Why This Hogwarts Express ISN'T a train!

The Hogwarts Express is an incredibly immersive ride at Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure. In this video I'll show you the history, engineering and technology behind the ride. Enjoy!
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[@AmusementLabs]

If you like what I do you can support more videos: patreon.com/amusementlabs The Hogwarts Express is currently closed for a cable replacement, the same one shown in the video. The ride is expected to reopen within a few weeks. MORE Fun Facts: -ITEC Technologies was responsible for bringing the ride to life with 168 projectors on each train! -Every projector is fed video through a "7th sense" fiber optic network. No wonder they're so smooth.

[@KentuckyFriedChildren]

You should pin this so more people can see it

[@AmusementLabs]

@@KentuckyFriedChildren oh, that's odd, thought I had. Pinned.

[@rabbit251]

As someone who worked on projects and logistics at Hitachi, I am curious how this works in the Amusement Park world. Sometimes by subcontracting the work like this and given a deadline you end up with some crappy results as the contractor had to finish the project and the details were insufficient to deliver a reliable project. Or you get the opposite of designs that have unforeseen costs and run over which then puts the main company in a jam as to build what is needed or cut costs and you're back to crappy results.

[@DubiousFIN]

I thought this was a lore channel and that you were going to tell me that the train in harry potter was a animal or something

[@ethantunnell8009]

Of course it's not the bloody real one as the Hogwats Express is back in Warner Bros Studios in London UK where she rightfully belongs as the UK the home country of her Author of Harry Potter ( J. K. Rowling ).

[@JagoHazzard]

I live in London and I use King's Cross Station very regularly. I can't help but find it strange to see a replica on another continent. A pretty good replica too.

[@AmusementLabs]

I did visit the real thing a few years ago and yeah, it's a very good replica. They definitely put a lot into the expansion.

[@istvankovats8541]

I love your vids good to see you here :D

[@andrewrobs]

Upcoming tales from the tube on the fake King's Cross?

[@caesar7734]

0:42 It looks like half of the station. Also in the movie they used exterior shots of St Pancras station.

[@pulaski1]

I used to work just around the corner from Leadenhall Market, and used to go there regularly for lunch, and for drinks after work (before I left the UK) - so it was more than a little strange to visit the Diagon Alley area of Universal Studios Orlando on holiday and find a decent recreation of a place that I associate with work. And talking of replicas - the locomotives in Orlando are replicas of a locomotive that Universal owns in the UK (on display at the Harry Potter Experience), and the attention to detail is incredible, all the way down to the engine builder's "works" plate on the end of the locomotive.

[@Zadkiel343]

Disney actually offered Rowling more money for the Potter license than Universal did, but Rowling wanted a Hogwarts Express and Disney wouldn't make one like she wanted, so she gave the license to Universal instead because they promised to make this train.

[@AmusementLabs]

Yeah, Disney wasn't as committed as she deserved in many cases. What they envisioned seemed very low effort.

[@Freshbott2]

That's interesting cause Disney as a whole felt less tacky and more incorporated. The art and technologies at Disney feel more polished especially the Avatar section. They must have gotten complacent.

[@xaiano794]

@@AmusementLabs I get the feeling Disney only cared about acquiring it more so no-one else could have it.

[@Beamer490]

@@xaiano794 feeling? Lmao it’s Disney of course they wanted it so nobody else could have it

[@WardenWolf]

In all honesty, I think their final product would have been better. This Hogwarts Express is honestly quite ghetto. It's not a real steam engine, it doesn't go very far, and the fake windows are not convincing. Disney would have made it a real steam engine and used animatronics and special effects together.

[@richardperhai8292]

Those tinted windows are actually "smart" windows. When the train leaves the station(s) they go from tinted to nearly black automatically. This prevents any sunlight from entering the train and ruining the effects. Seconds before the train arrives at the next station the windows return to being tinted. When I first started working on the train I was unaware of this so i was quite suprised when the windows went black!

[@AmusementLabs]

I knew it! I didn't want to include that cause I couldn't confirm it, but I had a hunch something was fishy with them

[@AmusementLabs]

Actually here's a 360 video that shows a slight shift in lighting just before the projection starts. Not sure if they happen at the same time, but I'd imagine so considering they're already on (the projectors) before the doors close.

[@BritishBeachcomber]

I invented those smart (LCD) windows in 1968, age 14. But the technology was way ahead of its time, so it wasn't worth the expense of a patent.

[@KFox210]

I was expecting. "It's a train."

[@AmusementLabs]

An engineless train

[@JeroldBoy0407]

A train with screens

[@guspaz]

@@AmusementLabs The same is true of some maglev (such as the Japanese Chūō Shinkansen), where the track pushes against the train and not the other way around.

[@gottjager760]

@@AmusementLabs I was kind of hoping it'd've been a GWR 4900 Class, there are 11 of them and two of them are getting certified, they even have 5972 (tho it's on lease and in the UK, I'm not even sure if they're allowed to move it), It would've been so much cooler if they had. Side note, 5972 aka Olton Hall/Hogwarts Castle (I guess they wanted to be more innkeeping with the naming conventions) was a GWR 4900 class so the Hogwarts Express conductor was wrong. Hinderton Hall is 5900 but they didn't even use her for the filming.

