Harry Potter's World

December 2001

Each year I set up my Lego trains, sometimes under the christmas tree. This year, I added the Hogwarts Express and several Harry Potter building sets to my collection and put together a whole layout on the dining room table. The layout has Charing Cross train station at one end, and Hogwarts castle at the other end. In between are lots of muggle buildings, including one special one which has Diagon Aley behind it.

All new wizards are required to purchase basic supplies before going off to school. Harry was taken to this unassuming building with a secret door on the left.

Behind the plain facade of a building lies Diagon Alley, home to many shops full of magic supplies, implements, and devices. Here can be found Gringott's Bank, and several taverns where wizards can catch up on all the newest gossip.

Harry Potter buys his supplies in Diagon Alley. A surpising session at the wand shop gains him a special wand which will prove useful in his fights with 'he - who - must - not - be - named'.

Now that Harry has all his wizard supplies, he hurries over to Charing Cross Station to catch the Hogwarts Express train. Finding the platform proves to be difficult, however.

Here we see the secret entrance to Platform 9-3/4 at Charing Cross Station. You need a good running start to jump through the wall to the platform beyond.

All aboard the Hogwarts Express! Non-stop to Hogwarts school of wizardry. This train model has been modified to include a train motor allowing it to pull cars. The caboose was added from the designer train sets.

After a long train ride, the students arive a Hogwart's school of wizardry. The school is full of secret passages, stairways that move, ghosts, and more.

Hagrid ferries the new students across the lake to Hogwarts.

Professor Dumbledoor greets the students from his balcony in the great hall.

Harry Potter poses with his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley in the great hall.

After dinner, Harry shows everyone how easy it is to fly on a broomstick.

Professor Quirrel teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts in his own tower.

Professor Snapes always has a sharp lookout for students who might be breaking the rules.

	All new wizards are required to purchase basic supplies before going off to school. Harry was taken to this unassuming building with a secret door on the left.
	Behind the plain facade of a building lies Diagon Alley, home to many shops full of magic supplies, implements, and devices. Here can be found Gringott's Bank, and several taverns where wizards can catch up on all the newest gossip.
	Harry Potter buys his supplies in Diagon Alley. A surpising session at the wand shop gains him a special wand which will prove useful in his fights with 'he - who - must - not - be - named'.
	Now that Harry has all his wizard supplies, he hurries over to Charing Cross Station to catch the Hogwarts Express train. Finding the platform proves to be difficult, however.
	Here we see the secret entrance to Platform 9-3/4 at Charing Cross Station. You need a good running start to jump through the wall to the platform beyond.
	All aboard the Hogwarts Express! Non-stop to Hogwarts school of wizardry. This train model has been modified to include a train motor allowing it to pull cars. The caboose was added from the designer train sets.
	After a long train ride, the students arive a Hogwart's school of wizardry. The school is full of secret passages, stairways that move, ghosts, and more.
	Hagrid ferries the new students across the lake to Hogwarts.
	Professor Dumbledoor greets the students from his balcony in the great hall.
	Harry Potter poses with his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley in the great hall.
	After dinner, Harry shows everyone how easy it is to fly on a broomstick.
	Professor Quirrel teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts in his own tower.
	Professor Snapes always has a sharp lookout for students who might be breaking the rules.