With a surge of steam and a whistle's shriek, a grand engine pulls away from a station.

This dramatic image of Sussex's historic Bluebell Railway has been captured as part of a series of Royal Mail stamps.

The Classic Locomotives collection continues the Royal Mail's transport theme which started with buses in 2001, airliners in 2002 and Transports of Delight last year.

It also marks the 200th anniversary of the first time a steam train pulled a load on rails.

Today, the engines feature on only a handful of specially preserved railway lines.

The engine pictured in the 47p Bluebell Railway stamp is the Blackmore Vale, a Southern Railway locomotive in the Bullied Light Pacific class built in Brighton in 1946.

The stamps are available priced £2.43 from most post office branches, the Royal Mail on 08457 641641 and the Bluebell Railway bookshop.