Engine Spotter's Jigsaws

This post, 19th March 2013 and the first for some time, (apologies if you are a follower) comprises four pictures, showing two jigsaw puzzles and their boxes, an unusual diversion for me. 

  

The two jigsaws pictured are from the Tower Press Engine Spotter's Series of six, 200 piece examples. The quality of the puzzles is not of the higher standard of other Tower Press puzzles with the poor quality repeated in the box manufacture. The boxes clearly indicate the main purpose of manufacturing the puzzles - to assist train spotters with the correct identification of steam locomotives. The printed description on each box reads "Famous Engines in Authentic Detail".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first jigsaw is titled Midland Region Class 7P. 4.6.2. 'Pacific' type. No.46255 City of Hereford. The class of thirty-eight was the brainchild of Sir William Stanier of the LMS and was constructed at Crewe over an eleven year period, originating in 1937. The locomotive is 'dressed' in BR 'Express Passenger Blue', a livery carried for variable lengths of time by twenty-seven members of the class, from c1949. The power class of these 'Pacifics' was later revised by BR to '8P'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second jigsaw is titled Western Region "King" Class. 4.6.0. type. No.6000 "King George V". The class of thirty-one 'Kings' was designed by Charles Collett and initially power-classed as 'Special', later revised to '8P' by BR. This engine is also shown in BR 'Express Passenger Blue', a livery short-lived on the Western Region of BR. Artistic renditions of this locomotive have been extensively used by jigsaw manufacturers over many years, a trend started by the Chad Valley Company in 1928.

 

Two from Victory

In today's post, 9th February 2013, I am using photographs of two Victory wooden jigsaws which can be described as children's examples because of their size. Both feature Great Western Railway (GWR) scenes. The two pictures are likely to be lightly printed monochrome pics, over-painted in colour.This is also our 100th post since we began in July 2010. Many thanks to everyone who email me with support,  comments and queries.

First up is a picture of a 30-piece puzzle featuring a GWR 'Star' class 4-6-0 locomotive designed by George Jackson Churchward. There is no title on the box, just the number P.0. Churchward embraced engineering principles from abroad (mainly France) when building his 'Stars'. The prototype, provisionally numbered 40 in 1906, was later named North Star and was of 4-4-2 wheel configuration. The wheel configuration was altered to 4-6-0 in 1909, and the number, to 4000 in 1912.  The last member numerically of the class, No.4072 Tresco Abbey, was built in 1923. One 'Star' class locomotive, No.4003 Lode Star, has been preserved in the National Collection at York. In the picture the F. Moore name appears as the artist but there was never an artist by this name. Thomas Rudd was the main artist for the Locomotive Publishing Company in the early 20th Century and it was this company that used the 'F. Moore' name for its published pictures and prints. The carriages are also early 20th century designs of a crimson lake colour which appeared c1912.

Picture number two shows a 45-piece jigsaw titled Birmingham & North Express, at Hatton Summit, GWR. The artist is not named. A 'King' class 4-6-0 locomotive of Charles Collett is pictured heading the express but the number, and the corresponding name, are unclear. I have seen this picture in a Railway magazine 'pull-out' where it is described as a 1929 picture of No.6001 King Edward VII. The carriages in this picture are of post 1922, chocolate and cream vintage. The class of thirty-one, the most powerful 4-6-0s ever built, appeared on  GWR metals  between 1927 and 1936. The prototype No.6000 King George V, is described in several previous posts, but particularly in that of 3rd November 2010.

These two jigsaws are less common than other children's railway jigsaws from Victory. Wooden puzzles of this vintage inevitably suffer from paper loss, broken lugs etc. so don't be too disappointed if your examples are  less than perfect.

Artist George Heiron

This post, 4th February 2013, follows on from others I have put together describing jigsaw puzzles replicating paintings by some of my favourite railway artists. John Austin, Barry Freeman, Malcolm Root and Don Breckon have already featured and George Heiron (1929-2001) is next. 

George was born in 1929 not far away from the famous Temple Meads Station. The Great Western Railway was in its heyday and it must have been inspiring growing up as a Bristolian prior to the Second World War. Those magnificent Churchward and Collett locomotives must have impressed George in his formative years as he became a freelance photographer and artist following his National Service; steam railways were his passion. Bristol was known as the ‘crossroads of the west’ and George described the railway as “this most noble form of transport”.  His most prolific photographic period was the last decade of British Railways when he shot the final throes of steam in his native West Country. His images epitomise the very essence of the period and were mixed with his fine efforts with brush and canvas. He was a member of the Guild of Railway Artists for a short time and exhibited at the first National Exhibition of Railway Art in 1977 -  when around twenty artists exhibited 150 pictures.  In terms of railway paintings being transformed into jigsaw puzzles, George Heiron’s paintings were very popular with manufacturers Victory, Arrow and Falcon.

