11 replies to this topic

[Mike Patterson]

Check out these commemorative stamps I picked up at the Post Office the other day:

 

 

The stamps feature a lot of gold filigree, which doesn't come through very well. If you still mail items using the USPS, these stamps will add a nice touch to your correspondence.

[Don Weaver]

They are really nice looking stamps especially when you can see the "gold leaf" on them.  Been using them on all my mail since I first saw them.  I sent one to Cheater since he has been working in a train museum.

 

Don

[Dave Crevie]

Right on! I haven't made it to the PO yet, but since they are "forever" stamps, I probably will buy a few gross.

 

I love the 1800s paint schemes, and the ornamentation on the locos and cars. If you have ever been inside an early Burns and Shipley or

Pullman Palace passenger car, the workmanship will blow you away. 

[chaparrAL]

An amazing feat back then. And in 10 years joined by a south line through Tucson and a Canadian line, too. 

 

Meanwhile in Russia they struggled across the permafrost.

[Cheater]

I haven't made it to the PO yet, but since they are "forever" stamps, I probably will buy a few gross.

My experience is that the post offices rarely stock these sorts of 'boutique' stamps. Mine didn't have them and I had to order them onlne.

[Dave Crevie]

Must be a small PO. Mine in Elmhurst always has the special edition stamps. Every time I go there they try to sell me the latest editions. For this one though, I will absolutely buy a couple of books. 
 
In a completely different vein, the local histerical museum has an ongoing exhibit on railroads in the area. When I found out they were planning it over a year ago, I volunteered to help develop it. Never got a response from the two new goofs 
managing the place. It is well known in the Chi-town area that I have the most extensive library of railroad reference books, and some pretty nice models of CNW, CB&Q, and Milwaukee Road equipment, many contest winners. If Bryan Burgheger was still the curator there, he would have availed himself of my offer. Especially when I provided so much material when they did the exhibit on area airports.

The current pair that have replaced him were appointed by the city council, not elected by the Elmhurst History Foundation as in the past. They take their orders from the city council. Consequently, the railroad exhibit is nothing like it could have been if local railroad enthusiasts had been involved. The advertised "big train layout" is simply a 3 foot by 4 foot loop of N scale track, and only occasionally running when the guy that built it is around. Otherwise, it is just an unsceniced, barren display.

[Mike Patterson]

My experience is that the post offices rarely stock these sorts of 'boutique' stamps. Mine didn't have them and I had to order them onlne.

 

Greg, my PO usually has a dozen or so commemorative stamps for sale. Before I bought these, I was using ones with the Muppets and Hot Wheels on them.

[Cheater]

The one I usually go to is a small PO, but I've had the same experience at the large PO I avoid because the waits there are so much worse.

[Dave Crevie]

At my PO I can reserve special edition stamps online. I think that is true anywhere.

[Rotorranch]

My local PO was out of them today. They said they would have more.

 

I did like Cheater, and ordered from USPS.com.

 

Rotor

[Dave Crevie]

Gee, a lot of railroad subject posts here. For those who like fancy paintjobs on steam locos, I built this Denver, South Park and Pacific Mason Bogie in On3 in the early '70s. 
 

 

 
The lead truck wheels, drivers, and side rods are from the Kemtron Mogul kit. The rear truck is a Bechtold brass passenger truck, highly modified. The domes are Backshop, and the pilot (cowcatcher) is Kemtron from the early Rio Grande C-16 kit. Everything else is scratch built. And I painted it.
 
In 1959, United Models imported a model of this engine, but since only 100 were brought in, it was impossible to find someone willing to sell one. When I switched from HO to O-scale in 1969, it was one of the engines I dearly wanted, but I just got tired of waiting for one to become available. It was the ninth loco I had built, the fourth one in O-scale. Entered in a model contest, it was disqualified because the judges wouldn't believe it it was not the United version.

[MattD]

Nice, Dave.