Ravensburger is a famous name in jigsaw puzzle manufacturing. This German Company began as a publishing company in 1883 and started making jigsaw puzzles in 1964. In the same year, subsidiaries were opened throughout Europe, including the UK. Ravensburger puzzles and boxes are renowned for their quality and durability.
In this post, 5th May 2012, I am using two photographs of Ravensburger jigsaw puzzles depicting UK steam railways which are in current production as a boxed pair. The inclusive (box) title is The Magic of Steam although each puzzle is individually titled also. Each one comprises 500 pieces and reproduces artwork by Trevor Mitchell. A previously marketed pair by Ravensburger was titled Railway Memories.
The first photograph shows the 500-piece puzzle titled
Sir Nigel Gresley at Grosmont Station. This station is situated on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, one of many Heritage Railways in the UK. The locomotive, No.60007
Sir Nigel Gresley, is from the 'A4' class of 4-6-2 locomotives and is named after its designer who was the Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). Among this 'A4' class was the famous
Mallard, holder of the world record of 126mph for steam locomotives.
The second photograph shows the new-build A.H. Peppercorn 'A1' class 4-6-2 locomotive, No.60163
Tornado, heading a famous Great Western Railway (GWR) express. This puzzle is titled
Tornado hauls the Torbay Express. The locomotive, main line tested at the end of 2008, first hauled this express in 2009. The Torbay Express is depicted running along the sea wall at Dawlish, one of the most famous vantage points for artists/photographers on Britain's railways. The original Torbay Express was a Paddington - Torquay - Paignton service but more recently, a Bristol - Torquay - Paignton - Kingswear service, via Weston -super- Mare.
If you wish to review previous Ravensburger, steam railway jigsaw puzzles featured on this blog, just input Ravensburger into the search bar at the top of the blog and the relevant posts will be identified.
The first pic is of a jigsaw titled B1 at York and features a London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) 'B1' class 4-6-0 locomotive of Edward Thompson approaching York Station heading a rake of Gresley teak coaches. Four hundred and ten 'B1s' were built by the LNER and British Railways (BR) between 1942 and 1952. Two are preserved.
The second pic is of a jigsaw depicting a Stanier class '5' 4-6-0 locomotive of (Sir) William Stanier leaving Birmingham New Street Station. The class of eight hundred and forty five locomotives was built between 1934 and 1951 by the LMS (London Midland & Scottish Railway) and BR. They were always known as 'Black Fives'. Eighteen 'Black Fives' have survived into preservation.
