STAR Quality

In today's post, 15 September 2020, I am describing another jigsaw from the Gibsons' large portfolio of steam railway examples. The picture, replicating a Barry Freeman painting, features a 'Star' class locomotive, No.4003 Lode Star. Following withdrawal from British Railways in 1951 the engine was, later, retained for the National Collection in York.

The jigsaw comprises 1000 pieces and is titled, simply, Star Quality. No.4003, Lode star was built at the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway in 1907, one of George Jackson Churchward's iconic designs. The class of 4-6-0 express engines totalled 73 on completion in 1923. In Barry Freeman's artwork*, No.4003 is passing through Patchway Station (6 miles north-west of Bristol), heading a South Wales-Paddington express passenger service. Included in the composition is a porter handling pigeon baskets - possibly a first for our blog. Also included are a suited gentleman observing the passing train, parcels for delivery and railway infrastructure. *Described in the book 'The Railway Paintings of Barry J. Freeman'.