[@AaronShenghao]

@@AmusementLabs technically, a cable car

[@EclecticInventor]

It was funny working at Universal, backstage you have all these drab service buildings and every few minutes you saw the bold red train silently glide above us, with the steam and fake front wheels off.

[@imranward4092]

Oof 😅 that's kinda hilarious. It's like when you glitch through a wall in a video game

[@themisfitowl2595]

Even better was going to the team cafeteria for lunch and watching the train go back and forth while you ate. I always thought it was funny that rode on a monorail track up in the sky! 😁

[@newnickfb]

I used to work in Leaky Cauldron. One day I was walking backstage from DA to wardrobe, and as I was passing under where the train exits, I was enveloped by the most smoke I'd ever been in. This is typical for that area, but this was a LOT more, and it smelled sweet. I looked up, to see the two fattest ops workers I've ever seen taking HUUUUUGE hits off their vapes and just pouring vapor out their face holes xD

[@Coffeekitty7]

my favorite part is when you're just casually walking to your venue to clock in, and the blues brothers drive past you while the hogwarts express passes overhead

[@samuelfellows6923]

@@newnickfb - obese? 😁

[@limeyfox]

As a UK steam train enthusiast, I must say that’s an extremely convincing replica of 5972 Olton Hall (Hogwarts Castle). The coaches not quite as good but it’s certainly better than most VR motion rides!

[@pulaski1]

The replica locomotives even have copies of the brass "works" plate of the Olton Hall on them, but if the coaches are "not quite as good" I'd be interested to know where you think they fall short, because I suspect that they are _actual_ BR MK1 coaches, or at least the superstructure perhaps mounted on to new suspension and bogies. I spent many hours traveling in MK1 coaches in the 1980's and IMO if Orlando is using replicas then whoever manufactured them has certainly gone "above and beyond" - even the fold-down armrests appear to be complete and fully functional (you can push your fingers into the seam between the arms and seat and feel that they are complete, not just a surface feature of the upholstery}, but were then sewn into place so they cannot be used on the Orlando ride.

[@electrohalo8798]

@@pulaski1 If universal managed to get a hold of MK1 coaches, then damn, but i think the fact that heritage lines are rather protective of there rolling stock and the shear logistics needed to transport that many MK1s would be rather apparent and questions about authenticity wouldn't be happening

[@pulaski1]

@@electrohalo8798 I think you're overlooking the fact that Universal was planning and building the Harry Potter attraction at the time when Mk1 rolling stock was being phased out, in the 1990's and early 2000's so at that time there were likely many carriages available either directly from BR/ franchises, or from scrap yards as withdrawing that many carriages would mean they were worth little more than their weight in scrap steel.

[@ThatsnewsTV]

And they even have the C1 on the coaches, too, which is a nice touch.

[@Lonefarmer-lk9ld]

I’ve been on the real (I’m pretty sure) train in Scotland

[@richardperhai8292]

Oh and one more piece of trivia... because of the curve and the cable (which can actually stretch) the two trains are designed to stop in the same spot in Hogsmede but this causes the trains NOT to stop in the same spots in King's Cross. As such, each day they mark the movable gate to what the correct position is each day. Depending on which train is coming in the gate is move to the appropriate spot (You will notice the attendants in the front and back of the train move these gates before the train is dispatched in Kings Cross.) About once a year the ride is shut down so they can trim the cable because of the stretching.

[@EstorilEm]

Do they actually trim the cable or just adjust the tension? That would seem odd to physically cut it. Also I’d imagine it’s more of a temperature thing than the curve which causes the variation in location, as the curve is a constant.

[@richardperhai8292]

@@EstorilEm I was told it's actually trimmed a but. And no, the curve is the reason for the difference is stops - one side is longer than the other because there's no other curve to equal it our (inside the curve is shorter than the outside)

[@g60force]

@@richardperhai8292 that makes sense... to ABC it.. if both trips where 100% straight this wouldn't be a problem, they however could've solved it by using a MagLev setup... Oh well!

[@b-chroniumproductions3177]

@@g60force Could've also solved it by using, well, an actual train.

[@CK-421]

As a former porter, I can attest that part of this is true. Once a year the train goes for an overnight maintenance focused specifically on the “haul rope” where the tension is adjusted and the new positioning is determined. That being said the position more or less stays the same for the year with a few millimeters of change in a year. We did however have to move the gates at the ends of the platforms between each train to block the ride track from guests when the trains parked.

[@ReviewTyme]

Even though it's often quicker to walk to the other park, there's no arguing that the Hogwarts Express is the ultimate way to park hop! Back when I lived in Orlando I used to always love trying to get a glimpse of the train reversing its way to the station when you would look over the fence by Beetlejuice.

[@jamesbizs]

We were in line for 70 minutes. Not, worth, it.

