UK Day 5-1 Hogwarts Express-The Steam Train in Harry Potter Films
2011-7-3 Sunday

We slept well and woke up at around 8:30 in the morning. We went downstairs to eat breakfast. The lady, owner of B& B, took us to the seat of window side. The sun was shining outside with great view. We felt warm and comfortable when we sat at table.

To experience traditional British food, I ordered a full set of classic British breakfast. It had bacons, eggs, grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, sausages, black pudding, haggis, and toast with butter. When the lady asked me what kind of eggs I want. I ordered over-easy. The lady friendly laughed and said:”I don’t know how to cook eggs as over-easy or sunny-side up etc. Could you just tell me you want hard or soft eggs?” I chose a hard egg.

When we got the food, the eggs were not the cooking way I expected. However, the food tasted delicious. They were much better than the food in hotel especially black pudding. The only food I was not quite get used to eat is haggis. We enjoyed the food and sunshine for about one hour.

Today’s schedule is taking Horry Porter’s steam train. We need to park our car at train station of Fort William and catch the train of 10:15am. The owner tells us it only takes about 10-15 minute to arrive there. Since we are relax and enjoy the sunshine and food. We forget the time and leave only at about 9:45am. We forget that we don’t know the exact place of train station and we need some time to `find parking space. On the way to the train station, we are worried that we may miss the train. The lucky thing is that there is one free parking space in front of the railway station of Fort William when we arrived. Therefore, we still have some free time to get aboard with printed tickets.

Since we only take few days to plan our itinerary in advance. We only know that we will take the steam train which showed up in the 'Harry Potter' films as Hogwarts `Express. According to the timetable, it takes about 4 hours for round trips. We also prepare chess sets in case that we have nothing to do.

At beginning, we enjoy the clear outside view near Fort William in the summer day. After a while, we lose interests and play chess with John.

After about 40 minutes, lots of passengers approach to the window and look outside. We don’t know what is happening and look outside also. Soon, the train is stopped in Glenfinnan station. Many passengers walked off carriages to stretch their legs. We also get off and takes a walks. However, we do not know it is an famous train station. We realize it only when we come back Taiwan and get the chance to watch the file” Harry Porter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” again. The Glenfinnan station is the station that Harry got off from the train when he arrive Hogwarts School.

When I am walking around the station, Erica overhears some passengers talking about the carriage for shooting “Harry potter” films. She asks us to sit inside and take a picture for memory.

After we get on the train again, the train continues on from here to Mallaig. How comes that everyone walk to the doorway or lean to windows and look outside again.

Wow! We are crossing the famous 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct. What a magnificent view!

However, when I try to take pictures, all the spots are taking! I need to wait until other people leave. When I can take photos, only part of viaduct can be shooted in my camera. I need to be well-prepared when we come back from Mallaig!

Reference: http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/Default.html

First edition 2012-1-14
Next notice: Day 5-2 Glenfinnan viaduct.