A Waddingtons Zodiac puzzle

In today's post, 30 August 2019, I am describing a Waddingtons' cardboard puzzle from around the mid 20th century. One of the biggest names in jigsaw puzzles, Waddingtons, began making jigsaw puzzles in the early 1930's. They had bought in die cutting technology from America, but it took many years of development before top quality jigsaws could be made. The company survived until 1994 when they were taken over by American company Hasbro Inc. The original name lived on however, with Woolworths as the major supplier. 500 and 1000-piece puzzles were packaged in the instantly recognisable red boxes. Woolworths went into administration in 2008 leaving the Waddingtons name in doubt. 

Canon Street station is depicted in the Waddington’s Zodiac 400-piece jigsaw titled Train Departure. A ‘Schools’ class 4-4-0 locomotive, No.30926 Repton, is pictured leaving the station heading a passenger train in British Railways' days (Repton was originally numbered 926 in Southern Railway days). The station dominates the backdrop. A second steam train is also exiting the station on the adjacent line. The illustrative artwork is unsigned but is very similar to Robert Nixon's oil painting titled Canon Street Station (see www.robertnixon.co.uk). In Robert's painting, 'Schools' class 4-4-0, No 900 Eton is  heading out of the station with a passenger train, in the Southern Railway era. Both of the additional trains are also in similar positions in Robert's painting.

The UK's oldest working steam locomotive.

A puzzle aimed at children, but of 500-pieces and tited Steam train in the snow, was sold at Wilko’s stores around Christmas time, 2017. The preserved ex Furness Railway, 0-4-0 locomotive, No. 20, owned by the Furness Railway Trust, is shown heading a clerestory coach passing a winter village scene. Watching on intently are children sat on a nearby gate. The main attractions are the handsome tender locomotive, the driver dressed as Santa, and a group of children building a snowman in the  field, opposite. The famous ‘Indian Red’ livery of the Furness Railway adorns the coach and locomotive; the latter built by Sharp Stewart & Co. of Manchester, in 1863. The artist of this attractive illustrative painting is not named. The loco was running on the Ribble Steam  Railway based at Preston Docks, but is now based at Shildon; it is the country's oldest working steam locomotive.

Because early/mid-19th century locomotives are rare subjects for artists or jigsaw manufacturers, I am delighted that this 1863 example has been featured. For this reason, it should be part of any steam railway jigsaw collection.

Montage of Barry Freeman's Paintings

It seems logical that, following on from the previous post, we continue with the Barry Freeman theme for today's post, 29 June 2019. The title of today's Gibsons' 1000-piece puzzle,  is Memories of Steam, a superb montage of nine of Barry's best paintings.  One of the paintings, Cities of Lancaster, was included in the previous post, as 500-piece puzzle.

The titles of the paintings are as follows (numbered 1 to 9, left to right,  top to bottom);

1 Memories of Sandown   2 The Haymarket Wanderer   3 Return To Base   4 Autumn Frosts

5 Living Legend   6 Midland Revival   7 Star Quality   8 Cities of Lancaster   9 Western Workhorse.

Nos 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9 can be seen, and are superbly described, in Barry's book - The Railway Paintings of Barry J. Freeman. 

Most of the above paintings have been reproduced as individual jigsaw puzzles and several can be viewed on the blog - just input Barry Freeman into the search bar and they will appear.

Four 'Classics' from Waddingtons and Barry Freeman

I can't explain why I have not used these four Waddington's jigsaws on my blog before now, 23 May 2019. I have had them in my collection for many years (since 1995) and always considered them as 'classic' steam train puzzles. I have resisted the temptation to sell them when downsizing recently as they mirror four of Barry Freeman's best paintings in my opinion, (see his book The Railway Paintings of Barry Freeman). Barry's paintings, clearly defined and evocative, were ideal for jigsaw production. The four puzzles, of 500 pieces each, were issued under the series title of Great Days of Steam. 

The first is titled Winter Wayfarers and the painting has also been used by Gibsons as a panoramic, 636-piece example. The latter is described in the blog of 7 March 2012. The 'Coronation Scot' train in blue and silver livery is pictured speeding past a canal in a 'winter wonderland'. Two barges are pictured on the canal and an elderly dog walker observes the scene from the opposite canal bank.  The 4-6-2 'Princess Coronation' class locomotive at the head of the train is No.6221, Queen Elizabeth. 

