Latest news with #WightwickHall
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Harry Potter HBO: New Hogwarts Express - from scrapyard to series
Since the new Harry Potter TV series was announced in 2023, we have revealed lots of details and we've got more up our magical sleeves for you think it's more actors confirmed to be involved, I'm afraid you aren't quite on the right track this time - but it is still a major part of the Potter universe.A steam locomotive that looked like it was going to be scrapped, will now be used for the role of the famous Hogwarts locomotive - called Wightwick Hall - was saved from a scrapyard in Barry Island in South Wales in 1978 and has been lovingly restored by volunteers. Olton Hall - the train which originally carried Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in the movies - was also rescued from the fact, it came from the same from Buckinghamshire Railway Centre spent 40 years restoring Wightwick Hall after it was saved from being Quainton Railway Society, which runs the centre, said it was "extremely proud" that it would "play the role of the iconic locomotive". Wightwick Hall is currently in use on a line near looking after it say trains like it need to be kept running to keep them in working it will be swapping Brighton for Hogwarts via platform 9 ¾.It's due to be used for filming for around six months - with members of the team at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre nearby to make sure the engine is maintained can then begin its magical journey into the world of Harry Potter.
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Locomotive saved from scrap-heap to star in Harry Potter
A locomotive saved from the scrap-heap will feature in the upcoming Harry Potter series. The steam-powered 'Wightwick Hall' will take on the role of ferrying students to the fictional Hogwarts wizarding school from Platform Nine and Three Quarters. The locomotive was restored by volunteers from Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, a project which took more than 40 years. Quainton Railway Society, which runs the centre, said it was 'extremely proud' that Wightwick Hall would 'play the role of the iconic locomotive for the Hogwarts Express'. The Modified Hall class locomotive, built at Swindon Works in 1948, travelled 640,000 miles for the Great Western Railway before being withdrawn in June 1964. It was salvaged from a scrapyard in Barry Island, South Wales, in 1978. Dai Woodham, a scrap merchant, is said to have sold 220 engines which mostly went on to be restored. GWR 5972 Olton Hall, the previous locomotive used in the Harry Potter films, was rescued from the same yard in 1981 by heritage rail operator West Coast Railway. James Shuttleworth, of West Coast Railway, told the BBC: 'I doubt preservation was [Mr Woodham's] prime motivation, but he inadvertently helped save the steam engine almost single-handedly.' Wightwick Hall, designed by Frederick Hawksworth, spent its working life around Hereford and Gloucester. It was bought for £9,180 in 1978 by volunteers, who managed to have it back in service in March 2019. It is currently on loan to Bluebell Railway in West Sussex and operates on a line near Brighton. The locomotive is likely to need a fresh coat of paint for its Harry Potter appearances, which could once again rile trainspotters. Olton Hall was painted red to match the description in JK Rowling's novels when it was used in the film adaptations. Mr Shuttleworth recalled that decision as controversial: 'Since the earliest day, Great Western Railway was always 'green until I die', so the decision to paint it red really upset the purists.' Wightwick Hall will spend six months a year being filmed for the HBO series for the next eight years, running at the tourist attraction between shoots. HBO has announced some of the cast for the reboot, including Nick Frost, Paapa Essiedu, Katherine Parkinson and Paul Whitehouse. Dominic McLaughlin, 11, has landed the role of Harry Potter while Arabella Stanton, 11, will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout, 11, will star as Ron Weasley. Stephen Green, general manager of Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, hoped the locomotive's appearance would spur interest in the heritage railway centre. 'These trains have to be maintained and kept running to keep them in working condition. This one needs a long track, which they have at Bluebell,' he said, adding: 'Hopefully it's a boost for tourism. 'People can come and see the engineering workshops and a similar train under restoration right now.'
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Harry Potter's new Hogwarts Express revealed after it nearly ended up on the scrap heap
More than 40 years ago the Wightwick Hall steam locomotive was saved from a scrapyard. Now it is on track for worldwide fame as it has been selected to feature as the Hogwarts Express in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. The locomotive, which has been beautifully restored over 41 years by volunteers, will transport the wizard from platform 93⁄4 at London's King's Cross station to the school of magic. The Wightwick Hall was built in 1948. It travelled 640,000 miles with the Great Western Railway before being withdrawn in 1964 and sold to a scrapyard in Barry, South Wales. In 1978 it was bought for £9,180 byvolunteers from Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Quainton who restored it. The loco is now on long-term loan to the Bluebell Railway in West Sussex. The Wightwick Hall will spend six months a year filming for the HBO series for the next eight years. It will run at the tourist attraction in between shoots. Filming for the latest adaptation of JK Rowling's novels will begin this month and the show is due to air next year. Dominic McLaughlin, 11, has landed the role of Harry Potter while Arabella Stanton, 11, will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout, 11, will star as Ron Weasley. In the films, released between 2001 and 2011, the Olton Hall engine – now at the Warner Bros Studio Tour near Watford – starred as the Hogwarts Express. Last month JK Rowling revealed her involvement in writing scripts for the upcoming TV series, after online trolls demanded she be removed over her views on transgender issues. The author, 59, who created the fantasy novels on which the show is based, took to X to rave about the first two episodes after reading them for the first time, confirmed that while she did not pen them herself, she did work closely with the writers. She said: 'I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!'. When one follower enquired: 'So you are not doing the writing for the show?' she replied: 'No, but I've worked closely with the extremely talented writers'. Last year HBO defended Rowling after being inundated with complaints about her serving as an executive producer on the new series. In a statement to Variety, HBO said: 'We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter – the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance. 'JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.' The decision to adapt Rowling's novels has faced criticism from numerous fans, with many calling another adaptation 'unnecessary.' Others have stated they plan to boycott the project due to the author's comments on trans people. Earlier this month actor Nick Frost revealed he'd been targeted by trans activists after accepting the role of Hagrid. The actor, 53, will star as the legendary Hogwarts groundskeeper in the much-anticipated show, which is set to begin filming this summer. However after sharing the exciting announcement on Instagram, Nick revealed he was forced to turn off the comments on the post due to being swamped with criticism for collaborating with Rowling. Distancing himself from her trans views, Nick told the Observer: 'She's allowed her opinion and I'm allowed mine. They just don't align in any way, shape of form.'
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Buckinghamshire train saved from scrap to star in Harry Potter
A steam locomotive that was saved from being scrapped will star in the upcoming Harry Potter TV from Buckinghamshire Railway Centre spent 40 years restoring Wightwick Hall after it was salvaged from a scrapyard in Barry Island, South Wales, in follows in the tracks of the previous train used in the films, Olton Hall, which had been rescued from the same Railway Society, which runs the centre, said it was "extremely proud" that the train, once destined for the scrap heap, would "play the role of the iconic locomotive for the Hogwarts Express". Wightwick Hall, built at Swindon Works in 1948, was withdrawn in 1964 and sent to a Barry Island scrapyard where hundreds of trains were eventually saved by a railway preservation is currently on loan to Bluebell Railway in West Sussex and operates on a line near Green, general manager of Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, said: "These trains have to be maintained and kept running to keep them in working condition, this one needs a long track which they have at Bluebell."The train will be used for filming for six months of the year before returning to West Sussex of the team at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre will supervise during filming to ensure the train is maintained properly. HBO has already announced a crop of actors have joined the show's cast, including Nick Frost, Paapa Essiedu, Katherine Parkinson and Paul three child actors taking on the lead roles were revealed in Green hoped the train's appearance in the series would attract new fans to the working heritage railway said: "Hopefully it's a boost for tourism. People can come and see the engineering workshops and a similar train under restoration right now." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
