Two of Stanier's Finest

Today's post, 22nd March 2015, comprises two pictures of jigsaw puzzles featuring the locomotive designs of William Stanier (later "Sir"). 

William Stanier was the Works Manager of Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway (GWR) when he resigned to take up the position of Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) from January 1932. Between 1934 and 1936 he designed the 'Jubilee' 4-6-0 passenger locomotives and from 1934 also, the highly successful 'Black Five' class 4-6-0, mixed traffic locomotives, which eventually numbered 842. From 1937 he designed the huge 'Princess Coronation' class 4-6-2 express passenger locomotives, some of which were streamlined. Thirty eight were built.

Picture one (left) shows the Hope, 500-piece puzzle from the Railway series, titled Bahamas. No. 5598 was one of the' Jubilee' class of 191 locomotives and is shown in the LMS livery of 'crimson lake'. The locomotive is preserved, one of four 'Jubs' to escape the cutter's torch; the photographer is not named.

The second picture is part of the Steamtrains series of 500-piece puzzles from Falcon. Titled Coronation Scot LMS the 'Princess Coronation' class locomotive is depicted in special 'crimson lake' livery with gilt lining, and is shown hauling matching coaches. The class was often referred to as the 'Duchesses' and three are preserved. The artist was George Heiron.

Two from W.H.Smith

Two pictures of jigsaws marketed by W.H.Smith comprise today's post, 4th March 2015. The artwork in both cases, reflects the Great Western Railway (GWR).  

Picture one shows the 500-piece jigsaw titled At The Station, duplicating the artwork of Gordon Lees. Gordon's painting is impressionist in style with a locomotive that cannot be identified heading chocolate and cream GWR coaches. The station, of four platforms, hosts several passengers seated and standing, a small signal box and a signal gantry. A footbridge joins the two main platforms and a set of GWR carriages are standing at a third platform. The station comprises brick buildings on platforms one and four and is set in a rural location on a sunny day.

The second picture features The Mail Train, the title of a 350-piece example. Rob Johnson’s painting shows a short GWR train in a picturesque branch line station, collecting and/or delivering mail. A red Royal Mail van is prominent in the picture. The locomotive is a 0-4-2 tank type, No 1419. The class was used regularly on GWR branch line trains for push and pull auto trains.