The "Hush-Hush" Locomotive

Today, 14 december 2021, we concentrate on an experimental and unique steam, tender locomotive; a class 'W1' 4-6-4 type, No.10000. Due to the initial secrecy surrounding the project, it became known as the "Hush-Hush" locomotive. The jigsaw is a 40-piece, wooden example from Philmar with a long title - B.R. EASTERN REGION CLASS "W.1" (The only one in Britain).

Although classed as a 4-6-4 (wheel configuration) locomotive, technically she was a 4-6-2-2, as th rear 4-wheel bogie was articulated. Fitted with a high pressure water tube boiler of marine origin she graced London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) lines from November 1929. Unfortunately she spent more time in the engineering works for modifications, rather than in service. Reflecting on this, the designer Nigel Gresley decided to re-build her from 1935. As a result, she was moved to Doncaster Works, leading to major changes to her appearance. She returned to traffic in 1937, resembling a class 'A1' locomotive (as in the jigsaw picture) but retaining the 4-6-4 wheel configuration ('A1' locomotives were of 4-6-2 wheel configuration). She was withdrwn from service and scrapped in 1959. No.10000 was renumbered to 60700 in British Raiways' (BR) days and the artist has chosen this guise for the jigsaw artwork. There is no signature on the artwork, but it looks remarkably similar to that of T.E.North. The locomotive, in original guise, as 10000, was reviewed in a previous post of 4 December 2010.

Mail by Train 1 & 2

Today's post, 18 November 2021, showcases a pair of 500-piece jigsaws marketed in a single box, by Falcon.

Mail by Train 1 (top) shows a train in a station with many passengers and station staff mingling on the platform. Numerous types of luggage and mailbags are being loaded and unloaded to and from the train, adding a little frenzied emotion to the scene. Clerestory coaches are clearly visible behind the mail train. Both engine and coaches are presented in GWR (Great Western Railway) liveries. However I cannot identify the engine in the picture - some artistic licence has been used, I think. What I can say with confidence, however, is that the people in the picture are painted superbly well; they are probably the best I have seen in jigsaw paintings. A little puzzling is the train in the background that appears to be steaming in on the same line as the stationary mail train. Mail Train 2 shows the same train picking up mailbags from a raised trackside platform, as is passes at a pre-determined speed. A senior official checks the time. Overhead an express passenger train is traversing a magnificent viaduct, at speed. In the immediate background a porter is handling a trolley loaded with post bags; behind him is a signal box. To the side of the signal box, is a stationary locomotive that could be a 4-6-0 mixed traffic type. In the air, a bi-plane adds extra interest. Once again I must commend the artist - Marcello Corti - on his skill at representing human interest. Another of Corti's jigsaws, featuring a similar, prominent viaduct, can be found in the previous post of 17 March 2020.

Side by Side

In today's post, 1st October 2021, I am featuring an 80-piece wooden jigsaw from Ian Allan showing a steam train and an early e.m.u. (electric multiple unit).

I am unsure of the artist's name but a good guess might be Vic Welch. A British Railways Southern Region, Bulleid 'Pacific' (Merchant Navy class), No. 35017 Belgian Marine, is leaving Waterloo Station heading the 'Bournemouth Belle' Pullman service. To the right hand side of the picture, an e.m.u. suburban train, is passing at speed. The artwork is clean and pictorial, ideal for jigsaw production. At least ten Vic Welch paintings can be found in the Railway Colour Album (1962), published by Ian Allan. Some of them would morph into superb puzzles if they have not been used, for that purpose, to date.

More from Peter Webster

Today's post, 10 September 2021, describes a 1000-piece jigsaw from Classic Deluxe/JHG, titled Summer Saturday. Peter Webster is the artist.

Peter's artwork generally places a steam train or two in a branchline station, within a countryside environment. In Summer Saturday my own mind is a little confused, however. View the train on the right - I can't identify the BR Western Region locomotive ('Castle'?). The lamps on the buffer beam indicate an express train, but if this is right, the people at the Fete must have arrived on the smaller, local train on the opposite platform. But, with no foot-bridge linking both platforms, people must have used a barrow crossing, (a wooden pedestrian crossing) out of sight in the background. The reporting number 117 on the smoke box door - does anyone know this route? If you do, please email me. There are many people in and around this branchline station, all I assume, attending the summer fete. A huge tree dominates the picture on the left and several large marquees can be seen at the Fete. The background of rolling hills and valleys is typical of Peter's work.

