4920 Dumbleton Hall

I highly doubt that a boiler swap would be considered dreadfully inauthentic considering how many have taken place in the past.

 

Gav, you mention DHPS shareholders and DHPS members. I presume that the DHPS shareholders had a say in the decision to sell the loco?

 

I wonder if there is a desire/plan to boost business on the West Highland by running "authentic Hogwarts" trains but leaving 5972 where it is?

 

I duobt it. There are many of us who think that GW locos all look the same

Peter

 

That was my thought as well....

 

Are you suggesting that the current Jacobite service is not an "authentic Hogwarts" train, because there are plenty of people, both punters and by-standers, who will tell you otherwise

Peter

 

For some reason I can half imagine somebody giving red paint to a Black 5...

 

You mean like this...



(Not my image)

 

I'm not suggesting that the train isn't authentic Hogwarts but that many Potterites might be disappointed by the engine being painted black rather than red. For my part, I look forward to the day when all the locos are required to be painted red for all the steam services on the West Highland We might see more of the K1 at the NYMR then with the photo opportunities wrecked!

 

I imagine if nothing else there would be a nice little premium to be charged if it were the Hall with ideas above her station up front!

 

Why would they overhaul a boiler that has not steamed since 1999 and has spent the 21 years inbetween outside, mostly, and then have to swap between the locos and repaint 4920 anyway? It wouldn't be any quicker than removing 5972 and putting 4920 in its place and then overhauling Olton.

 

What about the Mk1 SK that is there though? I doubt the interior shots were actually shot in it.

 

I guess if the DHPS were not consulted on the sale then yes, that is morally wrong, however this is definitely a good outcome for 4920 and the SDR, particularly in these times.

 

TBF I believe (although I could be very wrong) most of the shots they did in carriages were in a set rather than a real carriage. But having a light loco, or loco in front of an open sided carriage set, doesn't look quite as good to the general visitor, so bringing in a compartment coach in the right colour to complete the look makes sense. I doubt heritage railways are the only organisation which has to compromise between what is 'Authentic' and what is possible!
Plus, it may well have been one that, for example, was in the set when filming of the first film took place on the Moors line, or it may have been one that they were just able to acquire because for whatever reason it was not needed by its then owner.

 

I think there will be loads of people for whom simply going on a steam train over the route that includes the viaduct will be enough.

But there will equally be plenty of people who are keen enough Potter fans, or just people who have seen the films and know that the engine in the films is painted red with some shiny brass on top and numbered 5972 that having a loco that is painted the same colour and is more similarly shaped would add value and enjoyment to the experience. My wife being among them.

Of course we may be reading far too much into 4920's similarity to a loco which featured in a popular film franchise, and it may simply be that the new owner fancied having a Hall in operational condition and 4920 was the most available for acquiring.

 

4920 is not in operational condition, but I know what you mean.

Considering that they seem to have a Black 5 up on the blocks at 10A not sure why they would want a Hall with the very limited route availability they have these days, happy to be corrected but it seems that event Tyseley have rather given up on RAH and are concentrating on Castles.

 

If assuming 4920 was just given a repaint to look like 5972 and took it's place, as Hogwarts Castle, with 5972's plates, and the real 5972 was given an overhaul won't that mean there will be 2 5972's could the owner get away with just repainting 4920 and retaining its own number posing as Hogwarts Castle?

 

Well it might be that it runs as 4920 Dumbledore Hall...

 

Two Black 5s. 44932 being overhauled, and the giant kit of parts that is 44767.

 

Interestingly, in all the years that I've been involved with the Jacobite, and being regularly besieged by Potter fans, not one of them has ever questioned me about the colour of the loco. They may be obsessive in many ways but unlike railfans they do not seem to obsess about the colour of the engine. Its a steam train and thats good enough for them. Having a black loco did not stop this lot turning out when someone told them that the "Harry Potter train" was coming. We know otherwise, but they neither knew nor cared.

Peter