** Still available - check the Wentworth website. Also type Winter Blizzard in the search bar to the right and my previous post including this puzzle (one of my all time favourite steam railway jigsaws) will appear.
The artist is Philip Hawkins, a Fellow of the Guild of Railway Artists who is recognised globally, as an artist at the top of his profession. Philip's original painting, a commission from the Birmingham Post and Echo, commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1985. According to Philip's book, Tracks on Canvas, his painting was based on the London Paddington platform (No.7) at Birmingham Snow Hill Station, in 1947. The station was a very important 'hub' on the GWR network. The famous Craven 'A' clock was included plus two other important components - the small boy in the foreground is Philip's son Ben and the station master in the centre is based on the incumbent at the time, Arthur Hammond Emsden. The train waiting in the station is the noon service to Paddington; just 5 minutes to go according to the clock.
Small but important additions to the base composition is a small girl attracted to the young fireman resting at the engine cab window, an elderly lady searching for her ticket, aided by the station master, and other passengers in various poses.
From the steam railway perspective, the locomotive in the picture is the giant 'King' class 4-6-0, No.6008 King James II, built in 1928 at Swindon Works, and designed by Charles Collett. The engine was withdrawn from service in 1962.
It is interesting to note that the year (1947) chosen by Philip for his artwork is the year previous to the Nationalisation of the Railways.
Follow this link to the Wentworth site for the On Time jigsaw....
