Loch Shiel in real life compared to scenes from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Triwizard tournament (top) and crossing the bridge on the way to Hogwarts (bottom) – images: Lee Maynard (top left) & Dallas Epperson (bottom left) Loch Shiel In the Muggle world, the Hogwarts Express is a steam train known as The Jacobite, which runs on the West Highland Line between Fort William and Mallaig in Scotland.

The Hogwarts Express is a 4-6-0 Hall Class steam locomotive model number GWR 5900. It is quite impressive." — Hogwarts Express conductor [src] Our link with Harry Potter". Woodham Brothers. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009 . Retrieved 19 October 2008.Loch Shiel from the Glenfinnan Viaduct is a picture-postcard classic view of the Scottish Highlands, and Potter fans may recognise it as it’s one of two locations used to film Hogwarts Great Lake. After the viaduct, the train doesn’t go onto Hogwarts, but you’ll be far from disappointed about the rest of the trip. In striking contrast to Britain's later National Rail system, the Hogwarts Express took the form of a large red, 4-6-0 steam engine, named Hogwarts Castle. Originally steam fitted by the Muggles who built it, the locomotive later ran exclusively on magic.

In 1827, Ottaline Gambol rose to the office of Minister for Magic, and she made a daring and controversial suggestion to solve the ages-old problem of how to transport hundreds of students to and from Hogwarts Castle every school year without attracting the Muggles' attention. The journey between Glasgow Queen Street – on the West Highland Line – to Fort William takes around 3 hours and 45 minutes. The journey takes under 5 hours from Edinburgh, changing once at Glasgow Queen Street. Combine a ride on the Harry Potter train with a tour of famous Jacobite sights in Scotland. History buffs will love this tour with Jacobite history tales while soaking up the stunning Scottish Highlands scenery.When filmed, Olton Hall carried a "Hogwarts Express" headboard on the smokebox, featuring the Hogwarts school crest. The same emblem is featured as part of the "Hogwarts Railways" sigil on the tender and carriages. It retained its GWR number of 5972, but with alternative nameplates fitted, naming the engine Hogwarts Castle. It is painted in a crimson livery — a non-standard colour, as GWR locomotives traditionally used green. [6] Train travel lovers and rail pass holders will love the Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William leg of the West Highland Line. Of course, if you’re starting your Jacobite steam train journey from Mallaig, you can travel in the other direction. Levine, Arthur (14 April 2016). "Wizarding World of Harry Potter: What's different in Hollywood?". USA TODAY. As in the first Hogsmeade, a railroad station serving the Hogwarts Express greets visitors at the land's entrance. But the train in California doesn't move. Another discrepancy is that J. K. Rowling made an error in the year the Hogwarts Express was acquired, as Crewe Works did not open until 1840. The only stations the Hogwarts Express is noted as stopping at are King's Cross and Hogsmeade. Pottermore states that all students have to board the train per Ministry decree. This also includes students from Scotland, Wales and more remote parts of England and Ireland.

See our romance on the rails article and Cornwall by rail for more fabulous train journeys in Britain. Top off your trip and stay at one of Britain’s finest railway hotels. We recommend you book your Jacobite trip as early as possible. It sells out months in advance, and there’s only limited availability the rest of the time. That being said, there are no official records as to whether the service is operated on just one day at the start and end of term, or for several days on a timetable, or whether or not the coaches are charmed to be bigger on the inside than the outside similar to tents. The Glenfinnan Viaduct is featured as the Hogwarts Express bridge in the Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban and the Goblet of Fire. Crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct is impossible to miss, and the Jacobite will go very slowly and may even pause.https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/attractions/2023/02/27/severn-valley-railways-purple-royal-loco-gets-a-makeover-as-its-painted-into-new-colour/ Harry and Ron fly over the Hogwarts Express and Loch Eilt in the Chamber of Secrets. See clip 1 min 58 secs. Olton Hall was not the first locomotive to be re-liveried to appear hauling the Hogwarts Express. To promote the fourth Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Southern Railway West Country Class locomotive 34027 Taw Valley was temporarily repainted and renamed. However, it was rejected by film director Chris Columbus as looking "too modern" for the film, but it carried the name and colour for some months afterwards. [7] The bridge from that scene is one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks, the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which you will go over along the way. As well as the bridge to Hogwarts, you’ll also see the loch used to film Hogwarts Great Lake and the island containing Dumbledore’s Grave. Three full-size replicas of the locomotive as No. 5972 Hogwarts Castle are at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Orlando Resort). Two as part of the Hogwarts Express train ride [8] and the other is a static exhibit in the Hogsmeade area. [9] There are also static models at the other Wizarding World of Harry Potter locations in Hollywood [10] and Japan. [11]