Lionel Hogwart's Express


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Written by Paul D. Race for

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Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express™ - At long last, an model of the Hogwarts Express™ that is big enough for small hands to operate. Fantasy lovers will enjoy a magical journey that is portrayed in J.K. Rowling's enchanting Harry Potter series. Train lovers will enjoy a truly historic event in the world of toy and model trains. This is Lionel's first ever model of an historic British train, which required completely new tooling and molds.

A New Kind of Model for Lionel

Click to see railroad collections just for Halloween.

Railfans will notice the bumpers on the front, the fenders over the drivers, and the "missing" sand dome (the sand reservoirs are attached to the steam dome). All of these details give this die-cast 4-6-0 locomotive an appearance that is streamlined, classic, and uniquely British.

In fact, fans of English railroads will quickly recognize a Great Western Railway "Hall" class locomotive, one of the most successful steam locomotives ever built. The Olton Hall was built in 1937 and is one of about eleven Hall class locomotives to be preserved. Unlike its brethren, which tend to be painted deep green, the Olton Hall was painted a rich scarlet for the movie "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," and has not been green since. For a photograph (by Phil Scott) of the original locomotive used in the motion picture, click here

The illuminated passenger cars also represent the kind of cars used on British railways for nearly a century, and also used in the film. They also required all new tooling.

Compatible With Other Lionel, Including Thomas(r)

Here's some more good news - this train runs on the same track as Lionel's other sets, including the Thomas and Friends(r) sets. In fact, James the Red Engine(tm) is based on a similar British engine. So if Thomas and James have given you an appreciation for British railroading, but you're ready for something a little more realistic, this is an ideal "step up" for your family.

Note about Suppliers: While we try to help you get the trains and other products you want by recommending suppliers with a good record of customer service, all transactions between you and the supplier you chose to provide your trains are governed by the published policies on the supplier's web site. So please print off any order confirmation screens and save copies of invoices, etc., so you can contact the appropriate supplier should any problems occur. (They almost never do, but you want to be on the safe side.)

Click a "check stock" button at the right for more details or to check on availability, but don't wait too long to make up your mind about this historical offering.

Set Includes

4-6-0 Locomotive

Transformer controlled forward, neutral, and reverse operation
Operating headlight
Powerful maintenance-free motor
Two traction tires
Puffing smoke
Separately applied metal handrails
Die-cast metal locomotive body

Coal Tender, includes:

Operating coupler on rear of tender
Air whistle

One Baggage Car (Some Europeans call this a "Brake Coach" or "Coach with Service Area")

Passenger car features include:

Interior lighting
Operating couplers
Soft molded diaphragms between cars

Two Passenger Coaches (Some Europeans call these Compartment Coaches or Composite Coaches)

Three straight FasTrack track sections and one FasTrack Terminal section

Eight curved FasTrack track sections

Powerful CW-80 Transformer

Other Specifications

Gauge: Traditional O Gauge
Minimum Curve: O-36
Length of Train: Approx. 63"
Layout Dimensions: 40" x 60" with supplied track (Other track available, see below)

Click a "check stock" button at the right for more details or to check on availability today. If you click on the Train Discounts button, be sure to add the train to your shopping cart to see your final price.)

Note about the "Large Scale" Hogwarts's Express(r) Train Set: - While you are shopping for a Hogwarts Express train, you will almost certainly come across Lionel's "Large Scale" version. It's bigger, it's cheaper, what's not to like? Sadly, it is a battery-powered toy train with plastic track. The whole train is far too small to be considered "Large Scale" in any meaningful sense, though it does run on 45mm track (the same track width that real Large Scale trains use). And it's not nearly as well-made as the O gauge version. Readers tell me they go through a lot of batteries, and even the people who like them recommend getting a rechargeable battery and charger. If you do want to check it out, click here to see the Amazon listing. But if you want a train set that will give you historic Lionel quality and countless hours of unattended running, consider sticking with the O gauge (three-rail) version on this page.

Expand Your Empire With More Track. Most of the trains on this page come with Lionel's new "FasTrack," which looks better and goes together easier than traditional O-27 track. To give your train a little more room to run, consider adding a few pieces. This 10-inch Straight Track Section is the same as the pieces that come with the Polar Express. Please click on the button to check price and availability.

Lionel FasTrack Curves A set of four curved pieces, along with a few more straight pieces, will give you many more choices of how to set up your Polar Express Train. These are what Lionel calls O-36 curves, the same curves that come with the Polar Express. Please click on a supplier button to check price and availability.

Lionel FasTrack Railer - The Railer is used to help you and your family easily roll your locomotives and rolling stock onto the tracks. No more fiddling with the wheels to get them on correctly. Instead, you set this on top of the track temporarily and "feed" each car through it to get it onto the track. Great for kids who are just learning about trains. This product works with all the train sets on this page.

In addition, the O-Scale Accessories page includes many relatively inexpensive details such as bridges, fencing, and stations, that will bring life to any O-Scale or O-Gauge railroad. Click on the picture at the right to see that product page.

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Note: Family Garden Trains(tm) and Big Christmas Trains(tm) are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications (www.btcomm.com). All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 by Paul D. Race. Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically forbidden.

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