Children's jigsaws - 'The 'Golden Arrow'

The 'Golden Arrow' luxury service from Victoria to Dover is featured in today's post 25th July 2011. The express began operating c1929 starting as an all-Pullman train hauled by a 4-6-0 'Lord Nelson' class locomotive or, occasionally, by a 'King Arthur' class 4-6-0. On arrival at Dover passengers were treated to a first class English Channel crossing to Calais on a specially built ferry, Canterbury, owned by the Southern Railway (SR). At Calais passengers boarded an equally prestigious French train, the 'Fleche d'Or',  for the journey to Paris. By the late 1930's, however, the 'Golden Arrow' service included ordinary first and second class carriages in its formation as the interest in luxury, all Pullman travel, declined.  The service was terminated at the outbreak of war in 1939, but was re-introduced in 1946 when a special headboard (until 1961) was added to the front of the locomotive. This headboard was truly inspirational with a large golden arrow piercing a green circle, the latter embracing the famous words, also in gold.  British and French flags, fixed to the front of the locomotive, and a  horizontal Golden Arrow fixed to each side of the locomotive, added even more flair.
The three puzzles I have chosen are all small examples reflecting the popularity of the train as a subject for children's puzzles.

Picture number one features a 40-piece wooden puzzle by Philmar. Heading the famous service is 'West Country' class 4-6-2, No.34092 City of Wells, also the title of the puzzle. The red headboard and missing flags are a mystery. The locomotive is one of Oliver Bulleid's smaller 'Pacifics'. The artist is T.E. North and the locomotive is pictured leaving a main line station ( London Victoria or Dover?)



The second picture shows a 45-piece puzzle from Mighty Midgets, simply titled Golden Arrow. In the picture the luxury train is hauled by one of Bulleid's larger 'Pacifics' No.21C1 Channel Packet, the prototype of the 'Merchant Navy' class of locomotives.  The train is powering through a station, beneath a girder bridge, on the furthermost track. A lone porter struggles with a luggage trolley on the platform adjacent to the nearside track. The artist is T.E North.


Picture number three is of a 60-piece wooden puzzle, Golden Arrow, from Victory. An unidentified Bullied 'Merchant Navy' class 'Pacific' is heading the Pullman express away from Dover with a ship (the 'Canterbury' ferry?) as a backdrop. T.E North is again the artist (he must be one the most patronised artists of all time, in jigsaw production). Note that in the last two puzzles, North has painted the French tricolor the wrong way round - the blue should be against the flagpole.



On the prorail.co.uk website Dave Peel (an authority on locomotive headboards) indicates that the colour of the Golden Arrow circle was commonly green, but may also have been blue, probably black and possibly red, though definitive colour evidence is hard to come by.

LNER/BR Expresses

Tower Press (TP) was a big player in the jigsaw market from the late 1930's until entering receivership in 1969. The company operated under its own name but also many brand names such as Mercury, Outward Bound and Popular. My post today, 18th July 2011 includes three puzzles issued under TP brand names.

Picture number one shows a puzzle titled Northbound Express, made by Tower Press under the Popular brand name. This 320-piece puzzle shows a Peppercorn class 'A2' locomotive heading out of Kings Cross for Glasgow. The coaches are all Pullman examples, the norm for 'The Queen of Scots' express. The locomotive is No. 60535 Hornets Beauty, and the artist George Heiron.

North Bound Express is a 400-piece puzzle retailed under the Family Favourite (a Tower Press brand?) name. The puzzle is reproduced from a painting by T. E. North and features the Gresley class 'A1' prototype Great Northern after it had been rebuilt in 1945 by Edward Thompson as the only 'A2/2'. Photo number two shows this puzzle displaying a scene from post British Railways (1948) days as the locomotive is portrayed with her BR number, livery and lettering. The very eyecatching background is purely industrial comprising a power station with huge cooling towers and chimneys. Oddly, the same puzzle was also issued under the Good Companion name (another Tower Press brand?) titled Southward Bound.

