Montage of a scenic, coastal Light Railway

Today's post, 25 June 2025 describes a 1000-piece jigsaw available from

The Weston Clevedon and Portishead Railway Group.The railway, (acronym WCPR) was opened in 1897 and closed in 1940 - for more information, use the following link www.wcprgroup.org.uk

The puzzle, a montage when complete, is split into 4 parts, each of similar dimensions. All four oil paintings are the work of Stuart Booth. Working left to right, top to bottom, the four paintings are 1) Clevedon Crossings WCPR engine No.4 at Clevedon Triangle; 2) Clevedon All Saints, Winter, WCPR 'Terrier' No.4 crossing All Saints Lane, Clevedon; 3) WCPR Portishead Winter; 4) Crossing the Triangle WCPR No.1 crossing the Clevedon triangle. Jigsaws are produced by 'Great British Jigsaws'. A Light Railway is a full gauge railway that cannot support heavy traffic, e.g.large locomotives. Below is an image of the striking box containing the puzzle pieces.

Introducing artist Rob Parkinson

Today's post, 20th May 2025, describes a 1000 piece jigsaw from The Gifted Stationery Company titled At the Station. The main focus of the jigsaw is the most famous of steam locomotives, No.60103 Flying Scotsman, initially of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER)). However, The locomotive number in the painting, was attributed to the engine in December 1948, in early British Railways' days. The engine is carrying the headboard The Flying Scotsman with the definite article and if you are interested in more details of the train and engine, just input the engine's name in the search bar above. Note that the name-plate Flying Scotsman is omitted from the side of the locomotive but the letters LNER, are clearly visible on the tender.

Rob Parkinson is a new, and welcome artist to my steam train jigsaws blog. His vibrant scene comprises cameos of passengers, railway staff, station architecture and platform details including clocks and displays of flowers. The guard appears to be timing the train.

Canal and Railway - a perfect combination

Two modes of transport in the same painting always attract attention, and railways and canals are two that appeal to jigsaw enthusiasts of broad interests. The Ravensburger 'Leisure Days' series of puzzles includes at least two examples highlighting the blog title. Number 10 in the series is titled A Day on the Canal and the artist is Kevin Walsh.

Kevin's canvas is, as usual, packed to capacity with interesting scenes and vivid colours. He successfully integrates many subjects including two superb narrowboats and an ex Great Western Railway 'Castle' class locomotive No.7029, Clun Castle. The 4-6-0 express locomotive is heading a passenger train over a bridge above the canal. Added details include mallard ducks, mute swans, swallows, a pheasant, three adults, two children, a dog, a cat, and a smaller boat in the distance, all within a tranquil and green, countryside location. Kevin's artwork captivates the aura of peace, serenity and happiness; people enjoying their day in the British countryside. This jigsaw resonates with me as I have a 00 gauge (1/76 scale) model of No.7029, complete with sound, on my railway layout.

A Knight and an 'A4'

The jigsaw in today's post, 26 February 2025, depicts an illustrative painting by Robert Barry titled Knight Train. The Big 500-piece jigsaw from House of Puzzles shows the name of the famous locomotive engineer Sir Nigel Gresley being carried by the class 'A4' 4-6-2 locomotive, No.60002. (No.60002 was actually named Sir Murrough Wilson in 1939). Is this painting in memory of Gresley? Was it a scene from a Preserved Railway ceremonial event? If anyone knows what the painting truly reflects please get in touch and I will add the details retrospectively.

Robert's painting is very 'busy' with the following inclusions - a dog, two children, three adults, two postmen and their mail van, a hovering kestrel, a peacock butterfly, several buildings, a flowering cherry tree, a hay cart, a station platform, several flowers, a double signal gantry, and the locomotive in BR Blue livery(?). Oh.... and a red squirrel.

A 'break' in the country

Today's post, 21 January 2025, delivers a jigsaw showing another fine painting from Peter Webster (this is his eighth painting chosen for jigsaws, described on this blog). Peter is an artist who places his main subject a train, in plain view, but within a superb countryside setting. Romany Summer features a Romany group of adults and children with their horses and caravans enjoying a break by a railway branchline. Included in the countryside scene are - a small freight train headed by a Great Western 2-6-2 Prairie tank, a single line and single platform station, scattered village houses, a stream and several trees all integrated into a summer, rural composition. Romany Summer is one of a set of four 500-piece puzzles issued in the same box, by JHG Puzzles, all featuring Peter's paintings. A picture of the box lid is shown below. The other three jigsaws in the box are described on this blog. Use the search bar for Busy Day at Dulverton, Saint at Radley and Winchcombe Station which were all issued separately by Classic Deluxe. Also on the blog by Peter are Summer Saturday, Leaving Coombe Junction, Morning Service and Towards Dartmoor (the latter a superb 1000-piece panoramic style jigsaw, from Clementoni).

