(The) Queen of Scots

Today's post, 7th February 2014, comprises two photographs of jigsaws both featuring the famous and prestigious Pullman Car passenger service, '(The) Queen of Scots'. The service originated in 1928 and ran from London Kings Cross to Glasgow Queen Street, via Leeds and Harrogate, on the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). A headboard 'Queen of Scots' was added to the front of the locomotive four years later* and the train reduced in size to seven cars. In the early days locomotives were changed at Leeds;  'C1' or 'D11' class 4-4-0 types of Henry Ivatt and John Robinson respectively, were used on the express. 'The Queen of Scots' headboard* (with the definite article) was introduced after the war in 1949. The Pullman service then ran from Kings Cross to Glasgow Queen Street, via Leeds and Edinburgh Waverley hauled by Gresley 'A1', 'A3' and 'A4' class locomotives and later, Peppercorn 'A1' and 'A2' types. The service was terminated in 1964.

A British Railways poster of the 1950's by Reginald Mayes features an 'A4' class 4-6-2 of Nigel Gresley with the headboard 'The Queen of Scots' thundering past a line-side carpet of tartan. An older poster of the 1930's advertises the train with artwork featuring an elegant lady in a red tartan dress waiting to board a Pullman Car. Three attendants are carrying out their duties of service.

*Dave Peel's superb book 'Locomotive Headboards - The Complete Story' is a must for anyone interested in steam railways

Picture one shows a 500-piece puzzle by JR Puzzles titled The Queen of Scots. The locomotive at the head of a rake of Pullman cars is Peppercorn 'A1' class No.60162 Saint Johnstoun. Edgar Hodges illustrative style is perfect for jigsaw manufacture. The inclusion of track workers is typical of Hodges' work.

The second picture shows the same locomotive in charge of the Pullman service as it thunders over a viaduct somewhere on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The jigsaw is a 200-piece example from Raphael/JR Puzzles. The artwork is by Leslie Carr who produced lots of railway related work in the mid 20th century, including posters.

Three Locomotives - GWR, LMS & LNER

This post, 31st January 2014, comprises three pictures of jigsaw puzzles all from the manufacturer, JR Puzzles. The three are simple record shots of locomotives and are photographic in origin. The JR range of puzzles was made by Handleys Printers of Stockport from the 1970's but have recently been acquired by (James Hamilton) Grovely Puzzles of Salisbury.

Picture one shows a 200-piece puzzle featuring ex Great Western Railway (GWR)) 'Manor' class 4-6-0, No.7812 Erlestoke Manor, from a series of four jigsaws titled Loco's. She is in pristine, preserved condition liveried in the 'Brunswick Green' of British Railways and the GWR. The Erlestoke Manor Fund also own a second example of Charles Collett's 'Manor' class, No.7802 Bradley Manor. They are based at the Severn Valley Railway. Seven others of the class are preserved. The thirty locomotives in the class were built between 1938 and 1950 and worked lines such as the Cambrian, (Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth) where heavier locomotives were barred.

Picture two shows an ex London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) class 5MT (mixed traffic) locomotive known as a 'Black Five'. 'Black Fives' were also called 'Mickies' in my trainspotting days. William Stanier was the engineer responsible for this huge class of 842  built between 1934 and 1951. Eighteen escaped the cutter's torch. This jigsaw is the second from the 200-piece series Loco's.

A 'B1' class 4-6-0 of Edward Thompson No.61306 Mayflower is featured in picture three liveried in the famous LNER 'Apple Green'. This ex London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) engine was built in 1948 one of a class which eventually totalled 410; the class was begun in 1942 with the final locomotive appearing in 1952. Two B1's are preserved.  The original locomotive named Mayflower, No.61379, was scrapped and the name transferred to 61306. This is the third puzzle from the Loco's series. The fourth puzzle in the series showing ex LMS 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0, No.5690 Leander, was posted on 18th January 2012.

The LNER and John Austin

Many of John Austin's fantastic paintings have depicted GWR locomotives, particularly 'Kings' battling atrocious weather conditions along England's south west coast. In today's post, 14th  January 2014, I am using two jigsaws featuring LNER locomotives in John's paintings.


The first picture shows the Ravensburger 500-piece jigsaw titled Highland Heroes, which is titled K4s and Ben Nevis in his 1993 original painting. The two Gresley 'K4' class 2-6-2 locomotives, No.3442 The Great Marquess and No.3443 Cameron of Lochiel are shown about to pass at Corpach Station. The picturesque, snow-capped Ben Nevis dominates the backdrop. A superb painting has been transformed into an equally superb jigsaw puzzle.


