Hogwarts Express

For Harry Potter fans this post (22nd May 2010) is a must. The famous 'Hogwarts Express' is featured photographed separately on the 20th May 2010 by John Smith and Glenn Oakley, as it steamed through Winwick. At the head, as seen in the movies, was GWR 'Hall' class 4-6-0 5972, Olton Hall, masquerading in maroon livery, as Hogwarts Castle. The train was moving to the southwest, to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for The 'Cotswold Festival of Steam GWR 175 Celebration' (29th May - 6th June).
Johns pic shows the whole train.



Glenn's pic, left, shows the uniqe locomotive in close up. 5972 was built in 1937 and withdrawn from service in December 1963. She resided at Dai Woodham's famous scrapyard at Barry until her sale in May 1981 to Procor (UK) Ltd. She is currently owned by the West Coast Railway Company based at Carnforth. When operating as Hogwarts Castle 5972 carries a headboard incorporating the Hogwarts School crest.