Officially opening on Thursday 19th March, the new, must-see section has been redesigned and will be built by many of the crew members who worked on the most successful film series of all time. Every inch of the platform’s glass roof, yellow brick walls and luggage racks, designed by Production Designer Stuart Craig, will be painstakingly reassembled by a team led by Construction Manager Paul Hayes and dressed by Set Decorator Rosie Goodwin. Special Effects Supervisor John Richardson will rig the locomotive with special effects steam.

Olton Hall photographed at London Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland 2011

You’ll be able to:

• Pose with a luggage trolley on Platform 9 ¾ as it disappears through the station’s yellow brick wall and walk along the Hogwarts Express’ adjoining carriage
• Explore the interior carriage set that was used during filming (complete with ‘windows’ that demonstrate the process used to create iconic train scenes from the films such as the escape of Harry’s first Chocolate Frog and the Dementor attack)
• See a selection of prop luggage and find out which character owned which items by turning an interactive dial (characters include Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood and more)
• Browse a wide range of goodies inspired by the Harry Potter films and, specifically, the Hogwarts Express in a train-themed souvenir shop which will be open on the platform

Many enthusiasts are upset about the possible fate of this locomotive and you can understand why – it was not something envisioned by those who saved it from the scrapyard after all.  However I am an enthusiast who returned to the hobby after purchasing the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone train set which starred Hogwarts Express. I believe that there are certain locomotives such as Hogwarts Castle/Olton Hall, Mallard and Flying Scotsman that are so famous they inspire and stir the enthusiasm of the younger generations when they see them. I would rather see her placed in this museum where she can seen, photographed and loved by her fans (most of who aren’t steam enthusiasts) than living in Carnforth where no one can see her, making the occasional mainline trip or the National Railway Musuem which already has the likes of Flying Scotsman and Mallard. Railway preservation is entering an unknown future where the ranks of the volunteers are starting to thin out and need replacing with young blood. If this one locomotive can help inspire people to get involved on the railways, then it has done its job for the greater railway good. However I would love to know what you think of this news (comment below), I will going to the Warner Brothers studio in May so expect some posts soon.

Thanks for reading.