Waiting on the Platform

Today's puzzle, 26 August 2021, features a Falcon 1000pc example titled Waiting on the Platform. The artist is Vic McClindon, a regular contributor to artwork associated with the jigsaw portfolios of Dutch manufacturer, Falcon/Jumbo.

Victor's composition is very busy, colourful and pictorial, to say the least - I don't think that he could have included many more 'cameos' in his artwork. I can't see a 'kitchen sink' but everything and everyone possible, is included in this imaginary, station scene. The problem for me is identifying the 'Pacific' (4-6-2) locomotive in LMS (London Midland Scottish Railway) red livery - no number, no name. I'll leave it to you to identify all the characters and railway related items in the picture.

Pictorialism from Kevin Walsh

In this post, 29 July 2021, I am featuring a highly pictorial Falcon jigsaw in the 'Travelling By' series, titled Travelling By - the Canal with artwork by Kevin Walsh.

In the picture, a LNER class 'V2' 2-6-2 locomotive, No.4777, shares the 'spotlight' with an equally impressive canal barge. No.4777 is heading teak coaches, passing by a canal bridge. The class of 184 engines, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, graced London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) metals (rails) from 1936. Also included in Kevin's busy composition are ducks, geese, children, dogs, a hen and a tractor. A boy appears to be waving to the tractor driver and the drivers of the locomotive and canal barge are acknowledging each other also. Another boy is fishing. This is without doubt a jigsaw that emanates pictorialism - an imaginative approach to realism. Some changes appear to have been made to a previous painting as I can find no reference to the canal haulage company name on the barge, unless you place an 'F' before the 'E' on the canal barge nameboard. Note : This jigsaw is also available in '3D' form made by Kiddicraft of Earby, Lancashire. The 500-piece puzzle is titled Rail and Canal and described as a "Lenticular Jigsaw Puzzle - Super 3D".

Two more from 'The Works'

Today's post 11 July 2021, comprises two pictures of puzzles, both branded 'Corner Piece' for 'The Works' stores (their own brand?)

Both jigsaws, of 500 pieces, feature illustrative artwork by Trevor Mitchell and the first, above, in a different, simplified version, has been used in an earlier post. The puzzle above is titled Racing Rivals and the simplified version, titled The Rivals, can be viewed in the post of 26 Jan 2011. An LNER class 'E4' 2-4-0 tender locomotive, No.7490, is shown heading a short passenger train on a slightly elevated line, racing a vintage bus, registered TM 9342, on the adjacent road. Trevor's additions to his simplified example, are as follows - extra space added to the right, a man crossing the road with his dog, a young boy sat on the gate observing the 'race', and blackbird, bullfinch, chaffinch and blue tit adding colour and nature to the composition. The blue tit is on a gate post added to the right hand side.

The second puzzle, All Aboard at St Pancras, shows a busy scene at the famous London station. The huge canopy looks superb; the stylish clock, outstanding. The main locomotive in the picture is a BR 'Standard' class 'V' 4-6-0 type, No.73142, designed by Robert Riddles. No.73142, one of a class of 172, was built at Derby Works in 1956. In Trevor's painting the engine is at the head of an express passenger service. Trainspotters, some chatting to the engine driver, station staff, and many passengers are mingling on the platform. Some are boarding the train. An array of luggage is also scattered throughout the composition. In the background, the coal bunker of an LMS, Stanier class '3P-B' 2-6-2 tank locomotive, No.40110, can be seen. This locomotive was built at Derby Works in 1935, one of a class of 139 (built 1935-1938). The last two batches of this class were built at Crewe Works.

More from Rothbury Publishing

Today's jigsaw, 21 June 2021, titled Christmas at Basingstoke, is a third for this blog from Rothbury Publishing.

Robin Pinnock is once again the artist for this super puzzle. 'Schools' class 4-4-0 No. 30926, Repton, of British Railways Southern Railway (BRSR), is pictured heading typical green coaches, ready to leave Basingstoke Station with a stopping service to Waterloo. To the left is 'West Country' class 4-6-2, No.34105 Swanage, also of BRSR, heading another passenger service. The scene is dated c1962 and Robin has enhanced his picture with a covering of snow. Both of these locomotives are preserved.

