Fury after iconic 93-year-old steam locomotive secretly sold to Japan to become a Harry Potter exhibit
TRAIN enthusiasts are steaming mad after a 93-year-old heritage locomotive was secretly sold to Japan to become a Harry Potter exhibit.
Originally green, Dumbleton Hall was painted bright red to look like the Hogwarts Express in the wizarding film franchise.
It was hidden under tarpaulin, transported on a low-loader to Southampton Dock and shipped to Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo — The Making of Harry Potter, which opened last year.
Dumbleton Hall was built in 1929 before being withdrawn from service in 1965.
Its sister locomotive, Olton Hall, was the train featured in the movies and is now at the Harry Potter Experience near Watford.
Dumbleton Hall was rescued from a scrapyard in the 1970s for £4,400 by Dumbleton Hall Locomotive Trust, eventually moving to the South Devon Railway Trust (SDRT).
But last year, West Coast Railways bought it for £300,000.
They reportedly sold it to Warner Bros for £1million.
David Long, of Dumbleton Hall Locomotive Trust, said: “We didn’t work hard to create a saleable asset that will now be denied to all of us.
“This should be a wake-up call to all volunteers.”
SDRT’s Ernest Elsworth-Wilson said: “We thought it would be operating here but they sold it on.
“We didn’t have any clue it was going to Japan.”
But Richard Elliot, ex-general manager of SDRT, said: “It’s probably better off in Japan where it’s being looked after instead of gathering moss.”
West Coast Railways boss David Smith did not respond to requests for comment.