Harry Potter’s magic has helped to turn a Lochaber steam railway into a world-renowned visitor attraction.
The Jacobite – otherwise know as the Hogwarts Express – was packed as it left Fort William yesterday for the start of this year’s summer season.
The 84-mile round trip, described as “one of the great railway journeys of the world”, takes visitors past Britain’s highest mountain, deepest loch, shortest river and most westerly station on its way to the west coast fishing village of Mallaig.
James Shuttleworth, who has been commercial manager of West Coast Railways since it took over the service in 1995, said the train carried about 375 passengers and was frequently booked out well in advance with many visitors arranging their holidays around it. He said: “Initially, we ran from the middle of June to the beginning of September. We now start in early May and run right through to the end of British Summertime.
“When we started, it was something to do when you were in Fort William, then it became the reason to come to Fort William and now people come from all over the world to ride on it.”
West Coast Railways was contracted by Warner Bros to provide the engine and the train for all of the Harry Potter films.
Mr Shuttleworth said: “We get a lot of Harry Potter fans who come to see where it was filmed.”
The company operates a morning service, Monday to Friday from May 12 to October 24, and on Saturdays and Sundays from June 21 to September 21, with an afternoon service from June 2 to August 29, Monday to Friday.