Two More From Wentworth

Today's post, 21st February 2012, comprises two pictures of Wentworth wooden jigsaws.

The first is a 250-piece example titled GWR Castle on Broadlands Viaduct. The artwork is courtesy of Mike Jeffries. The 'Castle' class 4-6-0  depicted is No.4099 Kilgerran Castle. It was built in 1926 and was designed by GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett. However there is a twist in the tail for this puzzle. Mike also has an original painting on his website titled GWR Castle on Broadsands Viaduct featuring 'Castle' class locomotive No.4089 Donnington Castle. It is almost the same as the Wentworth picture but not quite.

The plot thickens. Broadsands Viaduct is an Isambard Kingdom Brunel structure near Churston in Devon; it is on the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway. I can find no reference to a Broadlands Viaduct.

The second picture shows the 250-piece wooden jigsaw titled The Mallard, from Malcolm Root's original artwork. Malcolm has reproduced on canvas, the 1938 record run of the famous 'A4' class 4-6-2 locomotive, No.4468 Mallard, which had been  built earlier in the same year. The locomotive, dynomometer car and six coaches reached a speed of 126 mph when descending Stoke Bank on the LNER main line.  The locomotive is part of the National Collection at York.

A Jigsaw Miscelleny

Several locomotives from different origins feature in today's post, 3rd Februaury 2012, (as jigsaw puzzle pictures) hence the title.

The first picture shows a 200-piece jigsaw from Falcon titled Cookham Manor and Burton Agnes Hall. The double heading GWR pair are part of the 'Steamtrains' series 2, of 1982. The orignal artwork was by Paul S. Gribble. Charles Collett designed the 4-6-0 'Manor' class and Frederick Hawsworth the 'Modified Hall' class of larger 4-6-0s.

The Main Line Station, a 400-piece Terminus puzzle from Tower Press, shown in picture number two, is one of very few puzzles to show station office staff in close up. Two male staff, one holding a clip-board and another wearing headphones,  are overlooking the main lines from an elevated office. They have push button equipment, two telephones and an automated diagram of the local rail system before them. Two Gesley 'Pacifics' are standing at the platforms beneath. The artist is not named but the graphic artwork is clear and colour saturated, ideal for jigsaw puzzles.

In 1985 Waddingtons produced a set of four jigsaw puzzles, each one replicating a postage stamp depicting a Terence Cuneo painting. They made a handsome and popular set. The set comprised the Flying Scotsman (17p stamp), Golden Arrow (22p), Cheltenham Flyer (29p) and Royal Scot (31p).  Picture number three in this post shows the puzzle depicting the 22p stamp. But why was there no fifth puzzle replicating the Cornish Riviera Express on the 43p stamp? 

Artist Don Breckon

In previous posts I have selected favourite artists John Austin and Barry Freeman and described their influences on railway art used in the jigsaw trade. Today, 24th January 2012, I am doing likewise for another of my favourite artists, Don Breckon.

When I cast my admiring eye over Don's railway paintings I immediately think of the interaction between the community and the permanent way. For example, in some pictures people may be pausing from work, relaxation or recreation while simultaneously admiring a steam train, in awe of the power and majesty on view before them. In others, children may be fascinated onlookers, watching and learning or simply waving to passengers, or playing beside a line; or a family may be enjoying a picnic within view of a line. A father may be talking to locomotive or station staff as his son looks on inquisitively. Railwaymen may be watching proudly in an engine shed, as their powerful iron steed leaves for duty or roars past on a nearby line. Passengers may be waiting for the next train, exiting or boarding a standing train or just conversing. My instinct tells me that Don invites you to be part of his painting. When he captures a steam train on canvas it never totally dominates the picture; it is an integral part, just like a leading actor in a film. Whether he paints a main line express or a small local train on a rural branch line, Don will find the perfect aspect to paint it.

The two pictures I have chosen today reflect the descriptions above. They are both wooden puzzles of ~240 pieces, expertly cut, but by whom is a mystery. They are part of a series purchased privately on the Internet.

The first picture shows a jigsaw replicating the Breckon painting Sunday Working, also the jigsaw title. A Great Western Railway (GWR) 'Grange' class 4-6-0 locomotive of Charles Collett, No.6861 Crynant Grange, is shown heading a Sunday passenger service past a group of admiring railway workers. The title of the jigsaw relates  to the train and the railwaymen, possibly on 'overtime'.

Picture number two features the Breckon painting Morning Delivery, showing a small 0-4-4T tank locomotive, No.1521 of the Southern Railway (SR), designed by  Harry Wainwright. The loco is heading a couple of SR green coaches past a cottage in the English countryside. Outside the cottage a postman leans against his bicycle as he chats to the cottage owner.The engine driver leans out of his cab perhaps to shout "good morning" as his train trundles past. The title of both the painting and the jigsaw relates strongly to the train and the two male subjects. The chickens add further rural interest.

