Edinburgh is often referred to as the birthplace of Harry Potter, with The Elephant House café being a well-known example of a location author J. K. Rowling wrote some of the series.
However, there are connections to Harry Potter all over the country. From Greyfriars Kirkyard in the capital, which may have inspired some of the characters' names, to filming locations for the movies in places such as Glen Coe and Loch Shiel, the series has a close bond with Scotland.
Possibly the most well-known and popular attraction in the country among Harry Potter fans, however, is The Jacobite steam train. While that name may not sound familiar, the Hogwarts Express surely will.
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The iconic train that departs from London King's Cross Station Platform 9¾ and takes students to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the start of each school year is actually a real steam train. While The Jacobite is not the exact same model used in the film series, the two are incredibly similar visually and its route was frequently used as a filming location.
The Jacobite itself is old, though not as old as you may think. Construction on a railway link between Glasgow and Fort William first began in 1889, eventually opening in 1894 following a struggle to build over the boggy Rannoch Moor.
After another seven years, the Mallaig Extension of the West Highland Line was completed and the route as we know it today was finished. A primary reason for its construction was to provide easier access to and from what was a very remote part of Scotland.
In 1967, steam services on the route were withdrawn as part of modernisation plans, being replaced by more reliable and cost-effective diesel trains. However, in 1984, in an effort to boost tourism, ScotRail relaunched a steam service on the line known as the West Highlander.
When the operator of the line swapped hands in 1995, the name was changed to The Jacobite, which it has been known as ever since.
Undoubtedly the best-known location on the route is the 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct in Inverness-shire, which features prominently in the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets film. Fans of the movie will remember it from the scene in which Harry and Ron attempt to catch up to the Hogwarts Express in Ron's Flying Ford Anglia car.
The viaduct was built as part of the Mallaig Extension of the West Highland Line, with construction starting in 1897 and completing in 1901. It is the longest concrete railway bridge in the country, measuring 380 metres in length.
The Jacobite operates over the summer, though tickets are hard to come by due to its immense popularity. More information can be found on its website.
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