[@kittyb275]

@@jamesbizs pay for express pass. I was in line less than 5-10 minutes.

[@notdeadyet3680]

@@jamesbizs boohoo poor you

[@RikoJAmado]

"But the motion of the wheels don't line up perfectly with the motion of the-" "Look, what part of 'it's supposed to be a magic train' do you not understand?"

[@AmusementLabs]

Magic trains are not absolved of the laws of physics! 😅 Jkjk. I just thought it looks silly. They might get better results with a friction drive wheel driving the motion versus a motor trying to match it.

[@pingpongpung]

*doesn't line up

[@seraphina985]

@@AmusementLabs To be fair that is absolutely a solid point if magic or anything else supernatural is to have any effect in the physical world then it has observable and measurable effects. Even the best and brightest of us muggles would probably be like "How this real?" but we would at least agree that it is demonstrably real, it's way harder to be ignorant of the effect than being ignorant of the cause thus why the latter is way more common. Also, this is how illusions even work in the first place and why you do not even need to believe in the specifics of the illusion to make it work, throw a good story and some semi-convincing evidence at our human brains and they will do the rest of the work. Doesn't make the experience less worth it though we all love a good story thus why the media industries are worth billions lol.

[@mikzpwnz_3199]

I thought the idea of the Hogwarts express was that it was not actually meant to be magical. It was meant to be a mundane, discrete way to get the students to Hogwarts without raising any Muggle suspicion or start a cover-up fustercluck that would be getting there magically by brooms and apparating in an era that it would be much easier to record that. It may have some magical modifications (I don't have much the specs of the locomotive, apart from the classification) that allow it to do the continuous trip without taking on more water or coal, but it's not like it's going faster through magic as the trip takes awhile. It's easier to explain away a steam train on the British national rail than why it's going 300mph down it after all.

[@seraphina985]

@@mikzpwnz_3199 True also to be fair in the heyday of steam in the UK you could probably get away with pushing the envelope more. At that point, the British Empire still exemplified its home-field advantage as the origin of steam power. Remember that the UK built the first locomotive capable of 200 km/h as early as 1938 or so. Britain did get overtaken thanks to lack of investment later but it was the global leader in rail technology in the steam era.

[@eedoamitay3341]

I have to admit man, you do a spectacular job at explaining these rides, this is educational material, so well done

[@AmusementLabs]

Thank you 🙂

[@LukeWatson99]

@@AmusementLabs I'm disappointed its not a functional train, surely they could have just bought a red steam engine, and put the Hogwarts name plate on the front, or use the ORIGINAL TRAIN from the movie. I'm gonna have to dislike the video, they could have saved so much money if they just bought a real working train. Extremely disappointing...

[@bangjiexue2937]

@@LukeWatson99 what they have is probably the best solution considering air quality, ride experience, energy conservation, passenger capacity and efficiency

[@LukeWatson99]

@@bangjiexue2937 it doesn't have the magic feeling of a real steam train if you know what I mean. Sacrificing people's experience for a few bucks, I big thumbs down from me.

[@bangjiexue2937]

@@LukeWatson99 I can understand your feeling, but I don’t think they did it for saving money. It IS an attraction ride over all they have to consider the capacity of the passengers. It is also probably more reliable. I rode a real train in Dollywood where I had been blasted by smoke and cinder during the entire ride. Not the best experience on my book.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

I found this ride fascinating. I saw the cable when getting on the train a few years ago in the ground - immediately realized it was like a mountain climbing train. This is a great overview of the technology used as the cameras in the ceiling I did not figure out for the hallway action but now it makes perfect sense. Thank you!

[@movie0007]

I was thinking the door and windows were screens as well.

[@stevenfoster9402]

1:49 the people who play around with this feature are my favorite people

[@personintheblue3121]

It was so funny to watch them end then do it myself 🤱

[@theoneandonlynumber1253]

@@personintheblue3121 lol I was there so I decided to throw my self through it lolol

[@phmwu7368]

Everything looks so fake... must be very appealing to the average American LOL

[@personintheblue3121]

@@phmwu7368 no we are just more fun

[@thatguynamedgeorge9218]

@@personintheblue3121 good one

[@plixplop]

As someone who is not even a Harry Potter fan, I have to say this whole ride is incredibly well done.

[@jman1948]

So a little more information. The projection system for the windows is highly customized and built into the wall of the train. It uses 4K projection and is in sort of a gimbal system so it won’t shake during the journey. Also the air conditioning system is highly specialized as well since this is a cable card rather than a real train. - information I learned from ITEC who helped design the ride.

[@Sporty2121]

The AC is the train is junk lol

[@manbearpig9000]

How much space is really there? Is it rear projection?

[@jaystarr6571]

I believe its UST Ultra Short Throw projection not short throw projection. However, I do not claim to be an expert on the subject.

[@santakosoundsystem7542]

It would be easier to simply use thin OLED screens. But I suppose that would have been much more expensive.

[@DerKatzeSonne]

@@santakosoundsystem7542 Durability with that long operation might also be a problem.

