Two jigsaws from K G Games are featured in today's post, 14th August 2015.
Both jigsaws are from the 400-piece series titled Rail Journey and this first example is titled Pendennis Castle at Chester. The static locomotive is ex GWR 'Castle' class 4-6-0 of Charles Collett, No.4079 Pendennis Castle. The picture shows the locomotive at Chester before heading the Ian Allan 'Birkenhead Flyer' back to Birmingham, in 1967.
The locomotive is one of the more famous GWR locomotives. In 1925 the GWR loaned her to the rival LNER company where she was compared with the new LNER 'A1' class 4-6-2 locomotives. Trials proved her superiority over her rivals. In 1977 she was sold to an Australian iron ore company but repatriated in 2000. The locomotive is currently under overhaul at Didcot Railway Centre.
Jigsaw picture number two features double heading GWR locomotives on the 'Cambrian Coast Express'. The jigsaw is from the same 400-piece series as above and titled On The Cambrian Coast. The two locomotives are an unidentified 'Manor' class 4-6-0 of Collett and a 'Small Prairie' class 2-6-2 locomotive, No.4555 of George Jackson Churchward. 'The Cambrian Coast Express' began in 1927 and ran from Paddington to Aberystwyth and Pwlheli; it was the Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth - Pwllheli lines that tracked the Cambrian Coast in Wales. The line could not support heavy locomotives and the smaller 'Dukedogs' and, later 'Manors' were ideal for the service. Just looking closely at the picture reminds us of how safety and security have changed on the railways since steam days.
A third jigsaw from the Rail Journey series, Caledonian Railway No.123 at Carstairs, is featured in the post of 30th October 2010.
