Haven’t received your letter from Hogwarts yet? Don’t let it stop you from travelling on the Hogwarts Express!
West Coast Railways run the Harry Potter trains. The two trains featured in the franchise are the Jacobite and the Pendle Dalesman. The Jacobite is the train used in the Harry Potter films, and the original is part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London. The Jacobite available for journeys is located in Scotland and takes you on a scenic ride through the beautiful Scottish countryside, including over the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.
The Pendle Dalesman also had carriages featured in the movies. This heritage steam train also takes you on a journey through some beautiful countryside, but this trip is through the north of England. The Pendle Dalesman is the train we’ll cover in this post.
The Hogwarts Express
Every year, on September 1st, the Hogwarts Express transports students from Platform 9¾ at London’s King Cross Station to Hogsmeade Station, ready for the new school year.
Before the Hogwarts Express, witches and wizards arrived at Hogwarts in various magical ways. That was until the Minister of Magic suggested a more muggle-inspired mode of transport – a train that could transport hundreds of students without attracting the attention of muggles.
A daring and controversial solution to the thorny problem was finally suggested by Minister for Magic Ottaline Gambol, who was much intrigued by Muggle inventions and saw the potential in trains.
– JK Rowling (Wizarding World)
Several significant events happen onboard The Hogwarts Express. It’s not only where Harry meets Ron and Hermione for the first time but where Harry comes face to face with a dementor for the first time too. In addition, the final scene of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 takes place alongside the steam train as Harry, Ron and Hermione send their children off to Hogwarts.
Where does the Pendle Dalesman go?
The Pendle Dalesman travels on the Settle to Carlisle line and offers two journeys:
York to Carlisle with stops at Normanton, Wakefield Westgate, Leeds (Central Station) and Skipton.
Chester to Carlisle with stops at Frodsham, Warrington Bank Quay, Leyland and Preston.
You stop off in Carlisle for two hours, giving you plenty of time to explore. You can delve into some history at Carlisle Castle or check out some exhibits at the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. There are also many places to shop, eat and drink.
How Long is the Hogwarts Express Steam Train Journey?
The trip on the Pendle Dalesman is a full day out. The train journey takes approximately 3-4 ½ hours to Carlisle and 4-6 hours back. It depends on the station you board, but you can check the provisional timings here.
Seating & Ticket Prices
The Pendle Dalesman has four seating options.
| Carriage | Adult Ticket | Child Ticket* | What You Get |
| Standard Class | £85 | £42 | Basic carriage with four seats set around a table. No drink or food is included, but passengers can buy drinks and snacks in the buffet cart. |
| First Class | £165 | £82 | The seats in first class are a little roomier. They have more legroom and there are tables to seat two and four people. Again, no drink or food is included, but drinks and snacks can be purchased in the buffet cart. |
| Premier First Class | £195 | £120 | Premier seating in a first-class carriage. This ticket includes food and drink. A breakfast roll is served with tea or coffee on the outward journey. On the way home, you get an afternoon tea with sandwiches and a scone with jam and butter. |
| Premier Dining | £298 | £210 | Seating in a premier-class carriage with food starting with a full English breakfast and bucks fizz on the outward journey. On the way home, you can expect a four-course meal served with wine, followed by petit fours and champagne. You get tea and coffee with this ticket too. |
For up-to-date prices and details, you can check out their website here.
As you can see, there’s quite a large price jump between tickets. The price difference between standard and first class is almost double, and it doesn’t include any food or drink. This means that the cheapest option that includes food is £195 per person. Because of this we opted for the cheapest tickets and travelled standard class.
Our Experience on the Harry Potter Train
We arrived at the train station 20 minutes early, as is requested on the ticket. Not only does it ensure you’re at the platform on time, but it also gives you a chance to watch the train pull into the station. However, there is no steam engine attached at this point. You will stop briefly in Hellifield to have the steam engine connected, so you don’t get that experience of the Hogwarts Express pulling into the platform.
Once you board the train and find your seat, it’s time to settle in! I found the seats in the standard class comfortable and had no issues. If you buy two standard class tickets, you will be seated at a table of four, which means sitting opposite two other people. Everyone in our carriage was nice and friendly, and we got to know the people sitting across from us on the way back!
The steam train takes you through some beautiful countryside, across impressive viaducts and through tunnels embedded in the green landscape. A conductor will point out interesting sights along the way – it has nothing to do with Harry Potter, but it’s still interesting. You’ll pass by people taking photos of the train as you chug on by, tripods set out to capture a little piece of rail history. You’ll also find many people waving at the train as you pass.
Speaking of Harry Potter, though the train journey is often advertised as a Harry Potter experience – there is no mention of Harry Potter on board. Most passengers were there to ride the steam train, not for the Hogwarts Express in particular, though I did spot one Harry Potter t-shirt! It’s still a fun day, but don’t expect the Honeydukes Express with Chocolate Frogs or Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans!
Once we arrived in Carlisle, it was time to get a photo. We headed to the front of the train, as did everyone else! It did get crowded around the platform, but there was still plenty of opportunity to get a quick photograph.
After we got our photo, it was time to explore Carlisle. Depending on your interests, there’s plenty to fill the time. We wandered the shops and got something to eat, and before we knew it, it was time to head back. I would have loved to go inside Carlisle Castle, but it felt like we wouldn’t see much in 2 hours, as you have to consider the walk to and from the train station too.
The journey home takes a little longer. It also included a 45-minute stop at the West Coast Railways depot, but the conductor informed us of this beforehand.
Overall, it was an enjoyable day out. It was fun riding the steam train and the journey passed much quicker than I expected – I had been a little nervous about spending so long in one seat!
Tips for Riding the Pendle Dalesman
Bring your own food: If you have a standard or first-class ticket and food is not included, bring your own! It’s a long journey, and all seats include a table. You can also buy drinks and snacks in the buffet cart.
Be prepared – it gets hot: We travelled on the Pendle Dalesman in August during summer weather. On the way home, while stationed at the depot, the train got very warm inside. It was uncomfortably warm, even with the small windows open. Next time I’m taking a fan!
Add a touch of Harry Potter: There’s no Harry Potter theming on board the train, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add your own!
You can:
– Wear a Harry Potter T-shirt.
– Take some Harry Potter snacks.
– Read one of the Harry Potter books.
– Listen to a Harry Potter podcast.
Have you travelled on the Hogwarts Express? Let us know in the comments!