[@ThePirateprincess23]

I'm surprised to find that the whole duration of the ride is only 4 minutes long 🤯. When I rode it in 2015, it felt like it was longer than that.

[@piratekng]

You were in the magic🤗

[@binx2638]

Maybe the wait time before it? Lol it feels never ending

[@trainguy111]

Sometimes, life feels like that.

[@RikoJAmado]

Time dilation shenanigans.

[@marklatimer7333]

@@RikoJAmado Yer - I watched the whole of this video and it felt like a fortnight.

[@unknownregions5014]

If you want to ride the REAL train, you have to go to Scotland, and ride The Jacobite, the actual train used in the films

[@xaiano794]

Yeah the fort william to mallaig bit is the best.

[@AaronThompson]

The route used in the films, not the train used in the films

[@xaiano794]

@@AaronThompson yeah, but they do have a steam train on that line. The actual train isn't main line certified so it can't run on that line with passengers

[@unknownregions5014]

@@AaronThompson That was the train they used

[@AaronThompson]

@@unknownregions5014 No it wasn't, it was the recording location they used but not the train

[@eddyharris2372]

I am impressed that the King's Cross exterior actually looks like King's Cross station too.

[@folksinger2100]

Just a pity the Platform staff uniforms are a bit wrong

[@chrismcgarry2840]

As a Brit this was quite weird, to see an amusement park replica of quite modern British station signage

[@TitoTimTravels]

Does it have a Burger King? 😎

[@jasminejohnston6393]

I love the Pepper’s Ghost illusion. It’s so easy to pull off and it makes for one heck of a Halloween display!

[@DerpyPossum]

imagine them doing something like this for the Polar Express.

[@flatstheflounder2884]

That'd be really cool, to be honest. I'm fortunate enough to live a couple hours away from the real Polar Express, Pere Marquette 1225. I'm hoping to ride it next Christmas, but it'd be amazing getting a Polar Express ride similar to this one with screen accurate passenger cars, projections in the windows of iconic scenes like the wolves running by in the forest, going over the ice and stuff, and then eventually arriving in a different set themed like the North Pole

[@littlesthobo182]

That would be incredible. That movie/book is so magical.

[@System0Error0Message]

but will it drift?

[@Boskov01]

The only problem with a Polar Express ride is that it'd be more of a seasonal attraction. I mean, sure, it'd draw fans in all year, but it would only really be popular in and around Christmas Time. Unless you had an area of the park that was themed around "Christmas All Year Long" or something like that, the concept wouldn't work. Although you could possibly theme the attraction for the non-Christmas Season like, have the ride story be that the Pol Ex is needed to help deliver toy making supplies to the North Pole and the passengers are brought along as special conductors to help. Then in the summer have a "Christmas in July" story and then for November through early January, have the ride be the traditional Christmas themed version.

[@lolbuster01]

Well they use real equipment for that.

[@veryblocky]

7:40 regardless of the slope of the track, the motor wouldn’t have to overcome gravity since the weight of the train going downhill would cancel out the force needed to pull the other uphill.

[@jamesleblanc9766]

This is not quite true. If the slope is constant from one end to the other, then you are right that equally loaded trains will balance each other out. (One going uphill and the other going downhill) However, consider a track that is uphill as you leave each station. (The trains go over a hill in between stations) In that case both trains need to be lifted against gravity at the same time. They will also both be rolling downhill at the same time as they arrive at the stations. In such a case the designers must provide additional horsepower and braking to drive and stop both trains at the same time.

[@fabiowilson3720]

Another fun and fascinating in-depth look at an iconic attraction. Well researched and concisely and entertainingly narrated. Love your writing and delivery is so viewer friendly. Top marks! And I had never guessed this was a funicular railway, but you're right, a perfect application.

[@michaeldiesel3688]

Out of the 1000s of KZbin videos I’ve watched, I’ve never seen a better prepared video. I was convinced it had been made by Universal Studios themselves.

[@damianhockey8890]

Firstly. Amazing video explaining the system. Will certainly sub :) Secondly. I'm a rail enthusiast from the UK. Had the amazing chance to actually stand on Olton Halls footplate when i volunteered at the NRM in york. But throughout this video i've been trying to figure out why this looks so weird to me. Then it hit. Its not the locomotive. Its the carriages. They are shorter in height and shorter in length than a standard Mark II carriage and have an the windows are squished smaller. Probably to make the compartments smaller and easier to project on to the right surface. It looks like an awesome ride though. And certainly technically amazing

[@CheesyGiant82]

That is an extremely keen eye! I see it now you've pointed it out!!! Plus the fact that they propelled the train backwards with a red tail lamp on (a completely illegal movement in the UK). As someone who volunteers on a steam railway, I almost had a fit - And yes I know it's a theme park... 😁😂

[@Sophiebryson510]

And there’s no support coach or mark 1 BG.

[@Sophiebryson510]

@@CheesyGiant82 which one?

