80. A visit to Harry Potter World-16.11.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 80. A visit to Harry Potter World-16.11.23

My wife and I took a day trip to Warner Bros. studios at Leavesden near Watford for the excellent Harry Potter World experience. We travelled from Northampton to Watford by train and took advantage of the excellent bus transfer to the studios from Watford station's forecourt. Despite a pretty miserable day weather-wise wise the day was superb!

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Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.

350114, LN 08.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y24, RT), Northampton station
Our train to Watford Junction waits at Northampton ready to take us south for our Harry Potter experience at Warner Bros. studios. We travelled aboard the rear unit as it was a member of the 350/4 subset with generally better ambience when compared to the much older 350114 leading the 08.36 Birmingham New Street to Euston service.
Keywords: 350114 08.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y24 Northampton station London Northwestern Desiro

Reproduction of London King's Cross, Harry Potter World
Taken inside Warner Bros. studios King's Cross mock-up station reveals a non-authentic roof but the huge projected image at the far end is the genuine article! Looking at the building under construction to the left, which is now complete, dates this image to somewhere about 2017. Notice the stabled Class 67 Thunderbird to the right.
Keywords: Reproduction of London King's Cross Harry Potter World

5972, on display, Harry Potter World
I really am not sure about this! Whilst it carries its authentic GWR number 5972 is familiar to all in its red livery and carries the name 'Hogwarts Castle'. It starred in all but one of the Harry Potter films being filmed at the real King's Cross, Glenfinnan Viaduct and on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. It is owned by West Coast Railways and is on a long-term lease to Warner Bros'. It is a huge and important attraction as part of the Harry Potter World experience so once its lease expires it will be interesting to see what the future holds.
Keywords: 5972 on display Harry Potter World Olton Hall GWR

5972, on display, Harry Potter World
The renaming of ex-GWR 5972 as 'Hogwarts Castle' has become a railway preservation joke being known as "...the Hall that thinks it's a Castle." Whatever your opinion the former Olton Hall is a huge attraction at the Harry Potter World experience at Warner Bros. studios. It was particularly noticeable the interest that it seemed to hold to the many foreign visitors to the attraction but I suspect that they are unaware of it fine and long GWR heritage including a lengthy stay at Dai Woodham's infamous Barry scrapyard between 1964 and 1981.
Keywords: 5972 on display Harry Potter World Olton Hall

Reproduction of London King's Cross, Harry Potter World
My final view of the Harry Potter World King's Cross mock-up looks down its complete length. I have to applaud Warner Bros. studios who have created an impressive 'station' loosely based on the London terminus. Its roof, however, is not an authentic reproduction but it's still pretty good. Notice the Hogwarts Express stabled to the right composed of two former Mk. 1 coaches including 99721 99716.
Keywords: Reproduction of London King's Cross Harry Potter World

710376, LO 16.00 Watford Junction-London Euston (2C43, RT), Watford Junction station
Since their introduction in 2019 the Class 710 Aventras have become a familiar sight on all the railway lines north (and some south for that matter) of the River Thames in London. Watford Junction is as far north of London as they operate with 710376 seen waiting to depart with the 16.00 all-stations stopper to Euston.
Keywords: 710376 16.00 Watford Junction-London Euston 2C43 Watford Junction station

350124, LN 15.39 London Euston-Miton Keynes Central (2K41, 4L) & 390119, VT 15.43 London Euston-Liverpool LS (1F28, 2L), Watford Junction station
Being 16.00 and mid-November the light is rapidly failing making photography a challenge! However, modern camera technology means reasonable and presentable photographs are possible as seen here. 350124 arrives at Watford Junction working the 15.39 Euston to Milton Keynes service. As it does so, 390119 'Progress' just puts in an appearance to the extreme right working Avanti's 15.43 Euston to Liverpool Lime Street.
Keywords: 350124 15.39 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central 2K41 390119 15.43 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street 1F28 Watford Junction station Progress

710260, LO 16.30 Watford Junction-London Euston (2C45, RT), Watford Junction station
London Overground's 16.30 Watford Junction to Euston waits to leave its start point worked by 710260. As to be expected, up services to the capital at this time of day are pretty lightly loaded with this train appearing to have just a handful of passengers on board as it left.
Keywords: 710260 16.30 Watford Junction-London Euston 2C45 Watford Junction station LO London Overground

Watford Junction PSB (BR, 1964)
Watford PSB was opened on 05.07.64 when I was just two months old! It was closed on 29.12.14 with control moving to the ever-expanding Wembley Mainline SCC. Watford still stands as does Bletchley to the north but Rugby succumbed to the bulldozer soon after closure to make way for the revised trackwork there.
Keywords: Watford Junction PSB 1964

730011, LN 15.54 London Euston-Tring (2T49, 7L), Watford Junction station
I was not aware that the Class 730s had entered service but evidently, they had three days previously with 730010 working the 06.04 Bletchley to Euston, see.... https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/11/new-class-730-trains-enter-service-with-london-northwestern-railway.html 730011 is seen here at Watford Junction working the 15.54 Euston to Tring London Northwestern service. The three-car sets are, of course, wearing their West Midlands trains branding and livery as these units are destined for the Birmingham suburban services due to start in early 2024 with the yet-to-enter service five-car units appearing in the more familiar green, grey and white livery.
Keywords: 730011 15.54 London Euston-Tring 2T49 Watford Junction station

Illuminated running in sign, Watford Junction station
A large illuminated running-in sign is seen at the north end of Watford Junction station. I am not quite sure why I was attracted to take this photograph but I think that it was the contrast between the bright illumination of the sign and the dark background. I am also surprised that the internal illumination of the sign appears to be 'old school' fluorescent tubes. I would have thought that they might have been replaced by some sort of LED units by now.
Keywords: Illuminated running in sign Watford Junction station

221107 & 221102, VT 16.16 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (9G32, 3L), Watford Junction station
In theory, the Class 221 Voyagers have just a month or so left in service with Avanti West Coast; we'll see! In the meantime, I take the opportunity to photograph them whenever the situation arises. 221107 and 221102 pause at Watford Junction working the 16.16 Euston to Birmingham New Street service on a dull and damp November evening.
Keywords: 221107 221102 16.16 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 9G32 Watford Junction station

221107, VT 16.16 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (9G32, 3L), WatfordJunction station
A sight and sound soon to disappear from the WCML. An Avanti West Coast Voyager pauses at Watford Junction working the 16.16 Euston to Birmingham. It is exactly this kind of service where a diesel engine is used to power a service entirely under electrified wires that the new trains (Class 805 and 807) will prove their worth.
Keywords: 221107 16.16 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 9G32 Watford Junction station AWC Avanti West Coast Voyager

350112, LN 16.19 London Euston-Northampton (1W51, 1E), Northampton station
Having arrived back in Northampton after our trip to the excellent Harry Potter World near Watford I have turned my camera back towards our train. We travelled on 350112 from Watford working the terminating 16.19 service from Euston.
Keywords: 350112 16.19 London Euston-Northampton 1W51 Northampton station London Northwestern Desiro

Tickets, Northampton-Watford Junction-Northampton
Our return tickets for our day trip to Harry Potter World at Leavesden north of Watford. On arrival at Watford Junction a fleet of electric-powered double-decker busses take visitors to the Warner Bros. studios that is included in the entry ticket price. All in all, it was a great day out that my wife and I both really enjoyed; thoroughly recommended!
Keywords: Tickets Northampton-Watford Junction-Northampton

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