Both the locomotive and named train, Flying Scotsman, are shown in picture number two, also the title of the 500-piece jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger. No 4472, (one of several numbers gained in her career)  is perhaps the most famous locomotive in Britain, being the first to officially  achieve 100mph, in November 1934. Equally famously, No.4472 hauled the 'Flying Scotsman' train in 1928 between Edinburgh and Kings Cross, a 392 miles journey, without a stop; this was the longest non-stop run for a scheduled service, at the time. In John's picture the locomotive is shown in close up sporting her apple green LNER livery and the famous headboard. Her 'shed' (Kings Cross) and number (4472) are clearly identified on the buffer beam. A rake of Gresley 'teaks' (coaches) is shown behind the locomotive.

John's book Smoke, Steam and Light is a must for anyone interested in steam railways. Superb paintings, interesting anecdotes and biographical details, interspersed with pencil drawings and sketches make it one of the best of its genre on the market. A fine book from a great artist.

Maunsell's Schools

This post, 13th Dcember 2013, features two  pictures of jigsaws, each showing a Southern Railway 'Schools' class 'V' 4-4-0 locomotive, designed by Richard Maunsell. The 40 locomotives (built 1930-1935) in the class were the most powerful 4-4-0s ever built; all 40 were named after public boarding schools

The picture on the left features the first member of the class, without smoke deflectors, No.900 Eton; the illustrative artwork is not signed. The locomotive is pictured heading a rake of Pullman coaches past a signal box. The immediate response to the painting is that it features a special boat train, although there is no headboard. My copy of the jigsaw was unfortunately purchased without a box, hence the puzzle's origin and title are not known to me. It is of approximately 75 pieces and possibly from the Philmar portfolio of wooden, railway jigsaws.

The second picture shows the Falcon 300-piece puzzle titled Stowe, also the name of the engine in the jigsaw picture. The locomotive portrayed showing her smoke deflectors is the 'Schools' class 'V,' No. 928, and she is being admired by a couple of railwaymen. The coaches in tow are Southern Railway green examples. The artwork was by Rob Johnson, the artist responsible for all four superb jigsaw pictures in the Falcon 300 series, and all covered in this blog.

Two more from Gibsons and Barry Freeman

British jigsaw manufacturer Gibsons have many steam railway titles in their portfolio including the following two, both from artwork by Gibsons' favourite, Barry Freeman. The 500-piece puzzles are pictured in today's post, 26th November 2013. 

The jigsaw in our first picture is titled Living Legend. George Jackson Churchward designed the 'City' class of 4-4-0 locomotives from 1902, specifically for express passenger duties. The most famous of the class, No.3440 City of Truro, known as 'The Grand Old Lady' of the GWR (Great Western Railway), was outshopped in 1903. In the following year she became the first locomotive to, unofficially,  break the 100mph speed barrier. The timing, equivalent to 102.3mph, was carried out by Charles Rous-Martin on the 'Ocean Mails service, working from Plymouth Docks to Bristol, Swindon and Paddington. The record was attained during the Plymouth to Bristol run, on the descent between Whiteball Tunnel and Wellington. Unfortunately, a duplicate recording was required  for authentication but a second timekeeper was not present, therefore, the record could not be ratified. The locomotive is preserved as part of the National Collection and has run on Heritage Railways in the 21st century. The second locomotive in the picture is an 0-6-0 tank locomotive, No.47383, designed by Henry Fowler in 1926 for the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS). This locomotive, one of 422 built between 1924 and 1931, is preserved and based at the Severn Valley Railway. The class was known affectionately as 'Jinties' (singular 'Jinty')

The second picture is titled Elegance and Industry. The elegance part of the picture is provided by another locomotive of George Jackson Churchward, this one from his 'Star' class of 4-6-0s. The locomotive is No.4010 Western Star built in 1907, and the location is Newton Abbott, a mecca for GWR enthusiasts. The coaches are a mix of pre and post 1928 chocolate and cream examples. The industry part of the picture is in the form of a GWR workhorse, class '5700' 0-6-0 pannier tank No.5760, built by Charles Collett in 1929 from an original Churchward design. Behind the locomotive is a typical GWR siphon van, used for carrying milk.

A Splash of Colour in a Monochrome Jigsaw

In today's post, 17th November 2013, I am featuring a picture of a current jigsaw made by German manufacturer, Schmidt. The quality is immediately apparent when one holds the pieces, as they are finely cut from very thick card. The printing is better on the box reference however, than on the jigsaw, which is darker.

