Cleaning Hogwarts Castle

Hogwarts Castle, the locomotive from the Harry Potter film arrived in the museum on Tuesday 3/8/10. She was grubby as expected for a working steam locomotive (maybe a bit more). We immediately got busy in order to give her a good scrub and tidy up the cab for the Summer Holiday Fun fortnight.​

The conservation team of the museum has prepared working locomotives before, but boy, that was something else.*Olton Hall (that’s the other name of Hogwarts Castle) had to be almost dug out of a thick coat of grime, the sort of thing *only a steam loco can create.



We certainly had our fun although weather was not on our side. Before getting the loco inside, we had to do some prep-work outside. Graham, Nema and myself took the brunt in the downpour on Wednesday morning. You see, I was hoping that I could just use a pressure steam washer to get her nice and shiny at not time. According to our engineers, pressure washers and steam locomotives are sworn enemies; one of the worst things you can do to a loco is to send water under pressure straight inside the bearings. This meant back to the traditional rug, brush and scraper with some help of modern water based industrial degreasers.

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However, 3 people would not bee enough to get the Wizard’s train ready for our young enthusiasts. Fortunately, our colleagues and volunteers here at the NRM were more than happy to spend a couple of hours in the front line; our call to arms brought a crowd of brave volunteers. Suited with bunny suits and gloves, attacked the shoot and muck with fierce determination. 6 hours later the Hogwarts Castle stood proud and almost gleaming.



By Friday afternoon, the cab was finally ready as well as the bulk of chassis and cladding. Monday and Tuesday will be time for cosmetic work. The nameplates and other brass fittings will be polished and from Wednesday 11/8 everybody will have a chance to climb the cab.

 

Looks remarkably like Andy Scott and Helen Ashby on the left of the pic - are they volunteers now?!