An extension to my book 'Steam Trains and Jigsaw puzzles' published in 2007 and 2013.
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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
Thursday, 19 March 2026
A 'Hall' over th Royal Albert Bridge
The title is a simple reference to today's jigsaw, 19th March 2026; a 500-piece example from the early days of steam train puzzles. Arrow Games, in particuar, was a famous name for twenty years from c1965. For more information on the Arrow Games series of steam train jgsaws, each of four puzzles, type Arrow Games in the search box to the right.
The locomotive steaming over the bridge, joining Devon and Cornwall, is 'Hall' class 4-6-0 No.4977 Watcombe Hall, one of the '4900' class of Charles Collett. The famous bridge of Isambard Kingdom Brunel is unique in design and was opened by Prince Albert on 11th April 1859. Brunel couldn't attend the opening as he was ill, and he passed away on 5th September 1859.
Brunel's creation is known as a 'bowstring suspension' bridge, a railway only bridge that spans the River Tamar between Devon (Plymouth) and Cornwall (Saltash). The 1976 painting for the jigsaw was commissioned by American Company Milton Bradley - they had taken over Arrow Games in 1972. The artist was Stewart Charles Hine (1928-2018).