[@musicandefy]

I cried getting off of this train....it was so well done and convincing 😭

[@richsmith9063]

Wow GREAT technical detail !!! This is exactly the level of detail I like to see. Your pacing / timing is perfect & you do NOT give time wasting superfluous info. Thanks !!! Subscribed...

[@MaThista91]

everytime impressed how much information and footage of the systems you explain you can gather and show

[@matthiaskrempl3073]

Awesome job in explaining the mechanics behind the ride-system. Thank you so much! I just love this kind of insights.

[@nitrax8629]

Great explanation, the cable hauling system reminds me a lot of the pre-modernised Glasgow Subway, where cables were used to move trains around in two circles (albeit using steam instead of electricity), with no points anywhere, alongside conductors to power the train lighting.

[@mundanestuff]

Last time we visited the park, I took a long look at the mechanicals, saw the cable and just thought, "cable car" and moved on. I was wrong about literally everything and thanks to this video, now I know. I'm one of those people who loves to reverse engineer and guess at how it works. I didn't know there were 2 trains that are tied together and pass in the mid point, that it was funicular, that the visible wheels are for show, I assumed the exterior view was a television screen etc. Knowing for me doesn't break the magic, it impresses me beyond all reason and I get to go all fan-boy about the engineering. I get the same type of vibe from this video, that our presenter is wide-eyed in wonder at the clever engineering. It's refreshing to find he's one of my people.

[@averyeml]

I love your videos and this one’s no exception! I’m glad this one’s blowing up because while it seems like a “lesser” ride in terms of interest it’s something fewer people know about since you’d have to get a their version of a park hopper to ride it. I didn’t really know anything about it at all, so now I’m interested to see ride-throughs and I’m impressed that such a short ride that’s mainly transportation has such detail.

[@MisatoBestWoman]

*The sheer amount of work needed for this is absolutely amazing!*

[@AmusementLabs]

The Hogwarts Express has now reopened after a complex cable replacement for your future enjoyment. Support with perks!: patreon.com/amusementlabs

[@davidpulaski5628]

Unbelievable complexity and engineering along with an excellent video! Five stars all around !!!

[@drewmyers3522]

Can you do Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea next please?

[@AmusementLabs]

I'll see if I can fit it in somewhere.

[@drewmyers3522]

@@AmusementLabs Awesome, thanks bro! Love your channel!

[@KDG860]

The Harry Potter lands at Universal are so much more amazing than anything I have ever seen before.

[@Nicklmeyer]

This is the video we didn't know we needed, but it's very interesting!

[@binx2638]

I love this little break transportation, but I wish the original voice of hermione came back for it...

[@hothotheat3000]

It’s so well done. I saw a lot of people in tears when the train arrived. We all dreamt of taking this ride!!!

[@tchaffman]

This is how my grandparents got to school

[@3DJapan]

This is neat to see. I've never been to the Harry Potter section of the park but I went to school on the back lot of Universal Studios before the new section was created so I was in the park almost every day for over a year. I could almost see where the school used to be in the areal shot you showed. These days it's in one of the soundstages.

[@rachelcookie321]

Omg that sounds so cool. If there was an amusement park near where I live I would definitely be going all the time.

[@JellyJerryy]

I will probably never go to a Universal park, but this ride always bamboozles me. This is very informative 👍

[@Roadent1241]

Expenses keeping you back? Or just it all seeming meh?

[@knifedbyakangaroo]

i saw them working on the train years back , it was a big lockup but they had the door open slighly , such a beautiful train

[@Bebela1ms]

Great content 🙌🏼🥰 love your videos and I am always excited to learn from you

[@deeznuts23yearsago]

I love how they created a small part of a London station in America just for a ride

[@millomweb]

Pity they didn't make it go over London Bridge ;)

[@Sophiebryson510]

@@millomweb do you mean tower bridge?

[@lothean2099]

You destroyed the magic. Lol I didn't know there were two trains, also, I didn't know that was a projection outside the cabin. I thought it was simply a frosted view screen tv.

[@AmusementLabs]

Well hopefully you didn't possibly click on a video titled "How It Works" expecting an explanation on how it works! That would be absurd! 😅

[@DJ_Bonebraker]

This is really cool. Having some experience with working with/on various heritage railways as a volunteer & being familiar with even some of the more unconventional types of trains, when I saw the cables the first time I rode this back in 2014, I figured it was something along the lines of the San Francisco cable-driven streetcar system. It never occurred to me that it could have been a horizontal funicular system (possibly because all the funiculars I'm familiar with, namely the ones in Pittsburgh & Quebec City) are just short of being vertical in nature (e.g. the Mount Washington funicular that goes almost straight up & down the side of Mount Washington in Pittsburgh & the Funicular in the Old Town of Quebec City that goes from the Chateau Frontenac to the docks by the St. Lawrence river). It's really cool that they were able to use the general concept for a horizontal railway, even the fact that it has identical trains/cars on both sides to act as counter-weights for each other. Also, funiculars are considerably older than you stated in the video. There is a funicular in Hohensalzburg Castle in Salzburg, Austria called the Reisszug that has been in operation since at least 1504, and still is used to ferry freight up the side of the mountain to Hohensalzburg castle.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@thefloridian6072]

One of things I prioritized during the pandemic was doing everything Harry Potter at Universal Studios. I have ridden everything several times. The longest wait was 45 minutes most were down around 30 minutes. Wait times are now inching back up over an hour some are two.

