Canal and Railway - a perfect combination

Two modes of transport in the same painting always attract attention, and railways and canals are two that appeal to jigsaw enthusiasts of broad interests. The Ravensburger 'Leisure Days' series of puzzles includes at least two examples highlighting the blog title. Number 10 in the series is titled A Day on the Canal and the artist is Kevin Walsh.

Kevin's canvas is, as usual, packed to capacity with interesting scenes and vivid colours. He successfully integrates many subjects including two superb narrowboats and an ex Great Western Railway 'Castle' class locomotive No.7029, Clun Castle. The 4-6-0 express locomotive is heading a passenger train over a bridge above the canal. Added details include mallard ducks, mute swans, swallows, a pheasant, three adults, two children, a dog, a cat, and a smaller boat in the distance, all within a tranquil and green, countryside location. Kevin's artwork captivates the aura of peace, serenity and happiness; people enjoying their day in the British countryside. This jigsaw resonates with me as I have a 00 gauge (1/76 scale) model of No.7029, complete with sound, on my railway layout.

A Knight and an 'A4'

The jigsaw in today's post, 26 February 2025, depicts an illustrative painting by Robert Barry titled Knight Train. The Big 500-piece jigsaw from House of Puzzles shows the name of the famous locomotive engineer Sir Nigel Gresley being carried by the class 'A4' 4-6-2 locomotive, No.60002. (No.60002 was actually named Sir Murrough Wilson in 1939). Is this painting in memory of Gresley? Was it a scene from a Preserved Railway ceremonial event? If anyone knows what the painting truly reflects please get in touch and I will add the details retrospectively.

Robert's painting is very 'busy' with the following inclusions - a dog, two children, three adults, two postmen and their mail van, a hovering kestrel, a peacock butterfly, several buildings, a flowering cherry tree, a hay cart, a station platform, several flowers, a double signal gantry, and the locomotive in BR Blue livery(?). Oh.... and a red squirrel.

A 'break' in the country

Today's post, 21 January 2025, delivers a jigsaw showing another fine painting from Peter Webster (this is his eighth painting chosen for jigsaws, described on this blog). Peter is an artist who places his main subject a train, in plain view, but within a superb countryside setting. Romany Summer features a Romany group of adults and children with their horses and caravans enjoying a break by a railway branchline. Included in the countryside scene are - a small freight train headed by a Great Western 2-6-2 Prairie tank, a single line and single platform station, scattered village houses, a stream and several trees all integrated into a summer, rural composition. Romany Summer is one of a set of four 500-piece puzzles issued in the same box, by JHG Puzzles, all featuring Peter's paintings. A picture of the box lid is shown below. The other three jigsaws in the box are described on this blog. Use the search bar for Busy Day at Dulverton, Saint at Radley and Winchcombe Station which were all issued separately by Classic Deluxe. Also on the blog by Peter are Summer Saturday, Leaving Coombe Junction, Morning Service and Towards Dartmoor (the latter a superb 1000-piece panoramic style jigsaw, from Clementoni).