would like to know more, you can check the "Join a Club" section of the Buckingham Covers website http://www.buckinghamcovers.com/clubs/index.lasso?-session=shopper:5369223B1aee41EB0FyWFE25C374 or you can contact me via the Buckingham Covers website, sales@buckinghamcovers.com

If you have any ideas of your own, don't keep them to yourself. Let us know and we'll see if we can include them.

Best wishes,



Sarah

Tornado on TV

I've been looking at the A1 Steam Locomotive site today and they have some very good photos of last weekend's Gala. There is also mention of the programme shown last night on BBC4 (as part of their steam season), and a link to watch it again.

The programme, entitled "Well Chuffed: The Men Who Built a Steam Engine", told the story - so far - of the men who had the dream and the drive to build Tornado. Part of the story I already knew but it was fascinating to hear the story being told, from the beginning, by the men involved.

For me, the most poignant moment was when Tornado had left to start her journey to Loughborough, when they showed the empty shed at Darlington. From a hive of activity to silence....

Anyway, the Tornado "roadshow" (should that be "rail show"?) will be moving on to York soon, for painting and display, and then to start the Main Line trials. And I know that I've been wittering on about seeing Tornado for myself, but that is still at the very top of my to do list for this year. I still have some time off left to take so there will be no guesses as to where I'll be wanting to spend it (I believe that York is lovely at this time of year.....).

Have a great weekend,

Sarah

Caught up in the Tornado..........

OK, so the title of this post owes something to a headline in yesterday's copy of the Times, but the article that it headed was very interesting. It seems that the trials on the Great Central are coming to an end, before the move to York for painting and the mainline trials. If you want to read the full article, go to http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article4908980.ece

Tomorrow is the start of a Festival of Steam at the Great Central, and I have wanted so much to get to this but unfortunately, I've been let down by transport problems (a v-e-r-y long story and not worth boring everyone else with). If any of you will be going (and I've spoken to a few people this week, who've tormented me by telling me that they are), feel free to include any photos of the weekend in your replies - it will be the closest I get to being there..........!

On the subject of this weekend's gala, we received a call from the A1 Locomotive Trust a few days ago, asking us for things to send them for selling at Loughborough. Although the covers themselves aren't ready yet, we've sent up some of the stamps sheets to sell and some leaflets to hand out. We've also sent some covers up to Loughborough for carrying - but they will NOT be available for sale up there, as they've got to come back here to be finished!

I hope that everyone has a great time at the Great Central this weekend (and I look forward to seeing some great pictures next week!!)

Best wishes,

Sarah

Great Little Trains of Wales

Just a PS to my previous post.

I've made a discovery recently that could result in a rail related cover for something dear to my heart.

I'll post details of this, and other covers for next year, as soon as the list has been finalised.

Have a good weekend,

Sarah

Looking down the line to 2009

Sorry, couldn't resist a little rhyme.

I've forced myself to look away from Tornado, and start looking to next year for cover ideas. I've got a few already but any others for next year, or even the year after, would still be appreciated.

Having seen the proposed Royal Mail stamp programme for next year, there could be a few possibilities for Rail covers, but naturally we'll have to wait to see the stamps themselves before making any final decisions. However, I can't see us NOT producing a rail cover for the proposed “Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution” issue. Will it be Thomas Telford or George Stephenson (or even both) - we'll just have to wait and see what the stamps look like!

“Once upon a time, in the top left hand corner of Wales..................”

As a child, one of my favourite programmes was "Ivor the Engine" (see, I've been a lover of steam engines from a very early age!). I mention this as I hear that one of our projects for next year will be a customised stamp sheet and a mini-collection of covers, commemorating the Great Little Trains of Wales. This will tie in with the “Celebrating Wales” stamp issue.

Unfortunately, “Ivor the Engine” won't be one of the Great Little Trains featured….

More details will be available nearer the time.

Best wishes,

Sarah

Tornado blows into the Great Central Railway

I really envy some of you, actually getting to see Tornado. I've lost count of the number of you who've phoned up and said that they've actually seen her! Please don't torment me like this - I'm desperate to see for myself!

I had an email from a very lucky collector recently, giving his account of Tornado's arrival at the GCR, and he's very kindly allowed me to post some of it to the blog.....

"Delivered to Quorn on a low-loader, unloaded first thing (which I missed) and then pulled up from Quorn to Loughborough by the diesel you can see in one of the pictures. Apart from being tanked up with water (which didn't quite go to plan!), she was just moved up to the shed; at which point I left."

".... it will be several weeks yet before she is pulling any sort of passengers, as I understand it, due to various testing requirements. I am hoping to take a ride in October though before she goes back off to Darlington or wherever."

I was even sent a few photos - I've included my favourite one here - but I will be soooo much happier when (and I mean WHEN, not IF) I get to see her for myself!

