Joint Issue –Liechtenstein-Austria-Switzerland – Miniature Sheet 2022
150th Anniversary of the Feldkirch-Schaan-Buchs Railway
For 150 years, this cross-border railway has connected Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. The anniversary miniature sheet is a joint issue by these three countries.
The 18.5-kilometre-long single-track line in standard gauge was opened on 24 October 1872. It runs from Feldkirch in Vorarlberg via Schaan-Vaduz in Liechtenstein to Buchs in the Swiss canton of Sankt Gallen. The railway is operated by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) and is the only railway connection in Liechtenstein; the total travel time is about 20 minutes.
The trilateral miniature sheet features a class 77 steam locomotive built in 1927 on the Austrian stamp, the motif for Liechtenstein is a class 4024 TALENT railcar of ÖBB from 2004. Switzerland chose a class Re 4/4II (Re 420) electric locomotive, one of the most common traction unit series in Switzerland, which was built between 1964 and 1985.
The souvenir sheet with the anniversary stamps “150 Years of the Feldkirch-Schaan-Buchs Railway Line” (face value: CHF 1.80) is a unique joint issue by the postal companies of Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It shows all three special stamps of the neighbouring countries with photographs of different train compositions; in Liechtenstein it is the 4024 series.
In each country, only that country’s own stamp is perforated on the souvenir sheet and shows the respective face value. However, a cancelled souvenir sheet with all the face values will also be available.
Stamp Digest 