Battledown Flyover

The famous Battledown Flyover is the main subject in todays jigsaw, 24 May 2021.

A jigsaw of 1000pcs from Rothbury Publishing titled Bowling over Battledown features a junction on two levels; it is part of a large series of puzzles duplicating the artwork of Robin Pinnock. A ‘Lord Nelson’ class 4-6-0 locomotive, No.30851 Sir Francis Drake, is pictured heading ‘The Cunarder’ Boat Train over a girder bridge known as the Battledown Flyover. The train is travelling from Southampton carrying passengers from the 'Queen Elizabeth' liner to Waterloo Station. Passing beneath the girder bridge is a BR ‘Standard’ Class ‘4’ 4-6-0, No.75079, heading a freight train from Salisbury.To the left of the picture a lone railwayman, acting as a superb counterbalance to the trains in Robin's composition, acknowledges the trains as they pass by. Battledown Flyover girder-bridge is 3¼ miles west of Basingstoke, Hampshire. Locomotive No.75079 is preserved on the Mid Hants Railway (Watercress Line).
Many of Robin's excellent steam railway paintings have been used by Rothbury for jigsaw puzzles, prints, cards etc. He has produced so many that I think a book of his railway paintings would be very popular, joining the increasing number of superb books by artists such as Philip Hawkins, John Austin, George Heiron, Terence Cuneo, Don Breckon, Barry Freeman, Malcolm Root, Hamilton Ellis, Chris Woods, David Weston etc., etc.

'Bittern' - in a crosswind

A jigsaw produced from a photograph taken by yours truly is featured in today's post, 9 May 2021. I must admit that the enjoyment of completing a jigsaw increases several-fold when the jigsaw picture is your own.

The 500-piece puzzle was made by myphotopuzzle.co.uk using 2.2mm cardboard and supplied in a box complete with a title of my choosing. Both jigsaw and box are shown. The title of my jigsaw is Class A4 'Bittern' - in a crosswind. The photo of the 'A4' was taken on the West Coast Main Line as she approached Red Bank, Newton-le-Willows, on a very windy day in March, 2014. Typically, for a 'Special' excursion, the engine was turned out immaculately in LNER, Garter Blue livery. No.4464 was built at Doncaster Works in 1937 and re-numbered as 60019 by BR, in 1948. 'Bittern' spent her working life operating between London, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh on the East Coast Main Line and in December 2013, became the fastest steam locomotive in preservation, reaching 93mph** on a historic run. She is currently in storage at Jeremy Hosking’s Locomotive Storage facility in Margate, waiting for her turn to be overhauled at LNWR Crewe. **Surpassed by Peppercorn 'A1' Tornado in 2017; No.60163 Tornado recorded 100 mph in April of that year.

On Early Shift

For this post, April 26 2021, I am describing a recent Gibsons' 500-piece jigsaw titled On Early Shift. The jigsaw replicates a cropped version of a poster picture.

The 1948 British Railways’ poster, On Early Shift, was painted by Terence Cuneo. It depicts the interior of the Greenwood signal box, New Barnet, London, with a signalman operating a lever. At the same time he is looking through the windows watching an express passenger train, hauled by an ‘A4’ class 4-6-2 locomotive of Sir Nigel Gresley, approaching at speed. The text at the base below reads "Greenwood Signal Box, New Barnet" with the poster title. The British Railways 'totem' logo is included on both sides. The original poster, one of the first for the newly formed British Railways, was sold for £2,500 in 2014. When viewing the jigsaw, it is obvious that the picture has been cropped, but don’t look for the famous mouse. Only Cuneo’s paintings from 1953, feature a hidden mouse in his compositions. His cat entered his studio one day and ‘gifted’ a dead field mouse to him, leading to the famous added rodent. For more Cuneo jigsaws, just input his name in the search bar above. A picture of the original poster is shown below.

Flying Scotsman

This post, 12 April 2021, describes a vertical format, 400-piece jigsaw from Sovereign Publications, (although labelled as 600 pieces).

