Hogwarts Express

Discussion in 'Suggestions' started by Sparmi, Dec 23, 2021.

  1. Sparmi

    Sparmi Well-Known Member

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    On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the "Harry Potter" film series, I made a little collage about the famous "Hogwarts Express". So it's more a "Spirit of Steam" proposal for the GWE 4900 class steam loco, than to the wizard franchise. I thought it would be suitable for the christmas season now.
    The license owner is the "Warner Bros. Pictures" company from Hollywood, so it looks rather unlikely that they'll support realistic rail simulations. But with the right loco and the right passenger cars you can create your own wizard train in the "Livery Designer". I also found out that there is a theme park in Orlando/Florida, where they've got a replica of the "5972" steam locomotive and two MkI carriages, with screens built into the windows. They are pulled by bogies attached to steel ropes and operate between "King's Kross" platform 9¾ and "Hogwarts"... ;)

    Hogwarts Express.jpg

    But luckily there is also the real train from "West Coast Railways", including the original "5972 Olton Hall" steam locomotive and vintage MkI carriages, that were used for making the movies. So as a rail adventure trip it is still possible to travel with this train, between Fort William and Mallaig in Scotland.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2021
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  2. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    Are you planning to do the West Highland line using GWR 4900 Olton Hall steam rail tour
     
  3. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    I suspect this would be mired in branding and licensing issues if DTG were to attempt it. It would also need to be a semi fictional route taking in Kings Cross - well Platform 9.75 - running alongside a lake, Glenfinnan Viaduct and finally arriving at Hogsmeade Station. So nowhere near as easy as sticking a pin in a map of the UK and picking a 50 mile section of route, or however DTG R&D currently green light projects.
     
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  4. AirbourneAlex

    AirbourneAlex Well-Known Member

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    The West Highland Line Extension (Fort William to Mallaig) with a follow on DLC containing layers for the Jacobite Express would be ideal. They still run in real life (not sure about right now though) and I myself have travelled on the route pulled by a Stanier Black Five loco with a rake of Mk1 coaches. There was (at the time I travelled) two return journeys which in a practical sense would add four services to the timetable, plus some ECS moves to the depot just outside Fort William. Considering the service duration is around 80 minutes one way, and the line itself only sees 6 to 8 normal trains per day, it would give a good balance extra of content to play with. The trains are normally operated by West Coast Railways but as an unbranded form with just Maroon livery coaches and a BR livery steam loco would look right anyway. They even use a Class 37 loco on occasions as a thunderbird locomotive or when dry conditions do not permit the running of steam locos (just in case any cinders from the chimney set the lineside on fire!).
     
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  5. Sparmi

    Sparmi Well-Known Member

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    ...would be a great scenic route, even without focusing too much on rail tour adventures. Just checked out the route on Google maps, the pure scottish highlands scenery with tunnels, viadukts, lakes, mountains and many curves. With a length of around 42 miles, not too long for TSW standards.
    ScotRail class 156 Supersprinter (similar to Rivet's class 150) and even the classic BR class 37 were or are still in service. So mainly a passenger or touristic route.

    Sorry I'm not yet a route builder using the UE4 and quote from Sam: "if it is not on the roadmap, than there is nothing planned yet." ;)
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2021
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  6. andrewandjane66

    andrewandjane66 Well-Known Member

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    Here's an idea, 5972 Olton Hall, masquerading as Hogwash Castle, on the Great Western mainline at Slough in 2009. FB_IMG_1640288139374.jpg
     
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  7. Sparmi

    Sparmi Well-Known Member

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    ...nice picture! A total of 259 GWR 4900er were build and the 5972 Olton Hall is now part of the "Warner Bros. Studio Tour" nearby London. This typ of steam loco remains simply one of the hottest candidates for "Spirit of Steam". ;)
     
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  8. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    Her companion GWR locomotives are GWR 14xx and GWR 57xx Duck inside London Paddington station. When Olton Hall needs to run freight a GWR Toad Brakevan is attached to the back. Currently seen in game on DB BR143 DB br 112
     
  9. Sparmi

    Sparmi Well-Known Member

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    ...interesting info. These brake cars (always staffed by a brakeman) were often used during steam locomotive times. Currently we have a US-version on "Clinchfield Railroad", which serves more as a service car than as a brake booster. I think you mean the DoSto control car in relation to the DB BR143/112.
     
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  10. Sparmi

    Sparmi Well-Known Member

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    Update: With the first Spirit of Steam release the "Hogwarts Express" can become reality. At least with a little help of the Livery Designer. The LMS Stanier Jubilee Class looks not much different than the GWR 4900er or Hall Class. It even drew heavily on design features of the Hall Class and both have the same power classification 5(MT). Thanks wikipedia! Only the larger drive wheels, a few smaller superstructures on the boiler, a different piston housing and minor tender details are noticeable. There's is even a red one: the 5593.

    So with a LMS Stanier Class and some BR Mark1 cars you'll get the almost perfect "Hoagwarts Express". ;)

    Hogwarts Express Comparison.jpg
     
  11. andrewandjane66

    andrewandjane66 Well-Known Member

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    Sir William Stanier, designer of the Jubilee and 8f amongst others, held a senior role with Great Western Railway before he moved to the LMS with a brief to update their motive power, hence the family resemblance.
     
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  12. Sparmi

    Sparmi Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the interesting info! Just looked it up, he tried to standardize the former vehicle fleet, which consisted of too many sub-series. As a railway engineer, he created uniform models and introduced technical innovations. So he was a genius of his time...
     
  13. andrewandjane66

    andrewandjane66 Well-Known Member

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    In fairness, that policy was initiated by Churchward at GWR from the early 1900s. There was a standard range of parts: boilers, wheels etc, and new designs incorporated these parts. It's why there are so many projects to rebuild extinct GWR classes from engines that won't be restored.
     

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