Cities of Lancaster depicts the huge 4-6-2 locomotive, No. 46243 City of Lancaster, pulling into the station of the same name, on the West Coast Main Line. Both 6221 above, and 46243 were designed by (Sir) William Stanier as part of the 'Coronation' class of 38 express locomotives for the London Midland & Scottish Region (LMS).

Summer at Saltern Cove features a 'Star' class, 4-6-0 locomotive, No. 4072 Tresco Abbey, designed by George Jackson Churchward for the Great Western Railway (GWR). The locomotive, converted to a 'Castle' class example in 1938, is pictured hauling typical GWR chocolate and cream carriages along the Cornish coast.

The fourth jigsaw in the series is Sharing the Moment. Barry has painted double heading GWR locomotives speeding past a lock on the Kennet & Avon Canal. The leading locomotive is 'Saint' class 4-6-0, No.2982 Lalla Rookh, with 'Castle' class 4-6-0 No.4093 Dunster Castle, behind. In the lock on the canal is a huge barge Unity which just fits the available space. Two shire horses with a handler are shown beside the lock. No.2982 was a George Jackson Churchward design; No.4093 was designed by Charles Collett. 

Clementoni panorama

Today's jigsaw, 19 April 2019, is a 1000-piece Clementoni example cut into a large panoramic letterbox shape and titled Towards Dartmoor.

In Peter Webster's artwork two small passenger trains are shown in a two-line country station, (South Devon?) hauled by an 0-6-0 pannier tank, in reverse, (right) and possibly, a small 2-6-2 Prairie tank (left). The  pannier tank  headed train is signalled to leave the station; the second train appears to be stationary. A half cab, single-deck bus is pictured in the forecourt, with two cars of similar vintage. Several passengers are distributed throughout the composition.

It is a large, imposing jigsaw puzzle which attracted many admiring glances whilst on show on my dining room table, for a couple of days, following completion. Clementoni is an Italian company: input Clementoni into the search bar to see other steam train jigsaws from this company.

Snow Day

Today, 22 March 2019, I am describing a W.H.Smith jigsaw puzzle comprising the obligatory steam train among several winter village cameos.

                                          

The jigsaw, titled Snow Day, is of 500 pieces and features the illustrative artwork of Trevor Mitchell. A Great Western Railway (GWR) prairie tank locomotive is shown passing over a level crossing. The date is possibly the mid 1940's as the GWR became the Western Region of British Railways from 1948. There are lots of cameos in Trevor's composition including a mum having a snowball fight with her children, four old cars, and a man riding on a horse and cart, the latter being used to carry a large Christmas tree. A garage and cycle shop add to the busy scene, with a signal box and a church in the background. Several people and two dogs add human and pet interest to the picture and a light covering of snow adds that special ingredient to the mix.

A Ravensberger Pair- Railway Memories.

 Today's post, 13th February 2019, features two Ravensburger puzzles marketed as a pair, in a single box. The title for the pair, is Railway Memories.

The first puzzle (left), is titled Titfield Thunderbolt. In Alan King's painting an idyllic country village is depicted including crowds socialising at a cricket match, with picnics to the fore. Many families and 1950’s cars are included in the composition. A local train is passing close by, headed by a GWR 0-4-2 push and pull tank engine, No.1401, the same one that featured in the film Titfield Thunderbolt in 1953. The train draws attention from many villagers, especially from children. The four cars in Alan’s picture are a Morris Minor 1000 Traveller, a red 4-litre Bentley, a blue 1935 Triumph Vitesse and a Morris Minor Mini.

The second jigsaw (right),is titled Winter Service. Many passengers are pictured leaving a country station on a cold winter day carrying shopping bags and parcels. Two of the cars depicted in the first jigsaw of the duo, Titfield Thunderbolt, are also pictured in the forecourt of the station in Winter Service – the red 4-litre Bentley and the blue 1935 Triumph Vitesse. A GWR pannier tank 0-6-0 locomotive No.5043 is also prominent in the station and a forecourt tea shop adds further interest. Other human interest includes the stationmaster and engine driver having a ‘chinwag’ - Alan King is again, the artist. He included himself in the picture, identified as the young trainspotter in the beige coat and red scarf .

Ravensburger, USA

Todays post, 31 January 2018,  features a 500-piece jigsaw from Ravensburger that was made for the USA market.