[@charlesx5291]

When I go there I check the wait times. If they are over 30 mins it’s much faster just to walk park to park. I just saw a video about a park to park shortcut I’ll have to check out. It’s from whoville to I think it was just outside diagonal alley.

[@danielcarroll3358]

The shuttle from the Coliseum BART train station to the Oakland International Airport uses this technology. It does it one better in that it exchanges cables at the passing point as the distance is too long for one cable, or at least it was easier to design it that way. If you ride it stand at the end of the car and watch the exchange at the midpoint of the ride.

[@MiamiViceStyle]

almost the same, the BART system is on rubber wheels. The Hogwarts is on steel wheels.

[@harpinson]

Excellent video. Love the details, even down to the correct headlamp code on the locos.

[@StorytellerStudios]

First time viewing one of your videos. Very informative and well done!

[@ricksanchez7999]

How did I not find this channel sooner? I love engineering. Damn KZbin hiding information from my brain. Instead KZbin shows people binge drinking salsa and beer.... what the hell lol

[@AmusementLabs]

This video actually was the fastest growing video and reached 100k in under 4 days. The one I posted today seems to be pretty slow growing though. It all varies. Though it seems people automatically go nuts over Harry Potter, naturally.

[@susanbrookes9719]

I've never understood why Hogwarts has a GWR Hall Class locomotive with a name that should be on a Castle Class locomotive, and why a GWR train would depart from Kings Cross, which was an LNER station. What's more, the loco has a shed code plate for 10A, which was Springs Branch, Wigan.

[@VGLounge]

Because JK Rowling and the original movie director/writers aren't aware of proper locomotive classifications.

[@roberthuron9160]

An addendum;during the locomotive trials,during the forming of British Railways,GWR engines ran out of Kings Cross,and in the locomotive exchanges in the early 1900's,the GWR engines ran out of Euston(LNWR),so they were all over the map! Much history overlooked! Thank you!!

[@chaseman113]

Wizards are terrible at muggle details, I’m surprised they manage running the train so well.

[@TitoTimTravels]

Probably because those details are unimportant to the ride or the experience. 😎

[@puddycat2325]

Kings Cross also lacks columns to run into between platforms 9 and 10. The platforms are separated by tracks.

[@tonybeee6771]

I’m heading there in May and these are definitely a lot of cool facts to know! Great vid! 😁👌🏼

[@grahamhall4243]

I have been dying for this video for agessss

[@henry9024]

You should do the Bourne Stuntacular. It’s such an amazing show and you do an amazing job at explaining these.

[@joshuadarts2687]

While although a great suggestion, Bourne stuntacular employees strictly prohibit any kind of recording so it would be tough/impossible! Just gotta enjoy the show, I guess! Also RIP terminator

[@ChrisLee-yr7tz]

I've just watched it 6 times during our current holiday. I still cannot get my head around the quality of the screen used in Bourne. It's totally blown me away.

[@henry9024]

@@ChrisLee-yr7tz one of the technicians told us there’s about 1,000 separate individual OLED panels that create the 8K screen. That way if a portion of the screen breaks they can just replace the panels that are out opposed to replacing the entire screen. the show is just amazing i don’t blame you for watching it over and over haha

[@footdrizle3214]

congrats on 40k

[@normanbrunt2053]

Fantastic job! Well done everybody involved.

[@rickkinney7830]

Very interesting. We are new AP holders to Universal Studios Florida and are enjoying the new experiences. Thanks for posting.

[@EstorilEm]

Wow that is brilliant, 300hp (electric) total, to move both trains, with hardly any moving parts onboard (at least structural parts). Some of these things seem cheesy, but this is one I wouldn’t mind experiencing!

[@JakeRanney]

I thought that was Chris Chan in the thumbnail

[@claudiodiaz9752]

Yes

[@Quadrenaro]

Everywhere I go I still see him.

[@phylliss2517]

Thanks so much great video. Keep them coming. ❤️

[@nightmaresanyone]

If you are NOT a Universal IOA employee; I was BLOWN away by the representation of this video! Great job. New Subber here! I am going to tell all MY subs to come and watch this. Richard

[@markh5210]

Good video- I think "cable hauled railway" would be a better term than funicular as the track is flat and the cable is connected to both ends of the trains rather than relying on gravity for one direction of travel. Doppelmayr doesn't use funicular to describe their cable car/cable linear shuttle system- they also sell funicular systems (and the new Disney dangleway). The main thing that looks wrong to me about this ride is when the train, with passengers, reverses on its journey to Kings Cross with the locomotive at the rear. In reality, the locomotive would have run round to the other end of the train or have been replaced by a fresh one [since the age of steam there have been long trains with a single engine that can be controlled from a cab at the far end, some currently visit Kings Cross].

