Australia Post | Stamp Collectibles
11 February 2020
Transcontinental Railway 50th Anniversary
Technical specifications
Issue date: 11-February-2020
Issue withdrawal date: 31-August-2020
Denomination: $1.10
Stamp design: Jamie and Leanne Tufrey
Product design: Sonia Young, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper: gummed Tullis Russell Red Phos.
Paper: self-adhesive Securepost MC90
Printer: Ego
Printing process: Offset lithography
Stamp size (mm): 26 x 37.5
Sheetlet size (mm): 156 x 101
Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layout: Sheetlet of 10
FDI Postmark: East Perth WA 6004
FDI withdrawal date: 10-March-2020
This issue commemorates the 50th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental standard-gauge railway. Before 1970, variation in rail gauge meant that goods and passengers travelling by rail from Sydney to Perth were subject to the inconvenience of several train changes. At the time of Federation in 1901, New South Wales used standard gauge (1,435mm); Victoria and South Australia broad gauge (1,600mm); and Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia and parts of South Australia, narrow gauge (1,067mm). With the agreement and collaboration of the Commonwealth and state governments, standardisation of interstate rail gauges commenced in 1930 and finally completed in 1995 with the Melbourne to Adelaide route.
The first uninterrupted transcontinental freight service commenced on 12 January 1970 and the new passenger service over the same route left Sydney on 23 February 1970, arriving in Perth on the morning of 26 February. This passenger service was named the Indian-Pacific after the oceans it links. Today the Indian Pacific travels from Sydney to Perth via Adelaide, a 4,352-kilometre journey of around 70 hours that includes the world’s longest stretch of straight track (478 kilometres) on the Nullarbor Plain.
$1.10 – The Indian-Pacific
The stamp depicts the inaugural Indian-Pacific passenger train with the Western Australian L class diesel-electric locomotives 260 and 261, which hauled the train into Perth East station on the morning of 26 February 1970.
The gummed sheetlet contains 10 x $1.10 Transcontinental Railway – 50 Years stamps from the related stamp issue.
The Transcontinental Railway – 50 Years sheetlet pack contains the sheetlet of 10 x $1.10 stamps from the stamp issue presented in high quality folder.
The first day cover is a pictorial envelope with the gummed stamps from the Transcontinental Railway – 50 Years stamp issue affixed and postmarked – First day of issue | 11 February 2020 | East Perth WA 6004
The first day cover is valid for postage only on the day of issue, from the post office named on the postmark.
The Transcontinental Railway – 50 Years prestige cover is a limited collectable. The pictorial envelope has the gummed stamp from the Transcontinental Railway – 50 Years stamp issue postmarked First day of issue | 11 February 2020 | East Perth WA 6004
The prestige cover includes a cloth badge reproduction of the WAGR emblem.
This stamp and medallion cover is a very limited collectable, featuring a pictorial envelope with the gummed stamp from the Transcontinental Railway – 50 Years stamp issue and related medallion. The stamp is postmarked – First day of issue | 11 February 2020 | East Perth WA 6004
Medallion details
Metal: Zinc Alloy
Weight: 57g
Diameter: 61mm
Thickness: 4.1mm
Finish: Gold plated
The Transcontinental Railway – 50 Years maxicard is a *prepaid postcard with the gummed stamp affixed and postmarked on the view side. The subject matter of a maxicard is common to the card, stamp and postmark.
A *prepaid postcards can be posted from any red post box located in Australia or at your local Post Office and can be sent worldwide or to domestic locations.
This booklet contains 20 x $1.10 self-adhesive stamps from the Transcontinental Railway – 50 Years stamp issue in a convenient wallet sized booklet.
This chequebook contains 20 booklets of 20 x $1.10 self-adhesive stamps from the Transcontinental Railway – 50 Years stamp issue.
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