Three LMS Locomotives

Following the recent jigsaws depicting Great Western Railway locomotives, I have chosen two for today's post, 18th January 2012, depicting London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) locomotives.

The first photograph shows a jigsaw of 400 pieces made by Good Companion. There is a lot going on in this puzzle, titled Euston Station. The streamlined 'Coronation Scot' express train, in blue and white livery (including matching coaches) is the focal point. This famous Euston -  Glasgow express, was named to coincide with the year of the Coronation of King George VI. It was headed, initially, by Stanier 'Coronation' class 4-6-2, No.6220 Coronation, and a record speed of 114mph was achieved on the inaugural 'Press' run on 29th June 1937. Euston Station at Euston Grove was opened in 1937 and extended in 1846. The Great Hall was opened three years later. The London to Birmingham line took five years to build and impressive Doric Arches were built over the approaches to both Euston and Birmingham Curzon Street Stations. The original choice for the London Terminus had been Camden, but this was changed, later, to Euston. Also in the picture is 'Royal Scot' class 4-6-0 No.6110 Grenadier Guardsman, one of a class of locomotives introduced in 1927 by Henry Fowler. They were completely rebuilt later by a Stanier /Ivatt/ Cox  partnership. In addition to five trains and two locomotives, also included in the jigsaw picture are clock, passengers, porters, newspaper stand and platform numbers.

The second jigsaw picture shows the least expensive puzzle in my collection. It was purchased from ebay in 1998 and cost just £1.22, inclusive of postage; the postage alone would cost more the £1.22 these days. The 200-piece puzzle by JR Puzzles shows the LMS, 'Crimson Lake'  liveried 4-6-0  'Jubilee' class locomotive, No.5690 Leander, also the title of the puzzle. The 191 'Jubilee' class locomotives were built between 1934 and 1936, designed by (Sir) William Stanier - four are preserved, including Leander.

A 'Castle' and a 'King'

As the title suggests, two pictures of Great Western Railway (GWR) locomotives feature in today's post, 4th January 2011, a 'Castle' and a 'King'. Both designed by Charles Collett the locomotives were quite similar in many respects with the 'King' being often described as a 'Super Castle'. In my collection of over 400 jigsaw puzzles, all featuring British steam trains, the GWR  and Western Region of British Railways combined, provide the subjects for more jigsaw puzzles than other regional equivalents.


The first picture shows a jigsaw titled Earl Bathurst Weathering The Storm.  The Wentworth wooden puzzle of 250 pieces is reproduced from a photograph of 'Castle' class 4-6-0, No.5051 Earl Bathurst, battling against a blizzard in a rural location. The photographer is not named. Because of the extreme weather conditions the colour photograph has almost been transformed into  monochrome.

The icon of the GWR, 'King' class 4-6-0, No.6000 King George V, is shown in the second picture. The engine is liveried in British Railways (BR) express blue, the colour chosen for large, passenger express locomotives after BR was formed in 1948. Unfortunately, the jigsaw picture, from original artwork by T. E. North, was printed with a red cast resulting in a purple locomotive and red bridge components. 'Cornish Riviera Express' is the title of this 400-piece jigsaw from Family Favourite. The famous express is pictured exiting the Royal Albert Bridge spanning the River Tamar at Saltash. The bridge designer was the great Isambard Kingdom Brunel and it was officially opened on 2nd May 1859 by Prince Albert; Brunel died four months later.

A Unique Puzzle

Today's post, 25th December 2011, focuses on a jigsaw of which I am particularly proud. It replicates  one of my brother's photographs taken on 22nd April 2011 at Red Bank, Newton-le-Willows, and is therefore totally unique.

The rail tour in the picture was 'The Great Britain IV' that toured the country over nine days in April 2011. 'Castle' class 4-6-0 locomotive No.5029 Nunney Castle, headed the rail tour on the seventh day from Preston to Bristol. The locomotive was designed by Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway Charles Collett, in 1934, one of a class that eventually numbered one hundred and seventy one. No. 5029 was sent to Barry Scrapyard in 1964 and rescued twelve years later by private buyers in partnership with the Great Western Society. Since the mid 1990's the locomotive has been privately owned, recently by Jeremy Hosking.

The locomotive returned to the main line in 2000 and following overhaul, again in 2008. The only fault with the picture is the phone mast, one of a growing number hated by photographers, almost on a par with electricity pylons.

The jigsaw is a 500-piece example, superbly made by www.myphotopuzzle.co.uk It is produced in thick card and presented in an equally excellent box. There are many such companies producing  jigsaws from digital photographic files and/or photographs - just type 'personal jigsaw puzzles' into your browser.

An Unusual 'Glow in the Dark' Puzzle

The puzzle pictured in today's post, 18th December 2011, is very unusual (and rare) for two reasons - it features a UK steam railway scene from an American jigsaw manufacturer and it glows in the dark.