The Express Flashes By is a 400-piece puzzle by Tower Press but retailed under the Outward Bound brand name. The artwork by T. E. North is reproduced in fine style and features a Peppercorn class 'A1' No.60130 Kestrel (BR number) heading a Pullman train out of York. The Minster dominates the horizon. Gresley class 'A4' No.4482 Golden Eagle (LNER number) is stationery on an adjacent line. 

Artist Barry Freeman

Today's post comprises two photographs of jigsaws reproducing the excellent artwork of railway specialist, Barry J. Freeman. In my collection of 400 steam railway puzzles approximately fifty originate from paintings by Barry. He has/had three main patrons Waddingtons (no longer manufacturing), Wentworth and Gibsons although some of his paintings have been covered by two or  three of these manufacturers.

Barry has been a railway fanatic since childhood so it is not surprising that he turned to painting pictures of the steam era. He has done so, professionally, since 1989, following 18 years as an art teacher. His paintings have a warm pictorial appeal combined with a clinical approach to detail, qualities that always capture the grandeur and nostalgia associated with the age of steam. He is a Full Member and former Deputy President of the Guild of Railway Artists and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1995.

The first pic is of a 1000-piece example from Gibsons' Heritage' series titled Heavyweights at Seaton. This jigsaw features the impressive Southern Railway 'Merchant Navy' class 'Pacifics' of Oliver Bulleid (from 1941) in both original and rebuilt (late 1950's) form.  Rebuilt locomotive No.35016, Elders Fyffes, is pictured storming through Seaton Junction with the 'Atlantic Coast Express'. Un-rebuilt locomotive (or 'Spam Can') No. 35019, French Line CGT is stationery in the adjacent platform heading an eastbound parcels train.

The second photograph depicts another Gibsons' puzzle. However, this one is from the 636-piece 'Panorama' series, titled Southern Suburbia. In the picture a Southern Railway 'Schools' class 4-4-0, No.915 Brighton, designed by Richard Maunsell is shown racing through Coulsdon North Station with an Eastbourne - London Victoria express. Travelling in the opposite direction is a Marsh/Billinton class 'H2' 4-4-2, No.2421 South Foreland, (ex London Brighton & South Coast Railway) heading a boat train. A 4-car emu (electric multiple unit) is pictured passing on an adjacent branch line.

Evening Star

Considering that this locomotive is so important in the history of steam it is rather surprising at its rarity in jigsaw puzzle artwork. To the best of my knowledge I only have one puzzle* showing Evening Star within my 400 strong collection.

Today's post, 8th July 2011, is dedicated to the last steam locomotive built in the historic UK steam era, No.92220 Evening Star. The picture shows the locomotive heading an express out of Bournemouth en route to Bath. B.R. Evening Star is one of Arrow's 500-piece puzzles from the third edition of The Age of Steam series. The backdrop of orange-red sky gives the obvious impression of sunset with the aesthetic pictorialism expected of such a setting. The over emphasized star in the sky is superfluous to requirements, however; the artist is not named

Evening Star came into service in 1960. The huge 2-10-0 locomotive, the brainchild of Robert Riddles, cost £33,500 to construct at the ex GWR, Swindon Works (compare this to the £3million to build 'Tornado'). She was retired just five years later and entered preservation at the NRM, York. Special cosmetic features included copper-capped chimney and brass fittings, typical of the works where she was built.

* The locomotive is included in the children's cut out toy/jigsaw puzzle described in the 14th December 2010 post.

Steam and the Community

The steam train and its relevance to local communities is  a story that unfolds in many jigsaw puzzles, old or new. Whether with branch lines, main lines or even today's preserved railways local communities are inextricably linked to the permanent way in a variety of ways, social, financial or political. Today's post, 2nd July 2011, comprises two pictures of jigsaws each showing a strong bond between railway and the local community.
 

The first picture shows a 500-piece House of Puzzles jigsaw titled Railway Children. If you have seen the film or read the book you will completely understand what is going on in Keith Stapleton's artwork. Children watching and about to wave to a steam train as it thunders by was a regular sight in steam days and is replicated today on many steam rail-tours and 'Heritage' railways. And how often do you see people waving to diesel-hauled or electric trains? Not many. The locomotive heading the express is a Great Western Railway 'Castle' class 4-6-0 example designed by Charles Collett and the children in the picture are accompanied by the family dog; the scene is entirely natural and rural.

