Two Current Gibsons' Jigsaws

Today's post, 24 March 2023, depicts and describes two jigsaws from the prolific jigsaw manufacturer, Gibsons. Gibsons is a company that produces steam railway jigsaws at a rate unparalelled by any other manufacturer, for which I am extremely grateful.

The first puzzle, (top) of 500 pieces and titled Off To The Coast, features excellent illustrative artwork by Dominic Davison. A small 0-6-2 tank locomotive, built for the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, at Brighton Works, entered service in 1898. The engine was named 'Birch Grove' after one of the surrounding small towns and villages. Numbered B473 and 2473 in Southern Railway days, the engine became 32471 under British Railways, in 1952. No.32471 was withdrawn from service in 1962 and purchased for preservation, by The Bluebell Railway. However the locomotive is on static display at the present time, in the Steam Works. In the jigsaw picture No.473, with one coach in tow is approaching a platform to pick up 2 adults and 2 children, for a trip along the line. The pet dog sits quietly beside the family. Opposite on the adjacent platform is a man sat on a bench, reading a newspaper; a dog is sat beside him on the platform. The whole scene reflects the Bluebell Railway in modern, Heritage times. The second puzzle is a 1000-piece example titled Express to Blackpool. The artist is Stephen Warnes a member of the Guild of Railway Artists. The engine, approaching platform 5, is London Midland and Scottish Railway, 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0, No. 45706 Express (yes, that was the name of the engine). The engine is liveried in British Railways' green and heads maroon coloured coaches. Stephen's composition includes a signal box, overhead footbridge, station clock and several passengers eagerly waiting to board their train to Blackpool. Two station staff watch on from the opposite platform. To the fore is a young boy complete with bucket and spade, and another with a model yacht. Both of these jigsaws are packed in their boxes, with colour pictures of the jigsaw artwork. The Jubilee class of 191 passenger engines was built at three Locomotive Works between 1934 and 1936 - Crewe, Derby and North British.