Sunday, 28 February 2016

A Boxed Pair from Gibsons

Today's post 28th February 2016, comprises two pictures, each showing a jigsaw from the same box under the appropriate title, Working Together. The manufacturer is Gibsons and the artist in both cases, is Barry Freeman.













The first (left) is individually titled Castle Country and comprises 500 pieces. The location is Churston Station on what is now, the preserved Dartmouth Steam Railway. Heading the 'Torbay Express' to Paddington, following a short stop at the station, is ex GWR 'Castle' class 4-6-0 of Charles Collett, No.5011 Tintagel Castle. To the left, ex GWR,'1400' class 0-4-2 tank engine, No.1470, also designed by Collett, is pictured with an auto-coach, ready for branch line duty to Brixham, on the coast. Also in the composition is a roofed footbridge, some human interest and the picturesque Devon countryside.

The second jigsaw in the pairing is another 500-piece example; this one is titled West Somerset Steam. The location is Blue Anchor station and signal box on the now preserved, West Somerset Railway.  An ex Somerset & Dorset Railway class '7F' 2-8-2, No.88, in the famous blue livery, is pictured heading a passenger service to Bishops Lydeard. Waiting in the station loop is a  '4500' class 'Prairie' tank 2-6-2, No.44561, with another passenger service, bound for Minehead. Also in the picture is Blue Anchor Bay with its long sandy beach, a level crossing and a pair of young trainspotters; the signal box also controls the crossing. The designer of the ex GWR small prairie was George Jackson Churchward; the designer of the S&DJR class '7F' (for the Midland Railway, previously) was Henry Fowler.