That’s because the train’s steam engine and carriages were provided by West Coast Railways to Warner Bros to feature as the “Hogwarts Express” in Harry Potter.
Perhaps most notably, Potter fans may remember the scene from The Chamber of Secrets in which the Hogwarts Express hurtle towards Harry and Ron Weasley in their “flying car” – a 1960 Ford Anglia 105E – while they’re on top of the viaduct.
Although the train doesn’t depart from King’s Cross’ make-believe Platform 9¾, the Jacobite’s journey does take you across other epic landmarks.
The ride, given over 2,000 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor, starts near Ben Nevis and visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig, and passes close to the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar.
It also passes the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, before finally stopping next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe – Loch Nevis.
The train runs two daily services: a morning service and an afternoon service, throughout many months of the year. This year the train’s Morning Service, departing from 10.15 from Fort William is running seven days a week until Friday October 27.
Its afternoon service, departing from Fort William at 12.50 every day, is running until September 29, 2023.
You can book into either First Class, First Class with a table, Compartment Class and Standard Class.
