Train Puzzles

[Anonymous]

Zardoz's topic "Pullzer" gave me the idea for this topic. Thanks zardoz. [;)]

My parents, and many other people, enjoy putting puzzles together during the winter months. They have tons of puzzles they have put together.

This Christmas past I bought them a puzzle of a yellow PA unit (seems like there was a red stripe down the side also) pulling a passenger consists under a hiway bridge. There was a large stream under the bridge and the railroad tracks followed the stream to some extent. There was also a large rock formation and trees.

Years ago some friends of mine gave me a puzzle they had put together. They had framed it using rustic wood giving it an "old west" look. The train in the puzzle is Denver and Rio Grande Southern being pulled by steamer # 344(which appears to be a 2 8 0 or a 2 8 2). This is a passenger train but having a caboose. The steam plumb hides some of the cars but at least one car up front appears to be an old wooden boxcar. The train is tower by high canyon walls and follows a river until it goes over an old style wooden tressle.

Another train puzzle (I did this one [:D] ) I have is a New York Central J3A the stream-limed version. The loco number is 5451 and the tender is in the two tone gray scheme. A friend of mine was working at a frame shop when this one was finished and got it framed for me using his employee discount. It is professionally framed and matted, looks like a million dollars, but cost me just a little.

I am always looking for train puzzles. When they are ordered from a catalog they cost a bunch, when you can find one at a discount store or "dollar" store they are much cheaper.

Do you puzzle? Do you try to find train puzzles? Do you have them framed?
Which one is your favorite? Do you have more than one favorite? Do you now have a new idea to decorate your train room? lol [:D] [;)] [8D] [:p] [:)]

[cherokee woman]

Even though it's been a three or four years (I think) both Walt & I love to work puzzles.

I have not come across any train puzzles. I'm going to keep my eyes out for some!!
That would be so cool.

NOTE: If I remember correctly, the mixture is 1/3 water to 2/3 glue. Also, if you have
a hobby or crafts store around, you can buy the glue/water mixture to spread on your finished puzzles so they don't fall apart on you.

[Big_Boy_4005]

I actually have a pretty good collection of jigsaw puzzles with trains on them. At least 20 different ones. Some are photos of prototype, some are of models. I even have a bunch with maps of subway systems from around the world, wihch I consider as part of the collection.

CW, I get a copy of Schrader's Railroad Catalog in the mail all the time. They have a bunch in there, as well as a ton of other train related stuff. Their web address is

www.railroadcatalog.com

[JoeKoh]

Matt has some thomas puzzle for you cw :0).
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

I have seen the same puzzles in a mail order catalog that I have found in a discount store. The discount store price was about $7.95 however the same puzzle through mail order will be double that price then add shipping. You are much better off to check the $1 stores, or $5 stores first. Then try Target or K Mart (I am personally boycotting Wal-Mart because of their rip off return policies).

To keep the puzzle together before framing (if you desire to frame it) there are several glues especially for puzzles. The glue is applied to the back of the puzzle. I have heard people say they have used contact paper even on the front. But that makes it hard to see the puzzle after it is framed.

Framing or framing and matting will be the most expensive part of your new puzzle picture. If you can find a premade frame it will be much cheaper. For a large puzzle a frame can cost $100 easily. Check out other options first before going to a professional framer.

I also have a nice display pic of the Timken Four Aces. I used to work for Rail Bearing Service. We remaned Timken bearings. Timken even bought out Rail Bearing Service. My boss gave me a ton of black and white pics of the Four Aces. I picked out the four best ones and my friend (who worked at the frame shop) got them matted and framed for me. So that is another nice picture I have that is train related.

[Big_Boy_4005]

No glue or frames for me, just put them back in their boxes, and wait for another rainy day for the urge to strike again. Frames are for art, and I'm running out of wall space and money for that anyway.[:D]

We have a local artist here, named John Cartwright, who does pen and ink drawings of only depots from cities and small towns around the region. His list of works just keeps growing, and every time I run into him at local shows he's working on another one.

The prints are beautiful, and quite inexpensive at $15 each for the black and white, and $35 for the few that he has gone back and watercolored in. I have a dozen of these prints, all framed and double matted, hanging in my hall where I can really enjoy them.

Sometimes I wonder what the hell I'm doing spending 10 times the cost of the art for framing, but I love to look at them, and you only live once.[:)]

P.S. This is my 750th post

[cherokee woman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

I have seen the same puzzles in a mail order catalog that I have found in a discount store. The discount store price was about $7.95 however the same puzzle through mail order will be double that price then add shipping. You are much better off to check the $1 stores, or $5 stores first. Then try Target or K Mart (I am personally boycotting Wal-Mart because of their rip off return policies).

To keep the puzzle together before framing (if you desire to frame it) there are several glues especially for puzzles. The glue is applied to the back of the puzzle. I have heard people say they have used contact paper even on the front. But that makes it hard to see the puzzle after it is framed.

Framing or framing and matting will be the most expensive part of your new puzzle picture. If you can find a premade frame it will be much cheaper. For a large puzzle a frame can cost $100 easily. Check out other options first before going to a professional framer.

I also have a nice display pic of the Timken Four Aces. I used to work for Rail Bearing Service. We remaned Timken bearings. Timken even bought out Rail Bearing Service. My boss gave me a ton of black and white pics of the Four Aces. I picked out the four best ones and my friend (who worked at the frame shop) got them matted and framed for me. So that is another nice picture I have that is train related.

You can also take regular Elmer's School Glue and dilute it with some water(just make sure you don't get the mixture too thin). Brush it over the top of the puzzle and make sure
you get the puzzle covered well with the mixture. Let it dry thoroughly and you are ready to frame your picture.

[Anonymous]

I would always put the glue or whatever on the back of the puzzle. This way you won't mess up the front of the puzzle which is what you want to be nice anyway. Why take a chance messing it up, play it safe. [;)]