The Bill Sharman photograph features the famous Sir Nigel Gresley locomotive class 'A1', later class 'A3' 4-6-2, No.4472 Flying Scotsman, in LNER apple green livery. No.4472 is heading a 'Special' - 'The Flying Scotsman'. The picture looks as if it was taken when the engine was heading a 'Heritage Railway Special' or a Main Line 'Special. Go to the post of 28 June 2011 for a description of the two different identities - locomotive and train. The title of the jigsaw is LNER Class 'A3' Flying Scotsman.

Trainspotters

Today's post, 28th March 2021, features another jigsaw from Gibsons promoting the superb artwork of David Noble, one of the Guild of Railway Artists' professionals. This is a brilliant choice by Gibsons for a jigsaw puzzle - serving as a nostalgic glimpse into my youth, and that of many other steam era veterans. An interesting story on the BBC News website of January 2008 describes “The world’s first trainspotter” as probably a 14-year-old boy from County Durham, John Backhouse. John visited the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 and wrote a letter to his sisters in London describing the event. He also included a drawing of the train with his text. The letter with drawing is part of the National Railway Museum collection in York.

Spotters at Doncaster is a 1000-piece jigsaw packaged in a small, “Planet Friendly Box” (Gibsons' description). In BR days, two ex-LNER main line locomotives are depicted at Doncaster Station on a wet day. ‘A4’ class 4-6-2, No.60025 Falcon, taking on water at the head of a rake of crimson passenger coaches, is positioned on a centre track. Immediately to the right, stationary at a platform, is ‘V2’ class 2-6-2, No.60952, at the head of another passenger service. Several trainspotters, mostly young but mixed with one or two older enthusiasts, have underlined the ‘V2’ number and ‘A4’ ‘namer’ (trainspotting slang for a named locomotive), in their 'combined' spotters notebooks. The headboard on the ‘A4’ reads ‘Norseman’; a Kings Cross to Newcastle boat service which began c1931, although the headboard was only introduced around twenty years later. The carriages for Norway were taken by another locomotive (‘A5/2’ until 1938 and ‘V1’ afterwards) from Newcastle, to connect with the Bergen Line sailings at the Tyne Commission Quay. Here passengers were dropped off for the sailing to Norway or picked up, to return to Newcastle. The Quay was closed in 1970. I know that trainspotters were not strictly ‘railway employees’ during the steam era, but they liked to think they were. Travelling hundreds of miles on the country’s railways in pursuit of names, numbers and often, photographs, coupled with eviction from various railway properties and the occasional access to an engine cab, made them believe they were railway 'people'.

A large 1500-piece jigsaw

Today's jigsaw, 8 March 2021, is a 'special' - a 1500-piece wooden example from Amazon is the focus of attention.

A superb wooden jigsaw of 1500 pieces including a large signal gantry, is from MAIYOUWENG (China?), at Amazon Marketplace. It duplicates Malcolm Root’s superb painting of the northbound 'Queen of Scots' featuring A. H. Peppercorn class 'A1', No.60127 Wilson Worsdell, hauling a rake of elegant Pullman Cars. The train, with headboard to the fore, is pictured passing immediately beneath the huge signal gantry at High Dyke, just north of Stoke tunnel, Lincolnshire. Eight signals are visible through the dense exhaust thrown up by the locomotive. To add to the pictorialism, Malcolm has painted the scene in winter, in early British Railways' days, with the locomotive resplendent in BR express passenger blue livery. The location, on the East Coast Main Line, is smothered in a few inches of snow; three railwaymen observe from trackside. I think it's worth mentioning here, a 1948 eyecatching poster by Reginald Mayes, produced for British Railways' Eastern Region. The poster depicts the 'Queen of Scots' Pullman service from Kings Cross to Glasgow, stopping at Leeds, Harrogate, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh. 'The Queen of Scots' is pictured travelling at speed adjacent to a dominant carpet of tartan, beside the track.The locomotive at the head is an unidentified class 'A4' of Sir Nigel Gresley. The poster is reproduced below.

