Today's post, 25 November 2019, comprises two current, pictorial jigsaw puzzles from Gibsons. Both are available from numerous outlets and feature the artwork of two members of the prestigeous Guild of Railway Artists (G.R.A.).
The first (left) is a 1000-piece example titled All Aboard to Keswick; the superb painting is by Stephen Warnes. In a summer setting, Braithwaite Station - close to Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater - is the focal point as passengers wait for the train for Keswick, a gateway to the Lake District. The locomotive at the head of the train is the 0-6-0 tender engine, No.58396, designed for the L&NWR (London & North Western Railway) by Francis Webb. It belonged to a class of locomotives nicknamed the "Cauliflowers', because of their appearance when viewed from a distance. Braithwaite Station looks immaculate in an early 1950's setting, with adults and excited children watching the train slowly approaching. A luggage trolley and flower beds add to the holiday ambience, supplemented by the background mountains and a semaphore signal.
The second jigsaw, titled Corfe Castle Crossing, is a 500-piece example showing the excellent artwork of Gerald Savine. The Swanage Railway is represented here with the famous Corfe Castle in the background. The same scene, featuring earlier locomotives and trains, has been painted by many artists since the opening of the Wareham-Swanage branch line in 1885. The Swanage Railway Society took over the line in 1972 following closure in the same year. British Railways class '4' 2-6-4 tank engine, No.80078, emerged from Brighton Works in early 1954 and was withdrawn from service in 1964. It eventually arrived at Barry Scrapyard (1966) and was rescued in 1976 by the Southern Steam Trust, the 84th engine to be rescued from the famous yard. 80078 first steamed on the Swanage Railway in October 1999. A 250-piece, Wentworth wooden jigsaw, showing the same Savine painting, was featured in the post of 1st July 2014.