The first photograph shows the jigsaw in daylight. It is a picture of a Stanier class '8F' locomotive, 48445, hauling a freight train through a station at dusk or dawn. The period is probably between 1948 and 1956 when the British Railways logo was the 'cycling lion', clearly shown on the tender. The station lights mixed with ambient, residual light result in a memorable picture by British artist Peter Bradshaw. The jigsaw is a 1000-piece example by Empire of Massachusetts.


The second photograph shows the jigsaw in a blackened room after illuminating it for a minimum of twenty minutes with a bright light. Obviously the puzzle attracts more interest at night because of the eeriness that it projects but it is a very interesting puzzle when viewed normally. Station staff and passengers add human interest to a typical railway scene.

Two from Gibsons

Within the theme 'trains in stations' there were many jigsaws to choose from in my collection of over 400 steam railway puzzles and some have already been seen on the blog. Here, 12th December 2011, are photos showing two more.

The world's first underground railway, The Metroploitan Railway, was opened in Januray 1863 and connected Faringdon with Paddington. It was an instant success and carried an average of 26,000 passengers each day in its first six months of operation. The first pic is of a 500-piece puzzle from the Gibson's Heritage Collection featuring artwork by Barry Freeman.  The title is Memories of Metroland. 'E' class 0-4-4 tank engine, No.1, is shown at Quainton Road Station, awaiting the 'right to go',  in the early 1950's. It survived in service until 1963 and is now preserved. Also pictured in the station is a Beyer Peacock 4-4-0 tank engine No.23 and a member of the station staff holding a newspaper while chatting to the engine driver.


The second picture shows a 1000-piece jigsaw from Gibsons titled Summer Outing from a Malcolm Root original canvas. Featured is an open top bus of the 1920's (?) travelling past Witham Station with a full load of passengers. Two Essex towns, Chelmsford and Witham are displayed on the front destination board. Only Malcolm Root knows exactly what is going on in the scene but many people are depicted, some at the side of the road overlooking railings covered with advertisements for Cadburys products. They may be watching a train headed by a superb 4-4-0 'Claud Hamilton' class locomotive of the Great Eastern Railway (GER) exiting the station. Or they may be watching a second locomotive waiting in the nearest platform to the railings. Human interest is increased by the inclusion of a small boy eating a bar of chocolate. Is the summer outing by bus or train or does it include journeys by both? The jigsaw was used by Cadburys as a promotional example.

Two more from Falcon

Today's post, 4th December 2011, features pictures of two, 200-piece jigsaws from the famous Falcon company. They were part of a series of four puzzles titled Steamtrains, each comprising medium sized pieces.

The first picture shows a Great Western Railway (GWR) 'County' class 4-6-0 locomotive designed by Frederick Hawksworth, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the GWR and British Railways (BR) Western Region, from 1941 -1949. The locomotive is No.1000, County of Middlesex, and the artwork is by Paul Gribble. The title of the jigsaw is County of Middlesex (GWR) leaving Temple Meads. The latter station, one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's famous legacies, is in Bristol.

The second picture shows one of Sir William Stanier's powerful 'Princess Coronation' class of 4-6-2 locomotives. He was the CME of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway from 1932 until 1944 having previously gained experience at the Swindon Works of the GWR. The locomotive pictured is No. 46223 Princess Alice and the title of the jigsaw is Princess Alice - BR Midland Region. The artist is David Weston. This locomotive is also featured in a jigsaw pictured in the post of  22nd May 2011, but in its original streamlined form of 1937.

'Steam Trains and Jigsaw Puzzles' Book

Today's post, 28th November 2011, is dedicated to the book bearing the same name as the blog. I have several copies of the book, first published in 2007, on offer . The two photographs below show two of eight photographic pages, designed in a montage style, illustrating thirty-five puzzles in total. They are fully complemented with over 30,000 words divided into several sections. Included in the latter are "A Summary of Jigsaw Puzzle History", "Thematic Collecting", "Railway Artists", "Classification" and "Famous Locomotives and Headboards". The book is based on jigsaws depicting British steam railways only.

The book is primarily aimed at collectors of steam railway jigsaw puzzles, serious or otherwise. It is also aimed at those people without any passionate affinity for railways, who just like to reminisce about times spent on steam-hauled trains and assemble the odd jigsaw puzzle or two. Even enthusiasts of general pictorial jigsaws may find the book interesting. After all, railways and glorious lanscapes were inseparable in the steam age and there are many jigsaw examples reflecting this combination to consider. Railway officianados and collectors of railway art may also be attracted to the book as I believe there is much common ground between everyone with an interest in steam railways, whatever their focus.

If of interest please send enquiries to the email address at the top of the blog. The cost will be £15.49 inclusive of postage/packing; payment can be by cheque or postal order or via my PayPal account.