[@AmusementLabs]

Yeah, most people probably aren't familiar with traveling on actual trains like Amtrak. Around where I am the local transit train does run their units in reverse just as often as forward because they don't have an efficient way to turn the train around or even just the engine.

[@petermichaelgreen]

@@AmusementLabs Nowadays in the UK "running round" trains is something you normally only see on heritage railways. On the UK mainline most trains are made up of units that are equally happy to run in either direction and even those that do use a loco normally pair it up with a "driving trailer" at the other end to avoid the need to run round.

[@BryanSeegars]

I always knew it was 2 trains and pulled by a cable could never figure out how they would pass each other on 1 track. It got to the point I was timing the trains how long they were in the station, how long ride duration, etc. I quickly figured out it was two trains because the time between departure and arrival should have been double the time I was getting.

[@joshuabray37]

Thanks for sharing. That's very interesting. I've taken that ride, 4 times, in the past month. It's a very convincing experience. When you are on the train, you have no idea that you are on a track, above busy streets/sidewalks. It looks and feels like you are going through the English countryside, on a train.

[@JoeyAmberson]

Thanks for this! Visited here for the first time earlier in March 2021 and was fascinated by how this worked.

[@jkm5913]

As someone who worked at this attraction in the early days of its opening let me tell you these trains love to bitch about the littlest of things. Also they have names, named after the people who built them but i cant seem to remember the names. But their is a lot that goes on behind the scenes in the control room for example that would blow some peoples minds

[@pokeboi984]

you mean they broke down a lot? I remember when Radiator Springs Racers first opened at Disneyland, it would break down like 4 or 5 times a day for about an hour and a half each time haha

[@jkm5913]

Well yes and no lol. Every ride has thier moments where they go down. But it's the things that happened on the cameras that would shock you

[@varianbond]

My partner’s uncle works as a conductor for the Hogwarts Express 🥰

[@spittinvenom9671]

Great park hop. Well done. Nice video.

[@Lilmiket1000]

Completely nerded out. this is amazing! I had no idea this even existed lol.

[@NealChauhan]

You're so underrated. 100k by December

[@AmusementLabs]

Thank you. Here's hoping, but I do like a nice slow burn too. 🙂

[@aaronkohnken5436]

I would like a video on how the Simpsons ride works at universal studios Orlando if possible

[@brokentilebench]

It’s pretty simple, it’s one huge screen and a bunch of smaller cars next to each other in front of the screen on different levels, some higher then others. Think Despicable Me Minion Mayhem but the ride cars are on different floors all in rows.

[@carjockey2135]

I didnt know Chris achan went to Hogwarts! Hes spotted in the thumbnail.

[@scottscherer]

Awesome been waiting for for this video

[@kevintedder4202]

The most authentic part of this ride was the smell in the carriage. Anyone who's every rode an old 'slam door' train in the UK will remember that musty smell. Universal Studios either bought these old carriages from the UK, or they've made a very authentic air freshener.

[@katyaweikel3922]

I miss living in central FL! These videos aren’t just educational, but nostalgic. You do an amazing job at explaining these rides. I know this ride is a glorified people mover with the goal of going from point A to point B, but for what it is it is such an amazing experience and an actual attraction all on its own! I thought that there was only one train and one track! The fork in the middle of the track that allows both trains to pass each other at the same time I had no idea! Same with the wheels that you see being just theming! Disney is usually my favorite, but you can’t ignore how great universal is at theming too! If you have never experienced Orlando, Disney AND universal should be on your list! Please do Universal Orlando’s version of Revenge of the Mummy and Animal kingdom’s Expedition Everest!

[@carlostucho]

Excellent explanation! On how it works I rode it and for me was boring, now a know why. Thanks a lot! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@frankpeck1448]

Thank you, Amusement Labs...very fascinating, indeed! Although the Tower of Terror is gone from Disney, that too, had a very interesting mystique about it...the 'Safest Elevator Ride' on the planet!

[@ian3580]

Gone from Disney? Only California, right?

[@megelizabeth9492]

Yes, it’s still in Hollywood Studios

[@RCassinello]

Never understood why they made the engine look so filthy for the ride. It's spotless in the films, and if you see it in real life.

[@davidjones332]

If you ever saw British Railways locomotives in the dying days of steam, that's how they all looked! Rising costs meant cleaning was a low priority.

[@cr10001]

Some exec thought all steam locos have to be 'dirty'. Which, to be fair, most of them were towards the 'end of steam', but most preserved steam locos these days are kept quite clean.

[@kioku618]

Can you go over the transformers ride? That one is super impressive to me.

[@sonyacastillo3866]

This is amazing! Thanks!

[@user-sd3wh9yu9m]

hey dude great video this helped me understand. although I still dont get the double flange wheel bit but I might watch it a couple more times till I do

[@NatsumenoKage]

I knew that it wasn’t a real steam engine there by being a trick the first time I road it I have ridden steam trains before the movement was wrong. I found out the trick of the train the second time I road it. My cousins and I were the last passengers loaded in. We heard the doors closing down the train they got to the compartment two or three ahead of us, and stopped . Something happened on the other end of the train so the door wasn’t closed as we left the station. Whatever happened caused them to forget about us I got to watch out the door all the way. Boy were they surprised that the door was open, and we were just sitting there waiting for them so we could disembark.

