Curiosity Corner #221: Thomas the Tank Engine.

Oooops. No.

This is "Martin Luther" the Steam Tractor.

http://cjoint.com/data/fkefiUzOBg.htm

SWA (Namibia) 1975 9c

9 cent - "Martin Luther"
In the early German colonial times in South-West Africa, goods were
transported by ox-wagon through the desert from Swakopmimd to
the interior. Hundreds of oxen perished on the way.
The authorities then decided to use a steam tractor that was brought
from Hamburg early in 1896 by Lieutenant Edmund Troost of the
Kaiser's Schutztruppe.
After many setbacks the locomotive finally got stuck in the desert
sands and could not be moved. So it came to be called Martin Luther
because of Luther's historic statement:

"Here I stand. May God help
me. 1 cannot do .otherwise."

In 1973 the Swakopmund Town Council decided to restore the
locomotive and to reconstruct its three trailers. Today it is a national
monument.

I say, old boy. Might not a colour
scan be a bit more up to date?

http://cjoint.com/data/fkoEYPCqXA.htm

d8^P

Blair

Cor, blimey!
I scoured the web for an image,
there was none but a tiny, tiny, speck as an example.
may I express my boundless appreciation



"Blair (TC)" wrote in message
oups.com...
I say, old boy. Might not a colour
scan be a bit more up to date?

http://cjoint.com/data/fkoEYPCqXA.htm

d8^P

Blair