The Quantock Belle

The preserved West Somerset Railway is featured in today's post, 24 February 2021. It is the longest Heritage Railway in England, at just under 23 miles long, with 11 stations en-route from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. 'The Quantock Belle' is a special dining service operated by the railway, with diners enjoying both the cuisine and scenery, as the train meanders through the Quantock Hills. Originally part of the Great Western Railway (GWR), the line was initially laid to Brunel's superior broad gauge, but changed to the standard gauge, in 1882, ten years before the Government deadline.

The jigsaw above, is a 1000-piece example from Rothbury Publishing, part of a large series of steam train jigsaw paintings by a superb artist - Robin Pinnock. Robin's painting depicts an ex GWR prairie tank 2-6-2T, No.5572, heading 'The Quantock Belle' through some glorious countryside. No.5572 was built at Swindon Works under the direction of Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett. She was, later, fitted with auto-gear for working push-and-pull passenger trains. In Robin's picture, the locomotive is shown in GWR livery. She was withdrawn from BR service in 1962 and arrived at Barry scrapyard in South Wales, in the same year. She was rescued from the scrapyard in 1971 and re-steamed in 1985, at Didcot Railway Centre. The full title of the jigsaw is The Quantock Belle on the West Somerset Railway.

Steam by Rail and Road

Today's post, describes a 1000-piece jigsaw from The Works stationers under the increasingly popular, Corner Piece brand.

The jigsaw picture duplicates a Trevor Mitchell painting. Titled Homeward Bound, the jigsaw is of 1000 pieces and features a Gresley 'C9' class 4-4-2 locomotive, No.2171, of the London and North Eastern Railway (ex North Eastern Railway). The locomotive is heading a rake of Gresley teak coaches. On an adjacent road an old Burrell steam traction engine with two farmhands on board and towing two trailers, the first filled with hay, appears to be heading away from a day on the farm. Onlookers include a lady in a bright yellow dress standing by her bicycle, and two men with two boys standing next to her, with a second bicycle. A mobile water bowser at the roadside, a post-box and a flying blackbird add more interest. The glorious weather completes the pictorial scene. The jigsaw is similar to the JR Puzzles 500-piece example detailed in the 11th March 2011 post, but extra details are added for the Corner Piece puzzle. Check out the earlier post, and compare the two Trevor Mitchell pictures.

Meals on Wheels

House of Puzzles of Invergordon is among my favourite jigsaw companies because of the variety of shapes included in their puzzle pieces. Today's jigsaw, 27th January 2021, is a 500-piece example titled Meals on Wheels.

Meals on Wheels duplicates the artwork of Michael Herring. The puzzle (c2003) depicts a small farm in winter, with the main focus being a bright blue tractor, sporting vivid red wheels and radiator grill, at the head of a stationary hay cart. A farmer stood at the rear of the cart, is distributing hay to several sheep. The hay has been raked off the cart by a youthful farmhand. In the background is the obligatory steam train, a BR tank engine, (‘Jinty’ 0-6-0) pulling a small rake of crimson coaches along an embankment, passing a signal box. The young farmhand watches the train with interest, from his raised position on the cart; a Border Collie is by his side. A carpet of snow adds to the overall aesthetics of Michael’s painting. Parts of the jigsaw are included below to illustrate some of the differently shaped pieces.

A Busy Day at Dulverton

Our first post of 2021, 12th January, takes us to Dulverton Station, nearing closure in the time of 'Beeching's Axe'.

The picture features a 1000-piece jigsaw from JHG Jigsaws of Ashmore, Dorset, titled Busy Day at Dulverton. The era associated with Peter Webster's artwork is probably around, or just prior to, the publication of the 1963 Beeching Report titled 'The Reshaping of British Railways'. The latter led to the closure of many unprofitable lines in the UK. Dulverton Station was actually situated 2 miles further south of Dulverton, at Brushford village; it was closed in 1966. In Peter's painting the main locomotive heading a light passenger train is an ex GWR 'Mogul' (2-6-0) type, No.6372, designed by George Jackson Churchwood. She was built in 1921 at Swindon Works and withdrawn in 1963. A year later she was scrapped and in the painting appears to be in a worse-for-wear, unloved condition. The short freight train exiting the station on the left is headed by a pannier tank 0-6-0 locomotive, but no id' is possible. Two station staff are present with a few passengers. In the yard outside are a single decked bus and a car, both of the time period depicted. In typical Webster style, an eyecatching, rural landscape is included as the backdrop.