Today's post, 18th September, features the artwork of Keith Stapleton reproduced by jigsaw manufacturer House of Puzzles of Invergordon, Scotland.
The first picture shows a puzzle from the Rowan Collection, comprising 250 large, unusually shaped pieces and titled Seaside Special. The location is similar to that described in my post of 22nd July 2012 - Dawlish. Ex GWR 4-6-0 locomotive No.4003 Lode Star was designed by George Jackson Churchward and built in 1907. In the jigsaw picture the locomotive is shown heading familiar chocolate and cream passenger coaches along the line adjacent to the sea wall. In addition to many holiday
revellers, Keith’s all-inclusive artwork features sand castles, sea gulls, a beach ball,
deck chairs, an ice cream cabin, a ‘Punch and Judy’ show, a flying kite and the
obligatory dog. The BR logo on the tender rather oddly dates the pic between 1956 and 1968 although the loco was withdrawn from service in 1951. Lode Star is part of the National Collection at the National Railway Museum in York.
The second picture features a 500-piece puzzle from the Ruxley Collection titled Country Crossing. This puzzle also comprises unusually shaped pieces. The jigsaw conveys the serene ambience of country village life from the 1920's/1930's. North Eastern Railway (NER) class D22, 4-4-0 locomotive No. 1537, of T. W. Worsdell, is shown heading suburban passenger stock on a single line beside a dirt track. The scene includes a small public house, two customers seated outside, a man standing beside a bicycle and another, possibly a local farmer, approaching on a horse. A canal viaduct complete with canal boat is included in the backgound. Several geese, bees and pigeons are also included in a very busy picture. The locomotive was built in 1890 and withdrawn from LNER service in 1935.