The Adventures of Molly and Macy are based on the twin daughters of David Ellis of West Yorkshire, England. The girls form the focal point of his monochrome photographs; they are pictured in different scenarios and at various ages between 18 months and six years. David rather cleverly introduces a splash of colour into his black and white images, mostly red. He established a design and advertising agency in 1992 from which his publishing company, Double Trouble, was  founded in 2003. See more of Molly & Macy on the website at  www.doubletroublepublishing.com

The puzzle in the picture is titled You're Leaving and is of 1000 pieces. The girls are featured at a picturesque railway station possibly on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway or the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, both in Yorkshire (email me if you know). It is reminiscent of a 1950's style scene with the girls pictured fronting a BR tank engine and beside a loaded luggage trolley  The jigsaw is not easy to assemble because of its strictly limited tonal range (except for the red) but leaves you with a great sense of satisfaction when completed. Schmidt make other puzzles from the series of adventures.

Two 'Panoramas' from Gibsons

Today's post, 31st October 2013, comprises two pictures showing jigsaws from the Gibsons' 636-piece 'Panorama' series.

Picture one (left) is titled Sunny Day at Alresford replicating the original artwork of Chris Woods. The picture features the 1920 built, ex London & South Western Railway 'S15' class 4-6-0, No.506  designed by Robert Urie. The locomotive, in Southern Railway livery in the picture, is shown entering Alresford Station, heading a rake of BR carmine and cream liveried passenger coaches.The summer weather has attracted many passengers suitably dressed waiting for the train. The station is now part of the Mid Hants Railway (Watercress Line) and the locomotive is under restoration with a view to it entering service in 2014.

The second picture shows GWR locomotives double heading a passenger service in the summer of 1947. The locos are a 'County' class 4-6-0 No.1022 County of Northampton designed by Frederick Hawksworth and an unknown 'Castle' class 4-6-0 locomotive, the brainchild of Charles Collett. The railway runs parallel with the Oxford Canal at Lower Heyford in Oxfordshire and Barry Freeman has painted an idyllic scene integrating canal and railway traffic with the village and farm. The result is  Summer of '47 - a harmonious scene radiating all that is best in rural Britain.

The original paintings from Chris and Barry were 'masked' into a letterbox shape for these  'Panorama' jigsaw puzzles. Summer of '47 was also in the Waddingtons' portfolio as a 1000-piece puzzle.

More JR Puzzles

Probably the most common and least expensive steam train jigsaws on the secondary market are the JR Puzzles' examples which started me off on my thematic jigsaw journey c1995. They were marketed as two series, each of four, 400-piece puzzles, titled Nostalgia - Steam Trains and Age of Steam - Steam Trains. I have already used two of them (see the post of 20th February 2011) but here is another duo replicating the excellent artwork of Edgar Hodges. The JR range of puzzles was made by Handleys Printers of Stockport from the 1970's but has recently been acquired by (James Hamilton) Grovely Puzzles of Salisbury. 

Each puzzle depicts a famous train of the steam era and the corresponding headboard; the two are 'The Flying Scotsman' and the 'Yorkshire Pullman'. Note that the former includes the definite article used only sparingly in BR days from the 1950's because the 'Flying Scotsman' headboard, used from 1928, continued in common use.

Picture number one shows 'The Flying Scotsman' headed by one of (Sir) Nigel Gresley's famous 'A4' class 4-6-2 ('Pacific') locomotives, affectionately known as 'Streaks'. The locomotive is No.60024 Kingfisher but the station is not named - possibly York. The train ran from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and was known in its early days as the 'Flying Scotchman' or 'The Special Scotch Express'; it originated from an 1862 service of the Great Northern Railway (GNR). This puzzle is from The Age of Steam - Steam Trains series.

My second picture features the 'Yorkshire Pullman' express from the Nostalgia - Steam Trains series. Again the express is hauled by an 'A4' class locomotive; this one is No.60026 Miles Beevor. Another  Gresley 'Pacific' is included in the picture, 'A3' class, No.60091 Captain Cuttle. Hodges painting is very similar to a photograph of Leeds Station shown on the York Press website of 9th October 2013. The website article describes the 'Great Gathering' at York's NRM where all six, preserved 'A4's in the world, were to be on show. Hodges' jigsaw painting is in a similar style to the website photograph showing a 1953 picture of 60026 Miles Beevor leaving Leeds Station. The 'Yorkshire Pullman' served several Yorkshire towns and cities from Kings Cross, including Bradford, Leeds, Harrogate and Hull.