As far as I know, our "1st movement" covers aren't ready to roll yet, but hopefully they won't be much longer. They'll definitely be worth waiting for.

Best wishes,

Sarah

And another thing....................

As a PS to my last post (that sounds so final, doesn't it, "LAST POST"!), I've just been told about our new 60163 Tornado micro-site www.buckinghamcovers.com/tornado. I've just had a look at it and it looks fantastic - but don't just take my word for it, have a look yourself!

Sarah

News in on 60163 Tornado

Typical, I go on holiday and everything happens while I'm away!!

As many of you may have read recently, Tornado took her first movements under her own steam on the 2nd of August. We had covers carried on board (they've only just come back but they won't be ready for despatch for a little while yet).

We're also planning covers for the Great Central Railway Trials and Main Line Trials as well as a fund-raising set of 4 carriage labels. Details of these can be found on our website www.buckinghamcovers.com - go to our on-line magazine Cover Lover 35 and turn to page 7. There's a whole page of Tornado goodies to feast your eyes on!

There is enormous interest in this project, so we expect to allocate covers and sheets very quickly. I've already put my order in - don't leave it too late to place yours!

Best wishes,

Sarah

Sorry for the delays

I am ashamed to say that it has been over a month since my last post, and there have been a few new arrivals since then.

At the beginning of May we produced a cover to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the non-stop run of the Flying Scotsman service, hauled by the engine of the same name, and recently we have produced covers to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Northern Belle service. We were even lucky enough to have covers carried on the anniversary train!

Although we haven't yet produced covers for the latest A1 Pacific, 60163 Tornado, we have recently advertised a customised stamp sheet, not just for the new engine but celebrating the class as a whole. We hope to have the sheets ready by September, to coincide with the covers that we hope to produce for the mainline trials. An illustration of the sheet can be found on page 7 of the online version of Cover Lover 33, on the www.buckinghamcovers.com website.

Forthcoming covers for this year include the 40th Anniversary of the end of mainline steam, with the "15 Guinea Special", the anniversary of the death of the "Father of the Railways", George Stephenson, and the 70th Anniversary of the Duchess of Hamilton.

You're probably all bored with me saying this but I've already started working on a timetable of covers for next year and beyond. This year's Northern Belle cover was the result of a customer suggestion so feel free to let me know of any ideas that you have.

Get your thinking caps on over the weekend - I hope to be inundated with ideas on Monday morning, so please don't disappoint me!

Bye for now,


Sarah

Tornado Update!!!

I've been told this morning that we might be producing not one, but TWO covers this year for 60163 Tornado!! The first is likely to be for the summer trials at the Great Central Railway and the 2 second is likely to be for the mainline trials in the autumn.

There might be a few more fund raisers for Tornado, so watch this space. As soon as I learn more details, I'll let you know.

Sarah

All Quiet on the Railway Front

Well, not that quiet. OK, so the last cover was issued in February, and the next one's not due until next month (R38), but it's not been completely quiet. Aside from a little re-scheduling (fitting in one or two new covers into the timetable), and researching for ideas for next years covers, I've managed to fit in a little trainspotting of my own.

The weekend before last (5th/6th April) saw the arrival of 34067 "Tangmere" to Folkestone Harbour Station. Admittedly, the station is looking decidedly shabby now, but there was still a good turnout. Many of us had been waiting since mid-day, as the engine was due just after 1.00pm, but it was almost 3.00pm before it finally arrived. Apparently, there had been a fire on the line - I think after London but considering that this train had left Nottingham much earlier in the day, a few hours delay can be forgiven!

Last Saturday (April 12th) saw the final visit by ANY train to Folkestone Harbour Station, as I understand that the station has now officially closed for good (if anyone has heard different, could they please let me know?). The station itself has been closed to scheduled traffic since the ferry service closed some years ago, but the platforms are always full whenever there are steam loco visits. The "Tangmere" was the last to make such a visit and this time the train left from Taunton, instead of Nottingham. Also, it wasn't quite so late in arriving as the previous weekend - only half an hour this time!

Engines are powered by coal and the drivers by tea! Note the prominent position of the "mash cans"!







It's interesting to note that, when Folkestone Harbour was a working station, the trains were only pulled in to the station by tank engines - partly due to the weight of the Express locomotives (they would never have been allowed over the swing bridge to the station). As a rule, two, sometimes three, tank engines would have pulled the trains up the steep gradient that leads in and out of the station, presumably to the waiting express loco. The visiting steam engines are probably the only express ones to have been allowed to the harbour station itself (if any one knows any different, I'd be interested to know) and even then, they have to be diesel assisted, to get up the gradient.

I've included a few photos - I thought it was a nice touch that the board on the front read "Folkestone Harbour". (Might not be seen that clearly but take my word for it, it does!)