It is quite a unique steam railway puzzle of 'Large Piece Format', measuring 70cm x 50cm when completed. There is a lot of detail in the painting by British artist Michael Herring. Centre stage is a smalL, ex-L.N.E.R. tank engine, heading two small passenger coaches on a single track, rural line. Seven geese have escaped through a gap in the lineside fence, and have wandered on to. the track in front of the stationary train. The geese are causing consternation among train crew and fascination among a few, visible passengers leaning from open carriage windows. The fireman and guard are shown walking beside the train towards the geese as the driver looks on from his cab. A man and his dog are approaching the line from a lineside property, presumably to rescue the geese. A shed is open alongside the property to re-house the geese. A covering of snow adds aesthetic appeal to the pictorial composition. The jigsaw is titled Snow Bound but the original artwork on Michael's website is titled Geese on the Line. The jigsaw is not generally available in the UK to the best of my knowledge, although my used USA copy, was purchased from a UK Amazon supplier. As it was first marketed in c2008, used copies may be the only examples currently available. Michael's picture must represent a British Railways' scene (1948-1968), as the logo -  on the class 'J69', 0-6-0 tank engine, No.68579, designed by J. Holden, c1902 - was used post 1956. The locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1960.  

Two vertical jigsaws from Sovereign Publications

May I take this opportunity to wish all supporters of the blog a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Today's post, 5th January 2019, features two pics of portrait style jigsaws from Sovereign Publications.

Titled M.R. Compound Class 4, 4-4-0 No.1000, (left), this 600-piece jigsaw from Sovereign Publications shows the preserved compound, Midland Railway (MR) locomotive on the 'Cumbrian Mountain Pullman' 'Special'. No.1000 was the first locomotive designed by Samuel Johnson for the MR. She was built at Derby Works in 1902 as No.2631, but renumbered to No.1000 in 1907. Richard Deeley modified the design in 1914 in which state she remained until 1923, when she became part of the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS). Nationalisation in 1948 meant renumbering again as British Railways (BR) No.41000. She was 'pensioned off' from BR in 1951, heading for preservation, and restored in 1959 to virtually 1914 condition and MR red livery, to run main line 'Specials'. She was then stored at the Transport Museum in Clapham. She became a static exhibit at the National Railway Museum in York but is now at the Barrow Hill Engine shed in Derbyshire, on loan. In the jigsaw photograph the locomotive is double-heading with a second engine but there are no details on the box. However, David Rostance' photographs on 'Flickr' show No.1000 double heading with 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0, No.5690 Leander, heading the 'Cumbrian Mountain Pullman' on 5th and 12th February 1983. These photographs in the snow show many similarities to the jigsaw picture. A postcard of the same photograph used for the jigsaw has been on sale on Ebay recently.

The jigsaw (right) is titled B.R. Class 4MT No.80135. The locomotive was built as a large, 2-6-4 tank type by Robert Riddles, of British Railways, in 1956, at Brighton. She was withdrawn from service in 1965 and arrived at Barry Scrapyard a year later. In 1973, the locomotive became the 39th condemned example to be reprieved and rescued from the famous Woodham Bro's scrapyard. She was to be purchased by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Trust (NYMRT) in 1973, but shortage of cash meant that she was sold to a Dutch businessman, who had her restored between 1977-1980. On his death in 2006, the locomotive was bequeathed to the NYMR where she remains today. She is out of service for repairs at the present time.

The Second, Pair of Puzzles from CHUMS

In this post, 7 December 2018, I am describing the second pair of puzzles mentioned in the previous post - i.e. the final two from a set of four jigsaws showing Classic British Trains, marketed by Chums. Both are of 500 pieces, made by Grovely JHG Puzzles.

The first, left,  is titled Flying Scotsman, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. The puzzle picture shows the famous locomotive, ex LNER class 'A1/A3' 4-6-2 No.60103 Flying Scotsman, heading a passenger service across a road at Oakworth. Gathered steam enthusiasts are positioned to photograph the passing train and a single, signal gantry is prominent. The blog source of more information about Flying Scotsman, the locomotive and the named train, is described  in the previous post.

The second puzzle, right, is titled Jinty No. 47406, Idridgehay. Ex LMS class '3F' 0-6-0T tank locomotive, No.47406 was the 147th locomotive to leave the famous Barry Scrapyard (South Wales) in 1983. She was one of 422 built between 1924 and 1931 and was withdrawn from BR service in 1967; she has been based at the Grand Central Railway, at Loughborough, since 2010. The jigsaw photograph however, shows the loco on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, at Idridgehay. The railway runs from Wirksworth to Duffield in the Derbyshire Peak District, a distance of around 9 miles. A small extension of less than 1 mile joins Wirksworth to Raventor, close to the High Peak Trail and National Stone Centre. The jigsaw photograph was probably taken in 2017 when No.47406 was visiting the EVR.