It was very exciting to know that I was going on the Hogwarts Express, because until then I did not know it was real. We caught the train from York station. But we were on platform five, not nine and three quarters. The engine, which is really called Olton Hall, is bright red. When it came into the station, there was a big cheer. We climbed on board and the carriage was very comfortable.  Hogwarts Express photo gallery
There were some people who had come all the way from America to travel on the train. Some of them were in fancy dress. One Hermione was very realistic, and a boy called Eric had the Hogwarts uniform on.  | | The shiny Hogwarts livery reflects people on the platform |
(Editor Note:
Eric runs a hugely-popular Harry Potter website in the USA, mugglenet.com). When the train set off, there were lots of people taking photographs.  | | Eric's dressed for the ride |
As we went through the countryside, other people were waving because they liked the Hogwarts Express. I waved back. The train went all the way to Scarborough, where we had time to get off and go to the beach. Then we went back to York. The engine made a choo-choo sound, and the smoke kept drifting past us. It was a real adventure and a day I will never forget. Katie Youdale, aged 5. For more photos of Olton Hall, take a look at our Hogwarts Express photo gallery plus admire other historic engines in the rail photos and facts gallery. | 
