GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY (GER)
1902 Experimental DECAPOD 0-10-0T Train STAMP SHEET
A GREAT gift idea for the Locomotive & Railway Enthusiast (as well as Stamp Collector) and ideal for framing. A 22.5 x 32.7 cms Complete Sheet of 50 Stamps of the 1902 GER Decapod Locomotive, comprising 25 se-tenant pairs of two genuine 1985 MINT/UNUSED 50c stamps from Nanumaga, Tuvalu in the Pacific (Issued 3rd April 1985). The first stamp illustrates the technical / plan drawings and the second stamp shows the locomotive at work. The scans below show (i) a close up of the stamps, (ii) the top of the sheet and (iii) the complete sheet. The stamps are 32 years old but are in pristine unmounted mint condition. The sheet would make an ideal present for the GER Railway enthusiast and is ideal for framing.
This experimental and remarkable locomotive never went into revenue service, despite becoming very famous and very successful!!! At the turn of the century, there was a proposal to build an electric railway which would compete directly with the GER's suburban services out of Liverpool Street Station in London. A big point was made of the rapid acceleration which electric traction could offer, i.e. a 315-ton suburban train could be accelerated to 30mph from a standing start in 30 seconds. GER responded by building and demonstrating a steam locomotive which could match this performance - and thus killing the electrification Bill.
DECAPOD was the first 10-coupled locomotive - and was built at a time when few passenger locomotives had more than 4 coupled wheels. The trailing pair of wheels had 1.5 inch side movement and the rear sections of the coupling rods had knuckle and ball joints to permit this! She was a truly amazing piece of engineering for her time and more than capable of exceeding the required acceleration performance. Alas, she was too heavy to run other than experimentally on the GER, but she was rebuilt in 1906 as a 0-8-0 freight locomotive.
A Rather Unique Item of Great Eastern Railway Memorabilia!
Between 1983 and 1987 the Islands of the British Commonwealth collaboratively produced an Omnibus issue of postage stamps depicting famous and historic locomotives. I will be offering about 300 other Locomotive Stamp Sheets in my Other eBay Auctions over the coming weeks. Many more are also in stock. Please check out my eBay Shop for any specific Locomotive Stamp Sheet Requests.
These stamps are genuine and were recognised and used as valid postal currency for the transport of mail throughout the world. All these stamps have been officially catalogued by Scott, Michel, Yvert et Tellier, Unificato, Stanley Gibbons, and Domfil. The stamps were on sale in Post Offices in the individual countries of origin for at least 90 days following issue. The stamps were also made available through the Crown / Commonwealth Agents until their withdrawal in 1990.
