Another from David Noble

Today's post, 24 April 2024, features a David Noble painting, one of five by David previously described on this blog - a sixth will be posted in the near future. Titled Countryside Love, the puzzle is a 100XXL 'special' from Gibsons comprising 100 pieces, five times larger than normal. This puzzle is ideal for people who get impatient with larger puzzles, those who have impaired vision, mental or tactile problems, and for children. The same title is also issued as a 1000-piece, standard example.

In David's painting a man is pictured with his girlfriend, lying side by side in a field, with a classic car closeby. Above, in the distance, a Stanier 'Princess Coronation' class locomotive is roaring past with an express passenger service, on the West Coast Main Line. On the Guild of Railway Artists's website David's painting is titled The Other Woman hinting at the possible choice the driver will have to take in the future.

Spotters at Carlisle

In a previous post, 28th March 2021, a painting by David Noble - Spotters at Doncaster - was used for a Gibsons' jigsaw of 1000 pieces. Today's jigsaw, 28th March 2024, titled Spotters at Carlisle is of similar size, duplicating another of David's not dissimilar canvasses.

Stanier 'Princess Coronation' class 4-6-2 No.46231 Duchess of Atholl is stationary in Carlisle Citadel Station at the head of a rake of coaches being accessed by a number of passengers. Schoolboy trainspotters admire the engine after 'copping' the number and name, and adults soak up the sheer power and majesty of one of steam railways' classic locomotive designs. In the background another of Sir William Stanier's creations, an unidentified Black Five 4-6-0, waiting on an adjacent platform, attracts less interest.

Cuneo's Forth Bridge painting

Terence Cuneo's famous painting of the Forth Rail Bridge is featured in today's post, 6th March 2024. He painted the scene for the British Railways (BR) Board in 1952 to be used as an advertising poster for holidays in Scotland. The painting has recently been issued as a jigsaw of 1000 pieces marketed by Birlinn Ltd of Edinburgh. The jigsaw, titled The Forth Rail Bridge, is shown below.

Paintings of the iconic bridge have appeared in other jigsaws on this blog. Go to the previous posts of 7th February 2011, 9th July 2018 and 1st October 2020 for a detailed description of the bridge, including some interesting, historical facts. I have repeated the picture of the full BR poster below, for interest (previously pictured in the 9th July 2018 post).

B.R. and Great Western Expresses.

'Britannia' class and 'King'class locomotives are to the fore in today's duo of wooden jigsaws - 9th February 2024. First up is a Tower Press puzzle of 35 pieces featuring a British Railways 'Britannia' class 4-6-2 engine, heading an unnamed express; the title is, simply, Express Train. The express is headed by the doyen of the class - No.70000 Britannia. It is from a series of 4 puzzles, titled My Favourites but this is the only steam train example. The train is probably a 'Boat Train', just leaving from, or arriving at, Southampton Docks. An ocean liner is visible in the background and a couple of railway workmen add human interest and scale, to the picture. A passenger aeroplane is added to a summer holiday scene. The puzzle pieces are large and interlocking, fit quite loosely, and are mainly aimed at children.

The second jigsaw, of 80 pieces, is titled Great Western 'Cornish Express' on the coast near Dawlish, Devon. The giant 4-6-0 locomotive No.6014 King Henry VII is heading the express composed of carriages of mixed liveries, along the stretch of West Country coast line, coveted by artists and photographers. Yes, the picturesque line between Teignmouth and Dawlish has been favoured by many famous names, none more so than John Austin. However, many of John's paintings include inclement weather with trains battling against the elements on this south west coast, where sea and land are inseparable in stormy weather. Check out his website. The jigsaw shows the coast railway line in fine weather with a backdrop of smooth waves. I do not know the artist for either jigsaw nor the manufacturer of the second puzzle.

Two Stations

Today's post, the first of the new year, 8th January 2024, features two jigsaws, each illustrating a different station. The titles are (top) Village Station featuring a single line, branchline example; and (below) Train Station, showing a main line construction, busy with holiday traffic. Both are 1000-piece puzzles from Otter House and Cancer Research, UK, respectively, and both are marketed in small space saving boxes. The Cancer Research puzzle is manufactured by Tailormade Creative Design Ltd.

Village Station shows an unusual visit from a giant 4-6-0 'King' class locomotive, No.6024 King Edwadrd I, heading 'The Red Dragon' express passenger service. Both the 'King' locomotive and the 'Red Dragon' Express were highly unlikely to be seen on a single line, branch line, such as in the painting. At present, the preserved locomotive, No.6024, is located at the Locomotive Services Group’s base at Crewe, where it is in the final stages of overhaul. For more information about No.6024 just Google - Preserved British Steam Locomotive/6024. The artwork by Victor McLindon includes several interesting 'cameos' - a level crossing with waiting traffic on both sides; a half cab single deck bus; an elegant station building; many passengers and station visitors; male and female tandem riders; a dog; a male motor cyclist and a completely pastoral backdrop. 'The Red Dragon' was a named express that ran Paddington - Swansea, with a detached portion for Carmarthen. Train Station is a very unusual illustrative composition by an an unnamed artist. An ex Great Western Railway 2-8-0 locomotive No.285x is about to leave (?) with a holiday excursion to the North West Coast. Oddly, the locomotive carries the number 44871, the number of a Stanier 'Black Five' class 4-6-0 type. Along with two others of the same class, No.44871 hauled the 'Fifteen Guinea Special' on August 11th 1968 - the last main-line steam train to run on British Railways. The three locomotives shared the duties on the special excursion between Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Victoria, Carlise, and return. Just Google 'The Fifteen Guinea Special' for more information. It is likely that the locomotive is No.2857, normally based at the Severn Valley Railway and the railway was honouring the momentous 1968 event. Both paintings show a degree of 'artistic licence'.