It might be the end of an era down here, but the love of steam goes on.


Sarah

My Blog Watchers!

I'm so pleased - someone has left a comment regarding my blog (and earned themselves £5.00 into the bargain!). Well Done Mr Gray, and thank you! It's nice to know that my efforts haven't been in vain.




Now that I've received my first comment, I'm looking forward to receiving comments from the rest of you. How many of you were waiting for someone else to make the first move? You don't have to comment on just the latest post, feel free to comment on previous posts as well.

Sarah

P S The picture is one that I took last summer, when 850 Lord Nelson came down to Folkestone Harbour. There are a few more similar journeys scheduled for this year, mostly by 34067 Tangmere, but there are unlikely to be many more after this year as Folkestone Harbour Station is due to close.

John Wigston interview

As some of you will have noticed, some of our more recent covers have had illustrations, commissioned by us, from railway artist John Wigston (R28 Master Cutler, R35 Tyne & Wear Bridges and R36 TPO Anniversary). I'm sure that many of you would be interested to know more about him and his incredible paintings. To this end we asked if he would mind being interviewed and he has kindly agreed.

We hope to have the interview posted to the website (http://www.buckinghamcovers.com/rail in case you found the blog via Google) by the end of the month but if there are any questions that you would like to ask, please send them to us as possible.

If you are interested in any other rail covers with illustrations featuring John Wigston's artwork, please let me know and I'll see what I can find.

I look forward to reading your questions for John Wigston,

Sarah

Tornado Blows into Town!!

As soon as I heard about this project (which seems to have been long after everyone else!!), I thought that we ought to do something to mark this fantastic event! I mean, new mainline steam engines are rare in these days of “carbon footprints” (even if there is some evidence to suggest that they were far more efficient that today’s engines – but that’s another matter).

Letters were written, but no reply was received at the time, and I was on the verge of giving up when I suddenly received a call – yes they were interested but didn’t want to throw a spanner in the works by giving incorrect dates. It seems that they wanted to be more certain of a timetable before contacting us (fair enough). So, instead of letting the fire go out on this project, it’s now a case of “throw more coal on” and let’s get up a good head of steam!

We can’t say anything more at present (mainly because we don’t know anything more) but watch this space……………………..!

Sarah

PS: I don't how many of you read my blog - no one seems to have left any comments, and I would really love to know what you think. I may even be forced to introduce a little controversy - if only to provoke a response!!

New Year, New Timetable

<-- It's all his fault!
OK, so I'm a bit late with this but I was delayed by James Bond (that's an excuse you didn't think you'd hear in connection with railways!) When the James Bond/Ian Fleming Centenary covers were issued recently, it was a case of EVERYONE dropping everything to get the orders out in time - and then trying to catch up. Anyway, I digress. I'm sure that you'll be far more interested in what Rail covers are coming in - or going out!

We recently produced a cover featuring the new Tyne and Wear Bridges £1.00 coin - and already they've sold out! If you haven't already ordered one, we can add you to the waiting list, but hopefully you won't be waiting too long.

Last month I mentioned the covers and sheets that we produced for the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the Big Four Rail Companies. The covers are all doing well but we still have a few if you haven't already got one - and if you have got one but might want the other 3 three for the set, let me know and I'll see what we can do. The sheets are also doing well - and are also available from the National Railway Museum. In fact, they've been doing so well there that we've been asked to send them more!

Next week sees the 170th Anniversary of the Travelling Post Office (27th January). Our cover (R36 at £8.95) features an illustration, commissioned by us, from leading railway artist John Wigston, a member of the Guild of Railway Artists. His artwork has featured on some of our previous railway covers, including the recent Tyne & Wear Bridges covers, and they always seem to do very well.

Soon after that comes a cover that we are producing the commemorate the 85th Anniversary of that grand old lady of steam, The Flying Scotsman. This cover features an amazing photo of this magnificent engine, taken in 1987, by Jim Barr, an avid railway photographer (I wish my steam photos looked this good!) This cover (R37 at £8.95, issued on the 7th February) is also proving to be very popular. Having first seen this loco at the impressionable age of 9 (and had my photo taken next to it), and travelled on a train pulled by the Scotsman almost 20 years later, I felt I had to order one of these covers for myself. It will sit nicely next to my photo (when I can find it again!)

The next cover in this year's schedule isn't due for a few months yet (it's The Flying Scotsman again, and we make no apologies, it's a great engine and the cover complements it!)

We're still open to ideas for covers. We had an enquiry from a customer at the end of last year about the Anniversary of the Northern Belle. Tony was so taken with the idea that we've now included it for this year (it's due for issue in early June). So, if you have a suggestion to make, don't be afraid to ask us.

Sarah