M/S Amorella

M/S AMORELLA

Built : 1988 Split, Croatia

Length : 169.4 m

Passengers : 2,480

Kobba Klintar Pilot Station 

Åland Islands, Finland

60°01'46" N / 19°52'57" E

Sent by Anne from Ylivieska, Finland.

MS Mega Victoria is a cruiseferry owned by Corsica Ferries. She was formerly owned by Viking Line as MS Amorella and operated on the route Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm and from 2022 Helsinki–Mariehamn–Stockholm. She was built in 1988 by Brodosplit in Croatia, then Yugoslavia.

Amorella has three sister ships: Gabriella in the Viking Line fleet, Isabelle operated by Tallink and Crown Seaways, operated by DFDS Seaways.

Amorella was ordered in 1986 by SF Line, one of the partners in Viking Line consortium. Although Brodosplit outbid other shipyards, the Finnish State offered to subsidise construction of the ship if she was built at a Finnish shipyard. This was a common practice in the 1980s to bring more jobs to Finland, but this time SF Line declined and had the ship built in Yugoslavia. The original planned delivery date for Amorella was in March 1988, but due to delays in construction she was not completed until September, which meant SF Line was forced to operate the lucrative summer season with old tonnage.

Except for short periods of time in 1997, 1998 and 2002, Amorella has always served on the Turku–Mariehamn/Långnäs–Stockholm route, making her the longest-lasting ship on that route. Originally she only called in Mariehamn during day crossing, but in July 1999 she had to start calling at the Åland Islands in both directions to maintain tax free sales on board, and as a result a call at Långnäs was added to the night crossing (read more).

LZ 129 Hindenburg

A moment featuring the German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship, the LZ 129 Hindenburg, during its operational period in the mid-1930s.

Sent by Kerstin from Bavaria, Germany.

LZ 129 Hindenburg (Luftschiff Zeppelin #129; registration: D-LZ 129) was a German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship, the lead ship of its class, the longest class of flying machine and the largest airship by envelope volume. It was designed and built by the Zeppelin Company (Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH) on the shores of Lake Constance in Friedrichshafen, Germany, and was operated by the German Zeppelin Airline Company (Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei). It was named after Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, who was President of Germany from 1925 until his death in 1934.

The airship first flew from March 1936 as a Nazi propaganda vessel until it burst into flames 14 months later on May 6, 1937, while attempting to land at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Manchester Township, New Jersey, at the end of the first North American transatlantic journey of its second season of service. This was the last of the great airship disasters; it was preceded by the crashes of the British R38, the US airship Roma, the French Dixmude, the USS Shenandoah, the British R101, and the USS Akron (read more).

MS "Moby Dick"

"Moby Dick", a passenger or tour boat operating in Berlin, Germany. It has a distinctive checkered pattern on its side.

Sent by Carola from Berlin, Germany.

The shiny fish skin with black scales and the large silver caudal fin – even from a distance you can recognize our Moby Dick! Named after one of the most famous aquatic animals in the world, our MS “Moby Dick” attracts everyone’s attention. The unusual adventure ship invites you to one boat trip after another (read more).

China - Speed Train "Harmony"

A high-speed train from China's railway system, specifically a CRH (China Railway High-speed) train, also known as a "Harmony" (和谐号) train.

Sent by Fei Mo from Beijing, China.

Hexie (Chinese: 和谐号; pinyin: Héxié hào; lit. 'Harmony'), also known as the CRH series EMU, is an umbrella term for the multiple unit high-speed and higher-speed trains operated by China Railway under the China Railway High-speed brand. All series of Hexie are based on foreign-developed technology and later manufactured locally in China through technology transfer licenses, with the ultimate goal of China acquiring the know-how and capability to produce high-speed rail trains.

The Harmony series does not belong to any single platform, instead encompassing all high-speed trains in China with roots in foreign technology, specifically CRH1, CRH2, CRH3 and CRH5. Although later variants of Hexie such as CRH380A were designed by Chinese companies, they are still classified as CRH due to incorporation of foreign technology.

