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