Santa Express

A special 1000-piece, panoramic Christmas jigsaw is the subject of today's post - 1st October 2024. The jigsaw, titled 2023 Santa Express was produced by Hunter Price International Limited "with metallic details". The jigsaw is marketed as a Limited Edition by Shaws. Some of the artwork has been used in an earlier jigsaw which can be viewed in the post of 30th July 2019. Titled Steam Train in the Snow the earlier, smaller puzzle of 500-pieces, was sold at the Wilko Stores.

A copy of the jigsaw from July 2019 is included below, for comparison - differences are obvious. The 2023 version includes much more detail in the panoramic composition; a prominent robin to the left hand side is very attractive. Metallic details, not seen in the photograph, are clearly seen when viewing the jigsaw under certain lighting conditions and a special attraction during assembly.

The Jigasaurus, (press the link to the right) features a few wooden puzzles made by Shaw & Co. Ltd, from the 1930's.

Spirit of Sandringham

We are back to normal again and fully functioning. Today's post, 17 September 2024, features a new build 4-6-0 locomotive, currently under construction for the 'B17' Steam Locomotive Trust. The locomotive will carry number and name 61673 Spirit of Sandringham. The 'B17' locomotive, No.61600 Sandringham, is pictured on a 1000-piece jigsaw from JHG Jigsaws (Grovely) as it passes through Wolferton Station. The jigsaw is titled Sandringham at Home and the artist is Malcolm Root. This painting and a second by Malcolm titled Kilverton Hall at March Station can be viewed at www.b17steamloco.com Wolferton railway station, in Norfolk, opened in 1862 to serve the village of the same name. At around the same time the local Sandringham Estate was acquired by Queen Victoria for the Prince of Wales (later, King Edward VII). The station was then used on private or ceremonial occasions by the Royal Family, heads of state and for important politicians etc., to disembark on their way to stay at Sandringham House. Because of the latter, the station became known as a 'Royal' station; such railway journeys continued until the station’s closure in 1969. Subsequently, Wolferton station was converted for use as a museum and is currently preserved in private hands. The signal box and part of the station are ‘listed’ buildings.

Number six from David Noble

In today's post, 28 June 2024, the David Noble-Gibsons partnership continues, with this 1000-piece puzzle titled Nearly Home. David's five previous paintings used by Gibsons have all appeared previously on this blog.

Two 'older' ladies are walking home from the shops on a very wet day, possibly, in the 1950's. They are dressed appropriately, ("well wrapped up", as my mother used to say) in heavy coats - one with a huge collar, mostly hiding the face - boots and hats. Chatting as they walk, of note are shopping bags beside them. Four Old Gals is the title on the Guild of Railway Artists' website. The class 9F 2-10-0 locomotive and the old austin/morris car (let me know if you can identify the car) are, obviously, the other two 'old gals'. David's composition blends extremely well and wet surfaces are handled expertly. The empty milk bottles and note (I remember them well) add that little bit more interest.

More from Kevin Walsh

Today's jigsaw, of 1000-pieces from Ravensburger, features another Kevin Walsh painting, this one titled Exploring the Dales - number two in the Leisure Days series. How this man manages to squeeze so many subjects into a single composition amazes me. This is certainly a jigsaw for the person who seeks impact with a capital 'I', (one who enjoys saturated colours, light and shade, and a variety of shapes and subjects, all presented in a creative composition). Kevin's painting certainly fits this criteria; but as it also includes the obligatory steam train, it fits this blog also. The locomotive in charge of a passenger service, about to traverse a canal bridge, is LMS (London Midland and Scottish Railway), 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0 No.5690, Leander - as seen in the modern preservation era.

The following text forms part of the jigsaw description included with the puzzle. "A day in the countryside can involve so many different activities. You might choose to enjoy a good walk, take your motorbike or car out for a run, enjoy a meal at a country pub, hop on board a boat or even enjoy the magic of steam. This lovely scene depicts just some of the leisure activities waiting to be discovered in the wonderful landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales". Enjoying such acivities are many holidaymakers and day trippers including children; walking/trekking, sailing at a sedate speed on different canal boats or enjoying a picnic. Prominent in the picture also are three cars, a single deck bus, two motorbikes with sidecars, many bird species, several dogs, a picturesque pub and an idyllic farmland background.

Another from David Noble

Today's post, 24 April 2024, features a fifth David Noble painting described on this blog - a sixth will be posted in the near future. Titled Countryside Love, this fifth jigsaw painting is featured on a 100XXL 'special' puzzle from Gibsons - comprising 100 pieces, each 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 man will have to make 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'.