In 2007, China's Ministry of Railways drafted a plan for China's future high-speed network. Bombardier Transportation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Alstom and later Siemens joined the high-speed train manufacturing project that later became known as Harmony. Forming joint-ventures with Chinese company CNR and CSR, these four foreign companies signed agreements with China to manufacture high-speed trains for China as well as provide assistance for Chinese companies to manufacture train cars locally in the future (read more).

Peterbilt 379

PETERBILT 379 positioned in front of the iconis Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

Sent by Anna from Nebraska, USA.

The Peterbilt 379 is a model line of Class 8 trucks that was produced by the Peterbilt division of PACCAR from 1987 to 2007. Serving as the successor to the 359, the 379 was a conventional-cab truck configured primarily for highway use, serving as the flagship of the Peterbilt model line. During much of its production, the 379 was popular among owner-operator drivers. In line with the Kenworth W900, the 379 serves as a popular basis for truck customization.

Following its 2007 discontinuation, the 379 was replaced by the Peterbilt 389, distinguished by oval headlamp clusters and a longer hood. To commemorate the end of production, the final 1000 examples of the 379 were designated as Legacy Class 379.

The largest highway truck sold by Peterbilt at its launch, the 379 was produced in two configurations, a 119-inch BBC (bumper to back of cab length) and an extended-length hood, for a 127-inch BBC. The 379 is externally distinguished from the 359 from the use of an enlarged windshield (allowing for horizontally mounted windshield wipers); the 379 also introduced headlamp-mounted turn signals (relocated from the fender), making rectangular headlamps standard (read more).

The Pinta, The Nina, and The Santa Maria

SPANISH SCHOOL (19 Jh.) : The Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria sailing towards the West Indies in 1492, from The Discovery of America (1878).

Sent by Eric from Saarland, Germany.

A ship built in medieval Spain in c. 1441, known as La Pinta (Spanish for The Painted One, The Look, or The Spotted One) was the fastest of the three Spanish ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first transatlantic voyage in 1492. The New World was first sighted by Rodrigo de Triana aboard La Pinta on 12 October 1492. The owner of La Pinta was Cristóbal Quintero. The Quintero brothers were ship owners from Palos. The owner of the ship allowed Martín Alonso Pinzón to take over the ship so he could keep an eye on her.

La Pinta was a caravel-type vessel. By tradition, Spanish ships were named after saints and usually given nicknames. Thus, La Pinta, like La Niña, was not the ship's actual name; La Niña's actual name was the Santa Clara. The Santa María's original nickname was La Gallega. The actual original name of La Pinta is unknown. The origin of the ship is disputed but is believed to have been built in Spain in 1441. She was later rebuilt for use by Christopher Columbus (read more).

Battleship Cove : Hiddensee

Hiddensee is a Russian-built missile corvette that was deployed by the East German Navy during the mid-to-late 1980s. Shortly after the reunification of Germany, she was transferred to the US Navy, where she served as a test platform for five years. She arrived at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA in 1997 and exhibits a fascinating collection of Cold War technology.

Sent by Iryna from Connecticutt, USA.

Hiddensee was a Tarantul-class corvette. Originally a Soviet naval warship, the corvette was transferred first to the East German navy, then to the new unified German Navy, and ended her career in the United States as a non-commissioned naval ship. After decommissioning, she was later part of the Battleship Cove site at Fall River, Massachusetts as a museum ship, before being scrapped in 2023.

The Tarantul I-class missile corvette was launched in 1984 at the Petrovsky Shipyard of Almaz Shipbuilding Company in Leningrad, Russian SFSR. She was commissioned in 1985 by the East German Volksmarine as Rudolf Egelhofer, but after the reunification of Germany in 1990, she was transferred to the German Navy and renamed Hiddensee (read more).

'Mallard', London & North Eastern Railway Locomotive no 4468

'Mallard', London & North Eastern Railway Locomotive no 4468, 1938

The A4 Pacific class 'Mallard' was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley (1876-1941). On Sunday 3 July 1938, the 4-6-2 locomotive reached a speed of 126 mph, achieving a new world speed record for steam locomotives which remains unbroken to this day.

Sent by Hannah from Yorkshire, England.

LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard is a 4-6-2 ("Pacific") steam locomotive built in 1938 for operation on the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) at Doncaster Works to a design of Nigel Gresley. Its streamlined, wind tunnel tested design allowed it to haul long-distance express passenger services at high speeds. On 3 July 1938, Mallard broke the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h), which still stands today.

