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If you wish to communicate with me about steam train jigsaws and/or related railway art, or to respond to requests for answers to my queries, please email David, at : platt.precology@gmail.com

Friday 7 February 2014

(The) Queen of Scots

Today's post, 7th February 2014, comprises two photographs of jigsaws both featuring the famous and prestigious Pullman Car passenger service, '(The) Queen of Scots'. The service originated in 1928 and ran from London Kings Cross to Glasgow Queen Street, via Leeds and Harrogate, on the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). A headboard 'Queen of Scots' was added to the front of the locomotive four years later* and the train reduced in size to seven cars. In the early days locomotives were changed at Leeds;  'C1' or 'D11' class 4-4-0 types of Henry Ivatt and John Robinson respectively, were used on the express. 'The Queen of Scots' headboard* (with the definite article) was introduced after the war in 1949. The Pullman service then ran from Kings Cross to Glasgow Queen Street, via Leeds and Edinburgh Waverley hauled by Gresley 'A1', 'A3' and 'A4' class locomotives and later, Peppercorn 'A1' and 'A2' types. The service was terminated in 1964.

A British Railways poster of the 1950's by Reginald Mayes features an 'A4' class 4-6-2 of Nigel Gresley with the headboard 'The Queen of Scots' thundering past a line-side carpet of tartan. An older poster of the 1930's advertises the train with artwork featuring an elegant lady in a red tartan dress waiting to board a Pullman Car. Three attendants are carrying out their duties of service.

*Dave Peel's superb book 'Locomotive Headboards - The Complete Story' is a must for anyone interested in steam railways













Picture one shows a 500-piece puzzle by JR Puzzles titled The Queen of Scots. The locomotive at the head of a rake of Pullman cars is Peppercorn 'A1' class No.60162 Saint Johnstoun. Edgar Hodges illustrative style is perfect for jigsaw manufacture. The inclusion of track workers is typical of Hodges' work.

The second picture shows the same locomotive in charge of the Pullman service as it thunders over a viaduct somewhere on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The jigsaw is a 200-piece example from Raphael/JR Puzzles. The artwork is by Leslie Carr who produced lots of railway related work in the mid 20th century, including posters.