Picture number two is slightly different, based on a train waiting in a rural station for passengers to embark. Others have left the train and a busy scene ensues with families, couples, children and the obligatory dog crossing the line and entering/exiting the station. The locomotive is one of Charles Collett's  large 2-6-2 'Prairie' tanks No.4132, built between 1935 and 1939. The superb artwork is by Kevin Walsh, a prolific artist well patronised by jigsaw manufacturers such as, in this case, Falcon Jumbo. The jigsaw is titled Departure Time and is made up of 1000 pieces.

Flying Scotsman - Locomotive and Train

This post, 28th June 2011, comprises pics of three jigsaws all depicting the same locomotive and in two cases, the same train.

The locomotive. Probably the most famous locomotive in the UK is Sir Nigel Gresley's 'A1' (later 'A10' and 'A3') class 4-6-2, Flying Scotsman. The pioneer of the class No.1470 Great Northern appeared on the Great Northern Railway (GNR) in 1922.  The third one, No.1472 (later, Flying Scotsman),   emerged a year later. Although built by the GNR, a predecessor of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), Flying Scotsman wasn't named immediately. The locomotive was the first to enter service on the new LNER  on 22nd February 1923. She acquired her famous name and number 4472 in 1924 for her appearance at the British Empire Exhibition. In 1934 she became the first UK locomotive to 'officially' break the 100mph speed barrier. She was re-numbered again as 502 then 103 under 1943/1946 schemes and, in British Railways (BR) days, became No.60103.

The train. In 1862 and for the next 100 years the express that ultimately became the 'Flying Scotsman', operated under several guises between Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. The derivation of the name is difficult to research but in early timetables the train was often referred to as the 'Special Scotch Express'. A children's book, The Book of Trains c1890-1891, carries an illustration of a GNR express called the 'Flying Scotchman'.  Even earlier, 1880, an engraving from the London Evening News features a railway accident involving the 'Flying Scotchman'. And a postcard c1906 shows a 4-4-2 GNR locomotive heading the 'Flying Scotsman'. None of these examples featured a locomotive headboard. The express was officially named the 'Flying Scotsman' c1924 to coincide with the emergence of the locomotive of the same name. A locomotive headboard appeared c1928.




Pic number one shows the locomotive and train in a 1000-piece jigsaw from Past Times. The artist is not named although it is certainly Mike Jefferies.







The second also features the loco and train but the puzzle is a 1000-piece example from W.H. Smith. The illustrative artwork is by Peter Bradshaw.

The third pic shows a 64-piece jigsaw from Philmar. The locomotive has been photographed with maintenance men on the buffer beam. Perhaps they have fitted the headboard. Interestingly, the headboard uses the definite article, originally but rarely used in 1946 but often used in BR days, from the early 1950's.

Remember - if you carry out a little Internet research on the jigsaw taking shape before you, it makes the whole experience more interesting and rewarding.

A Circular Puzzle

This shape is used very rarely by steam railway jigsaw puzzle manufacturers but such examples attract more attention when assembled on a family table top. I have used two examples in previous posts and here is a picture of another  (26th June 2011) - I only have four in a collection of around 400 steam railway jigsaws.

The puzzle was retailed by W.H. Smith but I'm sure its manufacture would have been outsourced. The puzzle is of 500 pieces, reproduced from a Rob Johnson painting. A small, Southern railway 0-4-4 'M7' tank engine, No.60, designed by Dugald Drummond is pictured on a level crossing in a very English country village. Thatched cottages, country gardens, a hay cart, an old Royal Mail van and a few local people add interest to a superb picture.

