Hogwarts Excursion - 18th July

Sounds like fun?:

http://www.hpfantrips.com/2009/trainonly/

"HP Fan Trips™ is pleased to announce the limited availability of tickets for a steam train journey in the carriages used for the "Hogwarts Express" in the filming of the Harry Potter movies.

These tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The cost is $145 US (approx. 79 GBP) per ticket.

On July 18, the train will depart from Paddington Court Station in London in the morning for travel to Oxford in the carriages used for the "Hogwarts Express" in the filming of the Harry Potter movies. (Exact departure time TBD.) Clients purchasing a train only ticket (as opposed to the HP FAN TRIP) will be given a map of filming locations that they can use for a self guided walking tour of Oxford. While in Oxford they can take in pubs, shops, and the sights of Oxford. They will be given a time to return back to the Train Station in Oxford to Board the train for the journey back to London and Paddington Court Station. Return time will be in the late afternoon (exact time TBD.)

TIMING – the Journey to Oxford will be approx 2 hours and the return will be 1 hour"

 

Paddington COURT Station - interesting, does one have to plunge through a brick wall on platform 9 3/4 to find it? Is it being hauled by 5972, would be reasonable to guess if it's got a current mainline pass, as it's summer pasture is at the GWR Toddington? Although I though it was only OK for Fort William - Mallaig for filming purposes, may be wrong. Harold.

 

5972 is down for it on UK Steam Info.

 

I was looking on UKSteam and found this a couple of weeks ago, only with TBA as the motivepower which had me saying.. 'Hmm.. Hogwarts Excursion, I wonder what could be pulling that...?' Lol \/ :-k

 

I expect they are calling it Paddington Court station so that the security can be judge and jury

if you dare take a photo as with Kings Cross!!

Mike M. ( 70c ) :-k

 

Don't forget, it is a promotion by our friends across the pond..

 

Interestingly the sales pitch specifically mentions the carriages used in filming but not the loco - ironically 5972 is probably available but the carriages are presumably on the Jacobite run? It'll be interesting to see what actually happens on this one - the 2 hour outbound run but only 1 hour return is curious as well - diesel hauled back?

 

It's down on UKSteam as 5972 Paddington (Court!) - Oxford only, no mention of return.

 

80 quid for a one way trip from Paddington to Oxford with a trainload of American kids - one to avoid I think (although I admit that it would be nice to get Hogwash Hall on the mainline again).

 

Is this not a link to increase publicity as the new Harry Potter film is released.

 

Second Corridors 99710/99716/99718/99721 are all at Southall depot, a couple of miles from Paddington, as is support coach (used for filming) 80204. All they need now is support coach 99312, SO 99317 and brake 99723 (these three also carry the Hogwarts crest), along with 5972 and the train will be complete - the three are all currently spare at Carnforth. (8 mk. 1s carry the Hogwarts emblem on the side)

 

I though Peak Rail were getting their 8F mainline ready \/

 

Put a splasher on the running boards and it would have a good resemblence to Mr Hawksworth's next (unrealised) design, a 2-8-0 freight version of a "County". Competition for names (not in GW parlance, HP film makers), try the house names for starters - Slytherin, Griffindaw etc? As hinted at, no re-paint necessary. Harold.

 

Thats assuming there would be room for you with all those slightlty overweight, fed on McS*** American kids. :smt101

 

Might need a shed on the back to assist!

 

We know that's a bit of a rip off for a tour, but then this is not your average tour and full of people who have no idea what the going rate for a normal steam tour is, can you blame WCRC for making money out of people if they are daft enough to pay it ?.

 

I bet it won't be WCRC that will be making extra money out of the punters on this one!

 

Not necessarily, depends what the hire charges for loco,stock etc are, would you really be suprised if 5972 commands a somewhat higher than usual hire free for a Hall ?.

 

And it's not just Americans who are taken in by the Howgarts hogwash. When our red Peckett was running about the yard at the Easter open day, a few people seemed to think it was the "Hogwarts Express" ](*,)
Which just goes to prove two things.......1.People go to the movies and don't really take in whats happening on the screen. 2.Paint any engine red and it immediately becomes Hogwarts.
So the people who painted the 8F red are probably on to a good thing........just don't disabuse the punters of their delusions. :-$ :-$

 

Not totally surprised at punters reactions - afterall, the Hogwarts public are not usually transport fans - let alone steam railway experts. Just have to hope that the copyright holder doesn't go the same way of our small blue "friend" and try to extort commission from any red engine (LMS ones for starters).

Mind you, I did go up to the GCR to get a trip behind Taw Valley when that was red :-$