My first picture features the Falcon De-luxe jigsaw of 500 pieces, The Golden Arrow - SR. George painted this picture in 1991, and along with three others it was issued as a series titled Steamtrains in 1992. The Golden Arrow luxury service from London Victoria to Dover was terminated in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, but was re-introduced in 1946. It had been operating from 1929 starting as an all-Pullman service hauled by a 'Lord Nelson' class 4-6-0 locomotive or, occasionally, by a 'King Arthur' class 4-6-0. In the picture the 'Golden Arrow' is headed by a Bulleid 'Merchant Navy' class 4-6-2, No.21C1 Channel Packet.

The second picture shows another jigsaw from the same series, this one titled The Cornish Riviera Limited - GWR. This express resulted from an improved Paddington to Penzance (via Plymouth) service in 1904 and the returns from a subsequent competition to find a name for the train. As the express gained in popularity and inevitably, weight, it required larger motive power in the form of 'King' class 4-6-0 locomotives to Plymouth where 'Castle' class 4-6-0 locomotives, took over haulage duties. The scene painted by George and by many others features the famous Shell Cove in South Devon, with Horse Rocks in the background. The railway line hugs the coast between Dawlish and Teignmouth, passing through five short tunnels blasted through red sandstone rock.

Steam and Dockyards

For this first post of the new year, 16th January 2013, I am using photographs of two jigsaw puzzles showing steam locomotives working in dockyards. The first jigsaw features a freight working and the second, two different passenger services. For the more general jigsaw enthusiast these two puzzles may be more attractive as the steam trains are not the main focus of attention. 

The first photograph shows a Good Companion jigsaw of 400-pieces titled The Last of the Cargo. A British Railways (BR) 'Standard' class '4' 2-6-0 locomotive, designed by Robert Riddles, is pictured heading cargo vans while being held at a set of points. The locomotive was built in 1952 and withdrawn from service just thirteen years later. In the background is a passenger liner (?), a working tug and another ship, possibly a ferry. A line of flat wagons loaded with drums (chemicals or oil etc) is also included in the foreground. Two war planes are included by the artist T. E. North.

The second pic also shows a 400-piece jigsaw from Good Companion, this one titled Train Ferry. The setting is a dock terminal featuring Pullman cars, possibly from an overnight sleeper service, being loaded onto the ferry.  The locomotive pushing the cars is indistinct. To the fore is a second passenger service comprising BR carmine and cream livery coaches, headed by what appears to be a BR 'Standard' class '7' 4-6-2 locomotive. A tug and another passenger craft add to the nautical theme of the puzzle. The artist is T. E. North once again.

Stanier and Gresley 'Pacifics'

This post, 11th December 2012, comprises two jigsaw pictures showing large 4-6-2 ('Pacific') express locomotives designed by two of the greatest mechanical engineers, Sir William Stanier and Sir Nigel Gresley. The knighthoods give some indication of the huge contribution made by both of these men to locomotive engineering.

 

The  first jigsaw picture shows a Stanier 'Princess Coronation' class 'Pacific' locomotive, No 46229 Duchess of Hamilton in an engine shed setting, at a coaling plant; the artwork was by Terence Cuneo (1907-1996). The locomotive was one of Cuneo's favourites and is, of course, part of the National Collection in York. Cuneo was the most famous railway artist of the twentieth century. His slightly impressionistic style was favoured by many art lovers - railway enthusiasts or not - including the most discerning of art critics. Although I remain a Great Western Railway (GWR) man at heart, I must admit that this London Midland Scottish (LMS) 'Pacific' design, introduced in 1937, is my favourite among many handsome contempories. The jigsaw is a 500-piece wooden example from Wentworth titled Duchess of Hamilton on Shed. Apologies for using this picture for a second time on the blog but I think it is justified in this context.

 

The second jigsaw picture shows an equivalent locomotive from the LNER, one of Gresley's 'A4' class of 'Pacifics'. These locomotives, introduced in 1935,  were very fast with one of the class, No.4468 Mallard, holding the world speed record at 126mph. The jigsaw is a 500-piece example from Moat House Products replicating excellent artwork from David M. West. The locomotive in the picture is No.60017 Silver Fox heading the Kings Cross - Edinburgh, non-stop, 'The Captals Limited' service. The scene is painted in British Railways (BR) days, after 1948.
 

Two Wooden Puzzles

In today's post, 9th November 2012, I am showing two photographs of wooden jigsaws, both featuring artwork by one of my favourite artists, Don Breckon. I have described other examples from the same series in previous posts - 24th January 2012 and 22nd July 2012.

