Creamier Annie & Clarabel

Ok, so I spent some time looking at all the A&C that we have, and most all of the shells we have are about the same creamy color that you have, but most all of them have darker faces like the second picture... I only have one set with the darker body and it has the dark face, but I do have one set with the creamier body and light colored face, except it's the "chuffing Annie w/ matching Clarabel.
So, my only guess is that the creamy shelled light faced set that you have was made around the same time as when the chuffing Annie (is it the Thomas adventure set?) was released.