Built for Speed

Today's post, 4 February 2022, describes a perfect partnership between the Ravensburger jigsaw company and the popular, accomplished artist, Kevin Walsh.

The title of the 1000-piece jigsaw is Built for Speed. The title is well chosen as the locomotive racing past Riston Signal Box - L.N.E.R. 'A4' class 4-6-2, No.4468 Mallard - holds the world record for a steam locomotive, at almost 126mph. The latter speed was recorded in 1938 on the descent of Stoke Bank, near Grantham on the East Coat Main Line. In Kevin's picture the Nigel Gresley' designed locomotive is heading an express of teak coaches, also designed by Gresley. The 35 locomotives of the streamlined 'A4' class, built between 1935 and 1938, were fast, elegant and extremely powerful, used mainly for the prestige passenger services from Kings Cross to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Rivalling the locomotive for interest is a father and son combination watching intently from a close, lineside viewpoint. A dog, two colourful lineside advertisements and a red classic car add to Kevin's, typically pictorial, composition.