firbeck 859 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Is it just me. I remember going round the shed at Loughborough Central about 20 years ago and seeing the original 'Hogwarts Express' locomotive earmarked and painted up for the film Harry Potter, which was in fact a SR rebuilt West Country Pacific 34027, Taw Valley, painted crimson with a green 'Hogwarts Express' nameplate. I recall filming it on video, which I can't access anymore because my camera in that format died long ago. I've looked it up and according to info I've found, the original director, the dreadful Christopher Cross, who perpetrated the embarrassingly unfunny 'Home Alone' on us, thought the loco looked too modern and rejected it, despite it being J.K. Rowlings first thoughts for the particular loco that she envisaged for 'Hogwarts Castle'. Did anybody else have the good luck to see it and how long did it hang around in that guise on the GCR, was it ever used for service trains. I recall going round the Centenary Exhibition at York a few years ago and coming across 'Olton Hall' in it's 'Hogwarts Castle' guise, it was in steam and we had the opportunity to go in the cab, which I did, my brothers young nephew, however, having seen the films, was so terrified of it that he wouldn't go anywhere near the loco, the power of the film media eh! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Merthyr Imp 729 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 I think you're correct about Taw Valley. This is a quote from the site below: 'The first ‘real’ Hogwarts Express was created to promote the Harry Potter books in the UK in the early 2000s, when a railtour was organised, working its way round the country behind Southern Railway West Country class light pacific locomotive, “Taw Valley”. The locomotive was repainted scarlet for its role, with a new nameplate carrying its “Hogwarts Express” title...For the Harry Potter films, director Chris Columbus apparently thought that Taw Valley didn’t have quite the look he was after, and he eventually settled on Great Western Railway locomotive Olton Hall as having a suitable appearance. Such a locomotive would never have run from London to Scotland, and certainly wasn’t built at Crewe, so thank goodness magic can explain away any such inconsistencies.' https://thebeautyoftransport.wordpress.com/2013/09/04/the-many-lives-of-the-hogwarts-express-transport-from-the-world-of-harry-potter/ There's a picture of Taw Valley here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/60854097@N06/6652511821/ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted January 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Thanks for that info MI, what is amusing is that I never realised that Hogwarts Castle had a 10A shedplate. Looking it up in my old 1956 shedbook it came up as Springs Branch Wigan, I recall going round that shed in about 1963 when it had the last remaining elderly L & Y 0-6-0 freight loco's based there. What I'd forgotten is that the number was transferred to Carnforth when Springs Branch closed, Carnforth was my happy hunting ground during the last days of steam, I should have remembered that and of course Olton Castle is theoretically based there along with many others along with the WCML steam hauled stock which was used in the films. I have some lovely Kodachrome slides of that place I took in the late 60's along with others when it became Steamtown after the official demise of BR steam. Unfortunately I gather that the shed building is in a terrible state and visitors can only go round by appointment these days, I wonder how long the unique coaling tower will last before it topples over or is condemned as being structurally unsafe and demolished, how the hell do you economically repair a structure like that. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bilbraborn 1,594 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 You don't. Unless someone comes along with more money than sense prepared to rebuild it, you just have to let it go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Hogwarts Castle is a hall renamed for the film It's a great western hall class & should be in Brunswick Green. RED sacrilege 10A whats wrong with 81E(Didcot) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Merthyr Imp 729 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Speaking of Carnforth, here's a photo I took of 'Flying Scotsman' on a steam special in 1979. That's the only time I visited there (been through it of course). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 Its Some years since I last visited Universal Studios Florida, and rode the excellent Harry Potter Ride. I did have my picture taken with the Hogwarts Express, but dont know if it is the original. Some here may? Hogwarts Express To Join Universal Studios Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 IT SHOULD BE IN BRUNSWICK GREEN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 It's a bloody good copy Mick, but not the real thing, it lacks the 10A shedplate for a start and why did you cut yourself out the picture, can we see the unabridged version please!! Bubblewrap, stop whingeing, it's a film, the massive world audience haven't a clue that a GWR Hall should be in green, that's the way it is. Perhaps a Jubilee should have been more appropriate, thinking about it, possibly so, but my avid Harry Potter enthusiast friends don't give a damn about the colour, including me. Don't forget that in the early BR days, many Halls were painted black with red nameplates. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Merthyr Imp 729 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 According to the Wikipedia entry: 'Two full-size replicas of the locomotive are at the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando One of these is used as part of the Hogwarts Express train ride and the other is on display in Hogsmeade' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_4900_Class_5972_Olton_Hall I'm not sure if Olton Hall (which is how I prefer to think of it) is currently at Shildon or Carnforth. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 MI, Carnforth Station as I recorded it back in the steam days:- And a scene from the sheds when they were really grimy, but in use every day:- 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 One of 5972 Olton Hall's construction line pals, 5975 taken at Teignmouth sea wall when I was on holiday in 1963, I presume it was Brunswick Green, no doubt the 'Warship' was:- Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bilbraborn 1,594 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 I think an LNER Scott class would have been great, but as none are available, maybe The Great Marquess. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scriv 168 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 IT SHOULD BE IN BRUNSWICK GREEN According to most period photos they're black and white. And if it got a few kids interested in steam it could be ginger pink for all I care. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mercurydancer 1,104 Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 I was somewhat amused to see the tourist attraction at Kings Cross which is platform 9 3/4. Some of the movie was shot on the North York Moors railway, which is a total joy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.