The 4468 Mallard

The 4468 Mallard is an A4 steam locomotive built in 1938. With it's sleek, streamlined design which was very different to the engines built before, it was used primarily for the transport of express long-haul passengers at very high speeds along the east coast mainline, between Edinburgh and London's Kings Cross Station. 

The trains on the British rails were generally restricted to a speed of 90mph. But in July of 1938, the Mallard broke the land speed record for steam locomotives by clocking in at 126mph. This plaque is to be found on the side of the engine, and was fitted after the end of World War II.

84 years later, this record is yet to be broken. 

The Mallard locomotive and it's tender are 70ft long, and weighs 165T. It's painted in garter blue and has red wheels with steel rims. However, during the war, the engine was painted black. 

The engine burns 1T of coal at all times and has a water capacity of 5,000 gallons. The train's boiler is 6.5ft in diameter. The steam guage can measure a maximum pressure of 300lbs/sq. in., but at its optimum, the driver should maintain a pressure of around 250lbs/sq. in. in order to enjoy the maximum amount of power. The Mallard's tender can carry almost 8T of coal. 

True to the British quirkiness surrounding their tea, there is a small shelf right over the door to the firebox where the driver keeps oil, ensuring that the oil stays warm; along with a small caddy of tea, which also stays hot throughout the journey. 

At the point of it's retirement from service in April 1963, it had covered almost 1.5 million miles. After complete restoration at the Doncaster Works, the Mallard is now on display at the National Railway Museum in York. 

And finally, why "Mallard"? There are several British locomotives named after birds. These include the Osprey, the Golden Eagle, the Peragrine, the Kingfisher, the Falcon and the Merlin. When Sir Nigel Gresley designed this engine, he lived in a property that had a moat around it, which was frequented by ducks. 

It was also probably meant to suggest its ability to travel swiftly through the air. 

The Mallard has been celebrated in several British postage stamps over the years, given its iconic standing in the history of railways. This stamp was issued in 1988, and is one of 4 stamps which made up a series on transport and communication in the UK. 

** All stamps and photographs used in this post are part of this author's personal collection. 

References : 

https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYwFavyERsI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4_4468_Mallard

Antique furniture from Hungary

At the turn of the millennium, a series of stamps were issued showcasing a selection of antique Hungarian furniture. Karosszék (armchairs) and kanapé (couches) being the items predominantly featured in this series. Some of these are from as far back as the 17th century, to as recent as 1935. 

According to the information given in the stamps, these particular pieces of furniture are to be found at the Museum of Applied Arts or in the Museum of Ethnography; both of which are located in Budapest, Hungary. 

Well-known local architects and/or designers such as Lajos Kozma, Ödön Faragó and Ferenc Steindl as well as furniture houses such as Lingel Karoly are the creators of these “lumbargoods”. A quick Google search values some of these chairs and couches for as much as € 2000! 

** All stamps and photographs used in this post are part of this author's personal collection. 

 

Tidbits of History and Culture on a Postage Stamp

Stamp collecting is the first serious hobby that I started. More than 3 decades later, I am still collecting, storing and cateloging these little gems. Though the use of postage stamps just might be on their way out with the advent of electronic means of communication, I do hope that this extinction takes a long, long time to actually happen.

The very first self-adhesive postage stamp issued in the world is the Penny Black. Featuring the image of Queen Victoria and issued in Great Britain, it was valued at 1 penny. About an year later, a middle class English woman was advertising for stamps with which to decorate the walls of her house. 

And so started one of the most popular hobbies of all time. 

Today, a great many stamps are issued by each country to showcase their culture and individuality, and to commemorate special occassions. Going through my collection in my ripe old age of 44 today, I realize just how much information is captured in, what is, essentially a receipt for your payment for postage services. 

And so, I thought of doing a series of posts about the various stamps in my collection. 

I hope you enjoy!