Famous fictional trains

The Polar Express

The Polar Express released in 2004 is an animated Christmas film that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Based on Chris Van Allsburg’s book of the same title, the story begins late on Christmas Eve night where a boy lies in bed hoping to hear the sound of reindeer bells from Santa's sleigh.

To his surprise a steam engine's roar and whistle can be heard outside his window. The conductor invites him on board to take an extraordinary journey to the North Pole. It stars the voice of Tom Hanks. Visit The Polar Express website.

Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends feature in 26 books written by the Reverend W. Awdry, who wrote the stories for his son Christopher. Many of the stories are based on actual events on real railways. The first book of the series was made in 1945, but doesn't actually have Thomas in it!

In 2000 Thomas was the first steam engine to star in his own movie – Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Now, you can watch "Thomas the Tank Engine" on television - his programme is on in 121 countries and in 11 different languages. Visit the Thomas & Friends website.

Ivor the Engine

Oliver Postgate's popular stories about a steam engine which lived in 'the top left-hand corner of Wales' started life in 1959. Ivor the Engine shown on television for more than 25 years and 40 films were made in total - each being five or ten minutes long. The pictures were drawn by Peter Firmin, and it was on his farm where Oliver Postgate made the films. He worked in a large pig-sty! Visit the Ivor the Engine website.

Harry Potter

In J K Rowling's famous Harry Potter books, Harry and his friends take the Hogwart’s Express from King's Cross Station to Hogsmeade Station. Its engine number in the film is 5972. In the stories, the train leaves from Platform 9¾, which is between Platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross, but they don't seem to be much like the real platforms, because J K Rowling was actually thinking of Euston station in London when she was writing the first book!

You can travel by train to see many of the places where they made the Harry Potter movies, including:

• St Pancras International Station in London – Harry and Ron fly over this station when they are in the flying car.
• West Highland Railway Line in West Highlands of Scotland – This railway line was used for the train journey to Hogwarts School. The West Highland Railway Line runs 42 miles from Fort William to Mallaig. The train passes through some of the scenery shown in the Harry Potter films, including Ben Nevis and the lochs and rugged countryside of Glen Nevis.
• Glenfinnan Viaduct in West Highlands of Scotland – the Hogwarts Express travels over the viaduct on the way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
• Goathland Station in North Yorkshire - This station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway was the location for Hogsmeade station.
• Gloucester Cathedral in Gloucester City – was used as the set for some of the school scenes, like when troll is loose at Hogwarts in the first movie.
• Alnwick Castle in Northumberland – many of the outside shots of Hogwarts School where filmed here, such as when Harry learnt to fly his broomstick in the first movie.
• London Zoo in Regents Park, London – Harry visits the zoo with the Durseys in the first movie.

Other places like Christ Church College in Oxford, Harrow School in Greater London and Durham Cathedral in Durham have all been used for scenes inside Hogwarts School in Harry Potter films. Visit the Harry Potter movie website.

The Railway Children

This book was written by E Nesbit in 1906, which is when there were steam trains instead of the electric and diesel ones we have today. In it, three children go with their mother to live in the country after their father mysteriously disappears. They live near the railway, make friends with the people who work on it, and find themselves caught up in exciting adventures.

The book was made into a film in 1970 and another one in 2000. The 1970 film was made on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire, and the 2000 film was made at the Bluebell Railway in Sussex.

The Chattanooga Choo Choo

Glenn Miller sang the song 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' about a train journey between Chattanooga, which is a town in America, and New York. The song was released in 1941 and it has been a popular song ever since. In fact, the song was so popular when it came out that it was awarded the first ever gold record.

Photograph courtesy of FreeFoto.com