[@cr10001]

Yes! The only time I've ridden behind a 'Hall' class the motion starting off was quite uncomfortable, a sort of fore-and-aft- surging. I believe this was a characteristic of GWR two-cylinder classes, much more pronounced than with other steam locos.

[@user-user9]

The engineering behind this is quite impressive, it also gives me a lot of respect for Disney running & maintaining actual steam engine trains for daily use at the park. It's all quite a feat

[@MatiPryjomko]

They're not real steam locomotives, they're pulled by cables.

[@user-user9]

@@MatiPryjomko Yes at Universal they are not real. Disney World (which is a couple miles from Universal Studios Orlando) uses actual steam engine trains in their park

[@JustJohn505]

I gotta give it to universal they nailed the train and ride to make it as much enjoyable as they could. Great video btw

[@bluel7162]

So nicely edited, and as a Kings cross regular, from over here{, UK) the realism is terrific. I need to get to Florida soon,(temp. in London today?) 6c Ha!

[@jamieknight326]

Really nice video. The bit about the loop could do with an animation showing a top down view of the whole system to make it a bit clearer

[@AmusementLabs]

Was on a bit of a tight schedule, but will do in the future.

[@jamieknight326]

@@AmusementLabs totally understandable. It’s been a wild year. Really enjoyed the video :)

[@ashevilletrainman6989]

I’ve actually been on the “real” train, and over that stone viaduct you see in the movie. It’s in Scotland! It’s called the jacobite

[@puddycat2325]

Though it’s important to note that it’s only real in the sense that it goes through some filming locations. The Jacobite is not hauled by a Hall-Class locomotive.

[@richsmith9063]

Wow GREAT technical detail !!! Just my speed. Thanks. Subscribed...

[@jack.soncalo]

never knew all of the tricks at work! idk if it's the audio quality or my ears are tired, some words are really muddy to the point I put captions on. great video, and explanation, just wish all the information could be heard clearly.

[@mckaybailey3621]

90’s kids, could you imagine having this after finishing the first few books? Today’s kids have it good.

[@Roadent1241]

I still wouldn't have been able to go to America and ride it for another decade or so XD Who knows how effective it would have been then. I only first rode it in 2018, I should be being a grown up-!

[@jamesf791]

It is a train, the US has had these types of trains for commuter trains. They are also known as cable cars. Many cities in the US had them at one time, including Chicago, though San Francisco still has them and uses them. Basically the person driving the train grabs a hidden cable underneath the street with a sort of cable catcher and pulls it up hills. In this case it's catches the cable to help move it along the entire route, but the concept remains the same. The cable is meant to guide the car whether it going up hill or across a theme park.

[@somitomi]

Cable cars and funiculars are superficially similar (railway cars propelled by a steel rope moving between the tracks), but they're not the same and the way they operate is quite different. As mentioned in the video, the cable is permanently attached to funicular cars so their speed is regulated by changing the speed of the cable (strictly speaking funiculars always have two cars counterbalancing each other). This also means they operate as a shuttle connecting two stations (middle stations are possible but uncommon). Cable cars on the other hand can release the grip on the cable to stop and start independently from other cars powered by the same loop of haul rope (which moves at a constant speed). As a result, cable car lines can have an arbitrary number of stops and even forks are possible.

[@TitoTimTravels]

A cable car uses a constantly moving cable, and the cars grip and release the cable to start and stop. There can be numerous cars on the same cable system. The funicular is 2 cars permanently attached to one cable. They may look similar but are actually quite different. 😎

[@iamlsusam]

This was my favorite attraction at the park!

[@michaeldabrams]

Impressed how much backstage media you got!

[@matthewb840]

I’m a Disney World fan but I decided to go to Universe last month because I had not been there in a super long time. It was my first time riding the train and I had so many questions like how the trains came so fast. The premier is about to start, and I just have a feeling all of my questions will be answered...

[@AmusementLabs]

You could say "everything is not as it.... *_STEAMS_* ?"

[@matthewb840]

@@AmusementLabs Lol

[@matthewb840]

@@AmusementLabs I wanted to say another pun but I decided not to after it got derailed.

[@AmusementLabs]

@@matthewb840 did you lose your train of thought?

[@matthewb840]

@@AmusementLabs Guess I sometimes get off track...

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

The Brit's always do things right! A great replica indeed... Well Done!

[@allisters2887]

I actually really enjoyed this video, I’ve subscribed!

[@ghytseries5101]

Such an amazing attraction, and Fun fact, did you know that the Real Locomotive is still around? In case someone doesn't know, the Hogwarts Express' locomotive was actually Great Western Railway 4900 Hall Class No. 5972 Olton Hall, built at the GWR Swindon Works in the UK.