Two from Good Companion

Good Companion jigsaws featuring steam trains, have been covered in previous posts. For today, 22nd June 2011, I am including pictures of another pair. However, with these two puzzles I must differentiate between THE Good Companion and GOOD COMPANION ranges of jigsaws. THE Good Companion puzzles of 400 pieces, with the definite article in upper case text, include the well known examples pictured in previous posts and in the second  photograph below. However, the definite article is not used in practise and the puzzles are commonly known as 'Good Companion' jigsaws. Causing some confusion, several series comprising six, 500-piece puzzles were made later and these were marketed as GOOD COMPANION (in upper case text) puzzles, without the definite article. These also are commonly known as 'Good Companion' jigsaws. The original range of THE Good Companion jigsaws comprised around one hundred and seventy seven titles. All of the jigsaw boxes carried the familiar logo of a hunter with his dog and the marketing name of THE Good Companion on the box front and sides. In my collection are four railway jigsaws, each from a GOOD COMPANION series of six puzzles, and I know of at least one other series of six puzzles. These smaller jigsaw boxes did not carry the hunter and dog logo, but instead, showed a clear jigsaw puzzle piece, outlined in white, enclosing the number 500. The marketing name of GOOD COMPANION was printed on the four sides of the box, but not on the front.

Philip D. Hawkins is a renowned railway artist but few of his paintings have been reproduced in the jigsaw trade. A Hawkins' painting was used by GOOD COMPANION for a 500-piece puzzle, titled Locomotion. In the jigsaw picture, LMS 4-4-0 compound locomotive No.1167 is shown heading 'crimson lake' passenger stock, but unfortunately my copy is not the best.  Locomotion was number six in a particular series of 500-piece, GOOD COMPANION puzzles; there were at least four other similar series. This particular puzzle suffered from a  reflective surface thus causing a serious problem when assembling in bright light.

 

T.E. North's name is indelibly linked to many railway jigsaw puzzles and to several manufacturers. Many examples have already been featured on this blog. Picture number two shows North's  artwork  replicated by THE Good Companion in a 400-piece jigsaw, East Coast Route. The approach to Newcastle Station  forms the backdrop to the picture. A mainline trained headed by a Gresley 'A4' class 4-6-2 and three freight trains are depicted on a myriad of lines close to the station. The city once boasted the largest railway crossing in the world accommodating up to 400 trains per day. Poor printing caused the main  problem with this particular puzzle,  a slightly blurred image.

'Princess Coronation' Class 'Pacifics'

Today's post, 13th June 2011, comprises two pics showing the most powerful British passenger steam locomotives, the 'Princess Coronation' class, designed by William Stanier.The class of thirty eight was built for the LMS between 1937 and 1948; the locomotives were an improved version of the previous Stanier 'Pacifics', the 'Princess Royal' class.

Pic number one features the now preserved No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland, in a superb, 1000-piece jigsaw from Waddingtons.The locomotive is complete with equally handsome 'Royal Scot' headboard and is about to depart Euston for Scotland. The title of the puzzle is Nearing Departure and the original, superb  artwork is by Malcolm Root.



Another brilliant (probably the best) railway artist, Terene Cuneo, was responsible for the original canvas reproduced as a jigsaw in the second pic. Titled Duchess of Hamilton on Shed, the now preserved loco, No.46229, is depicted in a railway shed setting, complete with the ambience associated with such a location. The wooden puzzle is by Wentworth and is of 500 pieces.




I must add that these two puzzles are among my all time favourites, magnificent artwork reproduced as superb products.

Miniature Railways

Photographs of jigsaws showing miniature railways comprise today's post, 6th May 2011. Miniature railways include all those whose gauge is less than the 4ft 8.5ins standard, set for mainline UK railways by the 'Gauge Act' of 1846. I was surprised to find that there are more than 150 narrow gauge railways listed on the website www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk

Pic number one shows perhaps the most famous of the English miniature or narrow gauge railways, the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, just as famous for its extraordinary war efforts as its peacetime activities. The jigsaw  represented, of 175 pieces, is a rectangular, 3D 'constructional' example from Victory. Titled Miniature Express the assembled puzzle features  the engine, driver and train, cut from thicker plywood, assuming a raised posture across the puzzle centre. The jigsaw came with its own purpose-made frame and was made in other sizes, although not in 3D. The artist is not named.

The second pic features a 125-piece jigsaw from Tower Press (Chester series) titled Miniature Railway. Although the railway is not named it is likely to be the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway of Cumbria. The locomotive probably is the 0-8-2 type River Esk heading a crowded passenger service beneath a stone bridge.  

The popular Welsh narrow gauge railways are well represented in jigsaw puzzle manufacture and examples from Whitman will be featured in a future post.