A Christmas Errand

Apologies, but due to ill health and hospitalisation recently, I could not add a post at Christmas. However I hope that all of my viewers had a super Christmas and will have a healthy and posperous New Year. Today's post, 27th December 2024, is the example I wanted to post at Christmas - a 250, large piece jigsaw from Gibsons titled Christmas Errand. Kevin Walsh has captured part of the 'spirit' of the festive season with a canvas including waiting passengers at a train station - two children, parents(?) wrapped parcels, a christmas tree, and a handsome train approaching the platform. The engine appears to be one of the small 'workhorses' of the Great Western Railway; an 0-4-2 tank type heading chocolate and cream liveried clerestory coaches. The picture invites you to imagine a story unfolding before you.

The jigsaw was marketed in c2011.

Another double from Kevin Walsh

In this post, 4 November 2024, I am showing another jigsaw featuring artwork by the prolific artist Kevin Walsh which, at first sight, has been used previously by another jigsaw company. But has it? The jigsaw title is Station Buffet (bottom below) but look at my post of 18 December 2015 and observe carefully, the puzzle titled Little Spotters (top below) from Gibsons. Can you see any changes made by Kevin in the more modern puzzle picture, Station Buffet. Both puzzles are of 1000 pieces but Station Buffet, is made by Kidicraft under the Kevin Walsh 'Nostalgia' brand. The locomotive in both puzzles is described in the 2015 post but I will add the following point of history - No.4588 was among the first locomotives to leave Barry Scrapyard, the 11th to leave (1972). I have included both puzzles below, to make it easy for comparison.The two make up the third double, in my collection, showing the artwork of Kevin Walsh. The most easily recognised changes in the modern puzzle are the addition of a cat, the absence of a brass, safety valve cover on the engine and the alterations to the trees. Can you spot any more changes?

Class 'A4' on the Severn Valley Railway.

Today, 17 October 2024, I am featuring a jigsaw showing a visitor to the Heritage, Great Western Railway - The Severn Valley Railway (SVR). The scene comprises the Tenbury Wall and a passing ex LNER 'A4' class 4-6-2, No.4498 Sir Nigel Gresley; the latter heading a passenger service. The locomotive, owned by 'The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust' (SNGLT) has been seconded to other Heritage Railways to glamorise 'Special Events,' and hence, boost attendances. The excellent photograph by Philip Wilson SNGLT has been used for the 1000-piece jigsaw below, made by Great British Jigsaws, for the SNGLT - see the website, 4498.org.uk The title of the jigsaw is 4498 on Tenbury Wall, SVR.

. The thirty-five 'A4' class locomotives were built between 1935 and 1938, at the Doncaster Works of the LNER (London & North Eastern Railway). Six are preserved - 3 in England, 1 in Scotland, 1 in Canada and 1 in the USA. No.4498 was built in 1937 and justifiably carries the name of the revered locomotive designer. It holds the post-war steam record of 112mph. As No.4468 Mallard, holds the world steam record, at 126mph, it is clear that this Gresley class of 4-6-2's was powerful, extremely fast, and aesthetically handsome in appearance.

Santa Express

A special 1000-piece, panoramic Christmas jigsaw is the subject of today's post - 1st October 2024. The jigsaw, titled 2023 Santa Express was produced by Hunter Price International Limited "with metallic details". The jigsaw is marketed as a Limited Edition by Shaws. Some of the artwork has been used in an earlier jigsaw which can be viewed in the post of 30th July 2019. Titled Steam Train in the Snow the earlier, smaller puzzle of 500-pieces, was sold at the Wilko Stores.

A copy of the jigsaw from July 2019 is included below, for comparison - differences are obvious. The 2023 version includes much more detail in the panoramic composition; a prominent robin to the left hand side is very attractive. Metallic details, not seen in the photograph, are clearly seen when viewing the jigsaw under certain lighting conditions and a special attraction during assembly.

The Jigasaurus, (press the link to the right) features a few wooden puzzles made by Shaw & Co. Ltd, from the 1930's.

Spirit of Sandringham

We are back to normal again and fully functioning. Today's post, 17 September 2024, features a new build 4-6-0 locomotive, currently under construction for the 'B17' Steam Locomotive Trust. The locomotive will carry number and name 61673 Spirit of Sandringham. The 'B17' locomotive, No.61600 Sandringham, is pictured on a 1000-piece jigsaw from JHG Jigsaws (Grovely) as it passes through Wolferton Station. The jigsaw is titled Sandringham at Home and the artist is Malcolm Root. This painting and a second by Malcolm titled Kilverton Hall at March Station can be viewed at www.b17steamloco.com Wolferton railway station, in Norfolk, opened in 1862 to serve the village of the same name. At around the same time the local Sandringham Estate was acquired by Queen Victoria for the Prince of Wales (later, King Edward VII). The station was then used on private or ceremonial occasions by the Royal Family, heads of state and for important politicians etc., to disembark on their way to stay at Sandringham House. Because of the latter, the station became known as a 'Royal' station; such railway journeys continued until the station’s closure in 1969. Subsequently, Wolferton station was converted for use as a museum and is currently preserved in private hands. The signal box and part of the station are ‘listed’ buildings.