Hogwarts Excursion - 18th July

But they're selling a Hogwarts themed day out, and the steam-hauled train is just a part of it. Not really intended to appeal to dyed-in-the-wool railway enthusiasts!

As Sidmouth says, Sunday's Shakespeare Express in more our kind of thing.

 

Nice to see a Hall on the Great Western main line though (even if it's a funny colour).
Any chance of a similar move with a green one?

 

These timings look very civilised - not sure if FGW would like the idea but a trip every Saturday in the summer would go down well with tourists I think (at a slightly more reasonable price).

Hopefully catch the Hall at Twyford before I go to work.

 

Great pictures. Love the first one.

 

I was trying to make the point that it is being sold a a steam hauled service but mentions nothing of the diesel on the return leg.

I realise the HP theme will add "value" but........ a walk round Oxford with a piece of paper to guide you is hardly good value.

 

Who cares if it's a rip off or not, it's not aimed at the railtour market so whether it's a spectacular success or dismal failure will be irrelevant to just about every other mainline steam operation, anyway someone obviously thinks there's enough people out there willing to pay that or they woulden't of bothered.

More money in WCRC's pocket from people who are wiling to pay it can't be a bad thing.

 

Perhaps they have laid on a RED diesel back to platform 9 and whatever at Paddington to please the punters!!

Mike M. ( 70c )

 

Well it's a magic engine so it could easily morph itself into a diesel for the return. :-$ :-$

 

I think it's rather unlikely. 5972 is 'thinner' than it's green sisters - her cylinders were trimmed down so she could run in scotland for the filming of Harry Potter.

Castles and Kings (along with a large majority of other classes) all have to slow down through a good number of stations on the slow lines between Paddington and Didcot (Iver, Langley and Hanwell to name a few) so a full width Hall will have no chance I expect. I've only ever witnessed 35028 and 34067 go at full speed on the slow line in this area, Bullied pacifics being extremely gauge friendly.

I'm sure that a full width Hall can fit through the platforms on this line, but i think the restrictions would be so servere it would be impossible to path. Lets hope that 5972 will go green again one day!

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I'm surprised that they can make money at £89 given all the movements involves. Hall to London, service, turn engine, Hall to Oxford, diesel to London, another diesel to pull stock out of Padd and presumably back to Carnforth, Hall Oxford to Tyseley, Hall Tys-York. That's a lot of mileage.
I hope it's a rip roaring success and they descide to do it every week. I don't really care that it's red.

 

With the new Potter film out it just stinks to rip people off [-X

 

It's called supply and demand y'know, not much point doing it in 5 years time is there ?, if you don't like it then don't pay it, simples, someone is obviously confident there's plenty more Harry Potter fans out there to take your seat.

 

left on time. a bit empty

 

Comparing 5972 with 4936, there's no immediatly obvious difference in the Cylinders.

 

Ok put your toys back in your pram.

HP is a kids book ( although a lot of adults enjoy it too). My point is its a very expensive day out for a family especially when over 7's pay full price. Ignoring the fact that it is a steam hauled trip you have to admit it is one expensive day out.

As a publicity machine the HP franchise is superb and in the scheme of things arranging and paying for this excursion is small fry to them so why not make it attractive and available to more by reducing the prices. I for one couldn't afford to take my family on it and I'm sure there are many others that are in the same boat during these troubled times.

 

I'm intrigued please tell us more ?[/quote:1ix77irv]

I'm afraid I don't have anymore info. All I know is that the outside faces of the cylinder castings have been 'shaved' just enough to make it slightly more gauge friendly.

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Just back from seeing her through Twyford in brilliant sunshine and bang on time. Big blue thing on the back !!!

 

I expect that only a very small percentage of metal was trimmed off.