Past Times Montage.

As the title aptly describes, in today's post 28th September 2013,  I am using a photograph of a jigsaw, in montage style, from Past Times. The puzzle is a 1000-piece example titled The Steam Train Revolution.

The images are superbly painted but the artist is not named, unfortunately (email me if you know who). Centrally placed is a portrait of Isambard Kingdom Brunel fronting his Royal Albert Bridge spanning the River Tamar between Devon and Cornwall. Locomotives included are as follows -

(1) An ex GWR 'Prairie' class 2-6-2 locomotive, No.4160, in early BR black livery. The 1948 locomotive was introduced onto GWR metals by Frederick Hawksworth but the 'Prairie' class locomotives were originally designed (3100 class) by George Jackson Churchward in 1903 and revised, later, by Charles Collett. 

(2) A 'Large Bloomer' 2-2-2 locomotive of the London & North Western Railway designed by James McConnell. The locomotives were originally liveried in green, but in the 1870's this changed to the familiar 'Blackberry Black'. The legend describes this loco as an 'Extra Large Bloomer' - only three, with extra large 7ft 6" driving wheels, were built in 1861.

(3) The 'Coronation Scot' special train headed by a 'Princess Coronation' class 4-6-2 locomotive of (Sir) William Stanier. The LMS locomotive was built in 1937 one of five specially designed for the express service. All five were painted in 'Caledonian Blue' and white, with matching carriages; the colour was later change to red and gold.

(4) Although built by the GNR, a predecessor of the LNER, Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive to enter service with the LNER on 22nd February 1923 as an 'A1' class 4-6-2 locomotive, No.1472. She acquired her famous name and 4472 number in time for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition, and was the first locomotive to 'officially' break the 100mph barrier in November 1934. Flying Scotsman, designed by (Sir) Nigel Gresley was fitted with smoke deflectors ('blinkers') c1960.

(5) Another superb Gresley design was the 1938, 'A4' class 4-6-2 locomotive, No.4468 Mallard. More famous to some railway buffs than Flying Scotsman, Mallard still holds the world speed record for steam locomotion at nearly 126mph, set in July 1938.

(6) The Furness Railway 0-4-0 locomotive, No.20, is the oldest working, standard gauge locomotive in the world (built 1863) and is owned by the Furness Railway Trust. She is one of eight locomotives built by Sharp Stewart & Co. of  Manchester, between 1863 and 1866. The FR livery is known as 'Indian Red'.

Also  included with or among the locomotive illustrations are linemen working on the rails in a station; a packed luggage trolley; a signal box; a tunnel; a bridge; and two home signals on a double arm gantry.

Steam and Winter Snow (2)

This is the second post dedicated to this subject (see the post of 22nd May 2011). A superb steam locomotive battling against the winter elements - what a combination. Many artists have triumphed with their interpretations of this 'vision' and produced memorable paintings, some used in the jigsaw trade. Copious amounts of steam and smoke exhaust, cooling and condensing in freezing cold air add to the profound ambience emanating from such paintings. In today's post, 18th September 2013, I am using two pictures of jigsaw puzzles each showing a different approach to this subject.

Home for Christmas is an appealing painting by Kevin Walsh used by Gibsons for a 500-piece jigsaw. Kevin shows a busy scene involving a SR 4-4-0 'Schools' class locomotive No.30901 Winchester at the head of typical, green SR coaches. The train is standing in a picturesque station. Disembarked passengers rush home after a busy day Christmas shopping, or just hang around chatting or waiting for friends or relatives. A blanket of snow covers the ground adding that extra aesthetic ingredient.

Philip D. Hawkins is the artist, Wentworth the manufacturers; the result is a superb 250-piece jigsaw puzzle titled Winter Blizzard, available in varying numbers of pieces. In the picture a 'Castle' class 4-6-0 locomotive of the GWR, No.4082 Windsor Castle, is featured heading a rake of BR carmine and cream passenger coaches, c1960. The engine is battling against a strong winter blizzard and very poor visiblity. A forlorn lineman clutching his red flag with one hand and his cap with the other, adds human interest as he struggles to stand beside the line. The nostalgia and pictorialism radiating from the jigsaw picture are almost tangible. An annual calendar featuring six paintings by Philip is marketed by Quicksilver Publishing. I have each one since 2007, when, in that year, this painting was used for November/December months. It has always been one of my favourite pictures. Because of the predominantly white background the superbly cut 'whimsies' - pieces cut into special shapes - can be clearly seen.