Wooden jigsaws are obviously more expensive than cardboard equivalents and pre-date them by around 120 years. It is widely believed that the first jigsaw puzzle, or 'dissected puzzle' as it would have been called originally, was made by London engraver and  map maker John Spilsbury c1760. Although more expensive, wooden jigsaws don't lose value at the same rate as cardboard examples and are more appropriate to pass on as family heirlooms.

The first picture, showing a 155-piece puzzle, is titled Changing Trains. Ex GWR 'Castle' class 4-6-0, No.5098 Clifford Castle, is waiting in Cornwall's Lostwithiel Station in the late 1950's with a Penzance bound passenger service. This train comprises main line chocolate and cream passenger coaches. Also in the picture is a branch line train of BR maroon suburban coaches waiting to take passengers to Fowey (as indicated on the station name board). Heading this local service is one of the little 'workhorses'of the old GWR, a '14xx' class 0-4-2T tank locomotive. 

 

 

The second picture shows a 238-piece jigsaw titled Racing the Train. The jigsaw features a superbly typical Breckon country painting showing a branch-line in the West Country.  A suburban service, headed by GWR 2-6-2 '45xx' or 'Prairie' class locomotive, No. 4570, is travelling on a single line beside a dirt track. On the track two young boys, on foot, appear to be racing the train.

The origin of these superbly cut wooden puzzles is unknown to me but they are part of a series; of the series, six puzzles are in my collection. 

National Railway Museum Jigsaws

Ryco Crafts of Ripon produced jigsaw puzzles for the National Railway Museum (NRM) in 2004 and two of them are featured in today's post, 20th October 2012.
 

 

Both puzzles comprise 500 pieces. The first, titled Steamfest, features a reproduced photograph of  two locomotives at this gala event. On the left is David Shepherd's BR class '9F' 2-10-0,  92203 which he named Black Prince. This name was not carried by any locomotive for BR.  The famous wildlife artist purchased two steam locomotives from British Railways (BR) in 1967 - No.92203 and BR 'Standard' class '4MT' 4-6-0 No.75029 which he subsequently named The Green Knight. Following a diligent search for land in south west England on which he could build a railway, David found a derelict area at Cranmore in 1971. Together with enthusiastic friends, David purchased the site and the East Somerset Railway was opened two years later. On the right hand side in the jigsaw picture is SR 'King Arthur' class 4-6-0, No.30777 Sir Lamiel, part of the National Collection.


The second jigsaw photograph depicts (Sir) Nigel Gresley's class 'A1' (later 'A10' and 'A3') 4-6-2, No.4472 Flying Scotsman, also the title of the jigsaw.The locomotive has been immortalised in many forms, not least in jigsaw puzzles. Most jigsaw manufacturers / retailers pictured Flying Scotsman  in pre-1960 form, without smoke deflectors - Falcon, Ravensburger, Arrow, Victory, Hope, W. H. Smith and Tower Press for example.The NRM issued the puzzle replicating a photograph of the locomotive with German-style smoke deflectors (affectionately known as 'blinkers') attached. The icon of UK railways became part of the National Collection in 2004, purchased for the nation with private, public and Heritage Lottery funding.

A third Ryco Crafts / NRM jigsaw puzzle published at the same time is described in the post of 11th January 2011.

Two from House of Puzzles

Today's post, 18th September, features the artwork of Keith Stapleton reproduced by jigsaw manufacturer House of Puzzles of Invergordon, Scotland.

  

The first picture shows a puzzle from the Rowan Collection, comprising 250 large, unusually shaped pieces and titled Seaside Special. The location is similar to that described in my post of 22nd July 2012 - Dawlish.  Ex GWR 4-6-0 locomotive No.4003 Lode Star was designed by George Jackson Churchward  and built in 1907. In the jigsaw picture the locomotive is shown heading familiar chocolate and cream passenger coaches along the line adjacent to the sea wall. In addition to many holiday revellers, Keith’s all-inclusive artwork features sand castles, sea gulls, a beach ball, deck chairs, an ice cream cabin, a ‘Punch and Judy’ show, a flying kite and the obligatory dog. The BR logo on the tender rather oddly dates the pic between 1956 and 1968 although the loco was withdrawn from service in 1951. Lode Star is part of the National Collection at the National Railway Museum in York.

The second picture features a 500-piece puzzle from the Ruxley Collection titled Country Crossing. This puzzle also comprises unusually shaped pieces. The jigsaw conveys the serene ambience of country village life from the 1920's/1930's. North Eastern Railway (NER) class D22, 4-4-0 locomotive No. 1537, of  T. W. Worsdell, is shown heading suburban passenger stock on a single line beside a dirt track. The scene includes a small public house, two customers seated outside, a man standing beside a bicycle and another, possibly a local farmer, approaching on a horse. A canal viaduct complete with canal boat is included in the backgound. Several geese, bees and pigeons are also included in a very busy picture. The locomotive was built in 1890 and withdrawn from LNER service in 1935. 

