More than 40 years ago the Wightwick Hall steam locomotive was saved from a scrapyard.
Now it is on track for worldwide fame as it has been selected to feature as the Hogwarts Express in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
The locomotive, which has been beautifully restored over 41 years by volunteers, will transport the wizard from platform 93⁄4 at London’s King’s Cross station to the school of magic.
The Wightwick Hall was built in 1948. It travelled 640,000 miles with the Great Western Railway before being withdrawn in 1964 and sold to a scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.
In 1978 it was bought for £9,180 byvolunteers from Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Quainton who restored it.
The loco is now on long-term loan to the Bluebell Railway in West Sussex.
More than 40 years ago the Wightwick Hall steam locomotive was saved from a scrapyard. Now it has been selected to feature as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter TV series
Filming for the latest adaptation of JK Rowling’s novels will begin this month and the show is due to air next year
The Wightwick Hall will spend six months a year filming for the HBO series for the next eight years. It will run at the tourist attraction in between shoots.
Filming for the latest adaptation of JK Rowling’s novels will begin this month and the show is due to air next year.
Dominic McLaughlin, 11, has landed the role of Harry Potter while Arabella Stanton, 11, will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout, 11, will star as Ron Weasley.
In the films, released between 2001 and 2011, the Olton Hall engine – now at the Warner Bros Studio Tour near Watford – starred as the Hogwarts Express.
Last month JK Rowling revealed her involvement in writing scripts for the upcoming TV series, after online trolls demanded she be removed over her views on transgender issues.
The author, 59, who created the fantasy novels on which the show is based, took to X to rave about the first two episodes after reading them for the first time, confirmed that while she did not pen them herself, she did work closely with the writers.
She said: ‘I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!’.
When one follower enquired: ‘So you are not doing the writing for the show?’ she replied: ‘No, but I’ve worked closely with the extremely talented writers’.
The Wightwick Hall was built in 1948. It travelled 640,000 miles with the Great Western Railway before being withdrawn in 1964 and sold to a scrapyard in Barry, South Wales (pictured in 1978)
Last year HBO defended Rowling after being inundated with complaints about her serving as an executive producer on the new series.
In a statement to Variety, HBO said: ‘We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter – the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance.
‘JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.’
The decision to adapt Rowling’s novels has faced criticism from numerous fans, with many calling another adaptation ‘unnecessary.’
Others have stated they plan to boycott the project due to the author’s comments on trans people.
Earlier this month actor Nick Frost revealed he’d been targeted by trans activists after accepting the role of Hagrid.
Last month JK Rowling revealed her involvement in writing scripts for the upcoming TV series, after online trolls demanded she be removed over her views on transgender issues
The actor, 53, will star as the legendary Hogwarts groundskeeper in the much-anticipated show, which is set to begin filming this summer.
However after sharing the exciting announcement on Instagram, Nick revealed he was forced to turn off the comments on the post due to being swamped with criticism for collaborating with Rowling.
Distancing himself from her trans views, Nick told the Observer: ‘She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine. They just don’t align in any way, shape of form.’
