Hogwart's Express

You will never guess what I found at the National Railway Museum! Lurking inconspicuously in a corner, almost hidden between two enormous diesels, as though bewitched – Hogwart’s Express. There it was, just waiting to whisk the finder away on a magical adventure. In my imagination I was immediately steaming over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, en route to Hogwart’s School of Magic and Wizardry, and countless marvellous adventures…
Hogwart’s Express as portrayed in the Harry Potter films is actually loco GWR4900, class 5972, 4 – 6 – 0. Normally based at the National Railway Museum at Shildon, the loco’s official name is ‘Olton Hall’, but when filming it carries a ‘Hogwart’s Express’ headboard. In the museum, she retains her 5972 number, has a ‘Hogwart’s Castle’ nameplate (even though she isn’t a Castle Class loco), and is liveried in crimson instead of the GWR standard colour of Brunswick Green.