While in British Railways days regular steam-hauled rail services in the UK were officially limited to a 90 mph (140 km/h) 'line speed', before the war, the A4s had to run significantly above 90 mph (140 km/h) just to keep schedule on trains such as the Silver Jubilee and The Coronation, with the engines reaching 100 mph on many occasions. Mallard covered almost one and a half million miles (2.4 million km) before it was retired in 1963.

The locomotive is 70 ft (21 m) long and weighs 165 long tons (168 tonnes, 369,600 lbs), including the tender. It is painted in LNER garter blue with red wheels and steel rims.

Mallard is now part of the National Collection and preserved at the National Railway Museum in York (read more).

Canada - Ontario - Toronto Street Car

Based on the original painted artwork "Evolution of the Toronto Streetcar".

Sent by Shelley from Toronto, Canada.

The Toronto streetcar system is a network of eleven streetcar routes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It is the third busiest light-rail system in North America. The network is concentrated primarily in Downtown Toronto and in proximity to the city's waterfront. Much of the streetcar route network dates from the second half of the 19th century. Three streetcar routes operate in their own right-of-way, one in a partial right-of-way, and six operate on street trackage shared with vehicular traffic with streetcars stopping on demand at frequent stops like buses. Since 2019, the network has used low-floor streetcars, making it fully accessible.

Toronto's streetcars provide most of the downtown core's surface transit service. Four of the TTC's five most heavily used surface routes are streetcar routes. In 2024, the system had a ridership of 79,295,000, or about 248,300 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2025 (read more).

Russia - VAZ-2101 or Lada 2101 or "Zhiguli"

VAZ-2101 or Lada 2101 or "Zhiguli"

Sent by Tiina from Seindjoki, Finland.

The VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli", commonly nicknamed "Kopeyka" (for the smallest Soviet coin, 1/100 of the Russian ruble), is a compact 4-door sedan or wagon, called small class, passenger car, model 1 in Soviet classification, and produced by the Soviet manufacturer AvtoVAZ, introduced in 1970 as the company's first product.

The car is a licence-built version of the Fiat 124, that was heavily modified and tailored for the rough climate and road conditions across the Soviet Union and much of the Eastern Bloc countries. Subsequently, it was widely, and successfully exported to the West under the Lada brand, for over two decades. The station wagon version (correspondingly based on the Fiat 124 Familiare) was known as the VAZ-2102 (read more).

Taiwan - Taiwan Railway R200

Taiwan Railway R200 diesel-electric locomotive.

Sent by Amy Lee from Taiwan.

The R200 are a series of diesel-electric locomotives built by Stadler Rail for use by the Taiwan Railways Administration, starting in 2023.

In 2015, the Taiwan Railways proposed an overall vehicle purchase and replacement plan (spanning from 2015-2024) and proposed the purchase of 102 locomotives, of which 34 were diesel-electric locomotives. After the electrification of the railway system around the island in 2020, passenger trains on the operating routes will rarely use diesel locomotives for traction, and service will be adjusted to use diesels exclusively for freight, emergency rescue, national defense and military needs.

The 165 million euro contract for the locomotives was signed in October 2019; the locomotives are the first major order for Swiss company Stadler from the Pacific region. They are to be built at the firm’s plant in Valencia, Spain. The first two locomotives in the series, numbered R201 and R202, were previewed at Changhua Locomotive Depot in July 2023, expected to be put into revenue service at the end of 2023 (read more).

Germany - Brandenburg - Commercial Vehicle Show 2023

IFA W 50 L and L 60 for the 6th Commercial Vehicle Show in Horstwalde on 13th August 2023.

Sent by Ulrich from Bonn, Germany.

The IFA W 50 is a medium-duty truck built by the East German IFA conglomerate at their Ludwigsfelde plant from 1965 until 1990. A total of about 572,000 were built in Ludwigsfelde, with an unknown additional number of special-use vehicles assembled at other plants. It was meant to be succeeded by the IFA L 60 but outlived it by several months. IFA ended all truck production on 17 December 1990, following the reunification of Germany (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Leipzig Steam Cultural Tour Train

Steam locomotive 52 8079-7 of Leipzig Steam Cultural Tour near Staßfurt.

