5972 At Warner Bros Permanently

Been looking on the Warner Bros website and the Platform 9 3/4 Expansion they have is apparently permanent. Is it likely to be the case that 5972 will be staying permanently at Warner Bros and she wont be going back onto the mainline, although im glad she is making some money on display I just think having a steam loco stuffed and mounted permanently just seems a bit of a waste.

 

Especially when a fibreglass replica would do just as well.

 

That is until the purists start complaining.

 

Maybe a replica is planned in time, hence the real 5972 filling in till it's ready ?, certainly if WCRC were minded to sell (I'd be surprised), I'd prefer someone who could give it an operating future was given a chance to bid, certainly other parts of the world already have convincing replica's to all but rivet counters.

Surely from WB's vies, a fibreglass replica would costs less than an actual Hall as well ?.

 

You mean there will be Wizards complaining it's not a real magical train to Hogwarts ?, they'll be just as disappointed when they find the Ford Anglia doesn't fly (either literally or getting up to a decent speed)

 

Its not as if we are short of 'Halls'

 

Irrelevant IMO. Locos were not designed to be stuffed and mounted, not even GWR ones.

 

The main line routes that Halls can run are getting few and fewer and this situation is not likely to improve with time, even some heritage lines have difficulties. If the future for 5972 is static; personally I would prefer that a younger generation gets to see a real loco rather than nobody gets to see her as it is locked away at Carnforth, or worse left outside to deteriorate.

 

I'm not surprised. I expect WB have offered a very good price for a long-term lease, or maybe even to buy outright. Mr Smith may be an enthusiast, but he's also a shrewd businessman.

 

The fact the platform expansion is permanent, does not the mean the loco they have there is permanent also. They can stick anything they like there, real ones, fibreglass ones, blow up ones. It could even become a kind of convalescent home for Halls between rebuilds. And Castles and Kings come tho think of it. As long as you paint it red, and stick a Hogwarts express plate on it, the kidiwinks wont know. (they might kick up a fuss if you put a space age spam can in there tho - imagine "Tangmere" painted red!)

 

There is a very credible static replica (not sure of materials used) at Universal Florida. You had to look hard to notice. Made all the right noises and let steam out in from the right places. Another replica is not beyond the wit of man. Too many locos are stuffed and mounted that could have a real life again.

 

IIRC there's at least 4 replica 5972s in different forms in the world already.

 

Didnt the early publicity feature a rebuilt WC / BB painted red. I even think a caricature appeared on an early book

 

34027 did main line runs in Hogwarts red, before 5972 took over.

 

Well we could have come close to that with one of 34067's rebuilt sisters. 34027 was painted red and carried a Hogwarts Express headboard and nameplates for the book tour but when filming began on the films in 2000, 34027 was rejected as too modern (yet the loco on the book looked more modern than 34027) by the director of the first couple of films, Chris Columbus and 5972 was chosen instead (didn't 34027 stay red for a few years despite 5972 being used in the films before she was repainted green again then became 34045 for a while.

.

 

I really can't see the problem, it's undercover and on display in a place where its livery makes sense and presumably earning WCRC a few quid in the process. Compared to storage at Carnforth or display at the NRM, the likely alternatives, that seems a pretty good deal to me and one other loco owners would no doubt jump at.

 

http://railway-photography.smugmug....ilt-1946/34027-Taw-Valley-Preserved/i-tn3Rswq

 

Only those traditionally in non GWR area's like the Bluebell, even then they have the option of slewing the track or cutting back platforms, certainly there's plenty off region like the ELR & NYMR where Halls fit now.