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!

Videos graciously provide by:
@johnychen
@attractionsmagazine
@Attractions360
@The Tim Trackers

Hi, welcome to Amusement Labs. Here I'll show you the awe inspiring engineering behind your favorite rides with information and footage you won't find anywhere else.
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[AmusementLabs]

If you like what I do you can support more videos:
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.

[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.

[richardperhai]

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!

[Zadkiel]

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.

[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.

[richardperhai]

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.

[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!

[unknownregions]

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

[jman]

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.

[KFox]

I was expecting.

"It's a train."

[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!

[stevenfoster]

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

[plixplop]

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

[eedoamitay]

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

[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.

[ThePirateprincess]

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.

[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?"

[eddyharris]

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

[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.

[jasminejohnston]

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