Sent by Hanko fro Schmelz, Germany. Thanks for the stamp of train on the postcard.

No matter whether you love nature; like to explore buildings of past centuries; want to go hiking, cycling, horseback riding; or just want to be pampered; there will be something for everyone. All visitors planning to explore the landscape of Saxony's castle and heathland region by car, railway or in a different way, will have the chance to make their own discoveries. The warmth of Saxons and the exemplary Saxon cosiness along with the delicious regional cuisine will give your stay a really special atmosphere.

In the heart of Saxony's castle and heathland region, you will find the woodlands of Dahlen Heath as well as Wermsdorf Forest offering extensive hiking and biking trails. And where, other than in the heart of Saxony's stunning castle and heathland region, could be a better place for the Saxon STEAM RAILWAY ROUTE to start? You could start your journey through the Free State by taking a ride on the Döllnitzbahn railway. The Döllnitzbahn railway will take you from the town of Oschatz, where restored historic buildings and alleys keep the pulse of a former epoch, out into the country. Passing rivers, meadows and fields, you will reach districts of the commune of Sornzig-Ablass in addition to the commune of Naundorf and the town of Mügeln (read more).

Sri Lanka - Stream Train / Viceroy Special

SRI LANKA (CEYLON)
Steam Train / Upcountry

Sent by my friend Ravindra from Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka.

The Viceroy Special is a special passenger train service operated by Lakindu & Thathsara (Ceylon) Ltd.^[ Powered by the sole steam locomotive kept in operation in Sri Lanka, it is operated as a private train on all railway lines in the island. The 75-year-old luxury train has two air-conditioned observation saloons and a restaurant car (read more).

USA - Massachusetts - Lowell National Historical Park

Lowell National Historical Park

Lowell, Massachusetts

The introduction of horse drawn trolleys in 1863 and later electrified cars in 1889, gave residents the ability to commute to work, the freedom to choose where to live and the opportunity to travel outside the city. Lowell National Historical Park reintroduced the Trolley in 1984 linking the historic downtown mills and the canal transportation system.

Sent by Sue Ellen from Boston in Massachusetts, USA.

Lowell National Historical Park is a National Historical Park of the United States located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Established in 1978 a few years after Lowell Heritage State Park, it is operated by the National Park Service and comprises a group of different sites in and around the city of Lowell related to the era of textile manufacturing in the city during the Industrial Revolution. In 2019, the park was included as Massachusetts' representative in the America the Beautiful Quarters series (read more).

Thailand - Bangkok - Tuk Tuk

Tuk Tuk - Three wheels opened-air taxi, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself to my wife during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

When thinking about Thailand, one of the first images that often comes to mind is the vibrant aside from the beautiful beaches are the bustling streets filled with the sounds and sights of tuk tuks weaving through traffic. These three-wheeled vehicles are more than just a mode of transportation; they are a symbol of Thai culture similar to their magnificent temples and other cultural attractions and are also considered as an iconic part of the country’s urban landscape. With their distinct design and the unique “tuk-tuk-tuk” sound of their engines, tuk tuks offer a quintessential Thai experience that combines practicality, tradition, and a touch of adventure (read further).

Vietnam - The Transporters

 

I bought this postcard during my trip to Hanoi (10th - 12th January 2025) and got the stamps cancelled at the Central Post Office in Hanoi.

Malaysia Airlines

Collaboration of Malaysia Airlines and CIMB.

Signed by Captain Manshah and First Officer Fadlee Md Nor and the crews for the MH485 (Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Velana International Airport in Male, Maldives) on Sunday, 8th December 2024.

Road Trains

Roadtrains Australia

Sent by Jenny, a postcrosser from Victoria, Australia.

Faroe Islands - Atlantic Airways

 

Atlantic Airways, Vágar. 

Sent by Regin, TravBuddy friend from Faroe Islands. 

Atlantic Airways (OMX: FO-AIR) is the national airline of the Faroe Islands, operating domestic helicopter services and international passenger services as well as search and rescue responsibilities from its base at Vágar Airport, on the Faroese island of Vágar.Most of its pilots are members of the Faroese Pilot Association.(Source)