Two More Gresley Locomotives

In today's post, 31st August 2012, I am featuring two locomotives from classes designed by the famous GNR/LNER mechanical engineer (Sir) Nigel Gresley. 

The first pic features a wooden jigsaw of 200 pieces from Ponda which probably originated from Ian Allan. In Robert Barnard Way's artwork, Gresley's  'V2' class 2-6-0 locomotive, No.60877, (built in 1940) is shown in BR black livery  hauling a long rake of BR carmine & cream ('blood and custard') coaches over the King Edward VII bridge at Newcastle. The 'cycling lion' BR motif indicates a time period of 1948-1956 for Way's painting. The full title of the puzzle is British Railways: Southbound Express hauled by Class V2 60877, on the King Edward VII bridge, Newcastle-on-Tyne. North Eastern Region. The curved shape of the train suits the portrait style (vertical) perfectly.

The second shot is of a 500-piece puzzle from Falcon titled Flying Scotsman. The artwork is by George Heiron. Featured is Gresley's 'A1' class 4-6-2 locomotive No.2750 Papyrus. The locomotive  was built in 1929 and was upgraded to 'A3' status following a rebuild in BR days, 1963. The LNER express, Kings Cross - Edinburgh, in the picture comprises Gresley's famous teak coaches. The definite article was added to the express headboard by BR in the 1950's.

Steam with Other Modes of Transport

Artwork, showing steam trains with alternative modes of transport, has been used by jigsaw manufacturers for many years. Cars, aeroplanes, buses, canalboats and ships have been included with steam trains for different reasons, some purely pictorial, others for comparison purposes. Races between steam trains and road vehicles for instance have always been popular, and canal boats have often been used in conjunction with a busy main railway line to introduce tranquility. Today's post, 19th August 2012, includes three pictures of jigsaw puzzles showing alternative modes of transport compared and contrasted with steam locomotion.



The first pic features a jigsaw of 500 pieces from Falcon/Jumbo depicting two Spitfire aeroplanes, a steam train and a small vintage car. I am no expert on the latter but perhaps the car in the picture is an Austin Seven which was manufactured until 1939. The planes are overflying the railway which can be interpreted - wartime or peacetime -  in different ways; the train is depicted at a small rural crossing. The driver of the parked, lineside car watches intently as railway workers and train passengers wave to the pilots. The jigsaw title is Planes, Trains and Automobiles although there is only one train and one car. The artwork is by Bill Perring. The locomotive is a class 'H' 0-4-4T tank engine, No. 1263 of the  Southern Railway, previously of the South East & Chatham Railway.



Seaside Traffic, a Victory wooden jigsaw of 300 pieces, from original artwork by T. E. North, is shown in pic number two. It is a fine example of a steam train as the focal point with other examples of transport sharing the picture space. A train headed by BR 'Standard' class '7' 4-6-2, No.70001 Lord Hurcomb, is shown at speed beside a busy road. A coach, a car and caravan and a small lorry are shown on the road while to the other side of the railway line is the sea. On the sea are two passenger ships and several, small recreational craft. The puzzle is available as 'used' in  a range of sizes, 75-400 pieces.



Continental holidays were well served by the Southern Railway. In the 636-piece panoramic puzzle from Gibsons (pic number three) a luxury boat train is pictured at the Ocean Liner Terminal at Southampton. The Cunarder - a Waterloo to Southampton Pullman service - is the name of both the train and the jigsaw puzzle. The artwork is by Malcolm Root and the locomotive in his picture is ‘Battle of Britain’ class 4-6-2, No.34081 92 Squadron, which is now preserved and owned by the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society. The ocean liner in the picture is Cunard Line’s Queen Mary; a stylish, chauffeur-driven car and a couple of 1950’s coaches are added for effect. A photograph of ‘The Cunarder’ train, similar to Malcolm’s artwork but including a ‘Lord Nelson’ class 4-6-0 and a different headboard, is shown in Dave Peel’s excellent book, ‘Locomotive Headboards - The Complete Story’.



Further examples of jigsaws  featuring steam trains and other forms of transport can be seen in the following posts  - 30th July 2010 (aeroplane); 3rd October 2010 (vintage cars); 13th February 2011 (vintage cars and canal boats); 9th March 2011 (Burrell steam traction engine); 28th March 2011 (bicycle); 25th June 2011 (ship). There are many more.