LEGO Harry Potter Hogwart's Express

Naturally, like any train set, LEGO Harry Potter Hogwart's Express is an "infinite toy" - by that I mean that it's uses are limited only by a child's imagination - and children have very creative imaginations. I have seen the express carry passengers that had nothing to do with Harry Potter stories. I have seen the Hogwart's Express carry knights to assault a castle - and it was not Hogwart's castel, but a castle from an entirely different play set. I have even seen the Hogwart's Express carry a Roman Emperor and his buddies to the Coliseum. Go figure. But since it's a fantasy land - why not. Children love to find unusual and surprising uses for the toys we get them. That's part of the charm of the toys. It's also a great testament to the wisdom of the toy designers. After all, a toy should encourage child's creativity and imagination, not stand in the way. If a children find strange uses for the toy - that means it's a good toy, that lets children play how they want, not how some grownup working for a big corporation thinks they should play. LEGO Harry Potter Hogwart's Express definitely fit's the bill - it's a toy that lets creativity flourish.

Of course the great thing about any Lego set is you can continue to add on to it and create new things, you are only limited by your imagination. If the basic play set gets to be a bit "old", it's really easy to add to it, making it fresh and "new" again. Lego has done a really good job making their playsets easily extensible, capable of fitting with more and more accessories, and matching up well with other Lego play sets.

LEGO Harry Potter: Hogwarts Express (4708)

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwart's Express 4708 is a 410 piece set, you can build own Platform 9 3/4 and of course Harry Potter can ride the Hogwart's Express. Naturally, accessories include station clocks, lampposts, wands, and broomsticks. The mini-figures come complete with capes, though some don't like the capes as much as I do. Naturally, the owl is included. Sending messages is not a problem. The complete list of mini figures includes Harry, Hermione, Ron, Hedwig, and Trevor. With the removable lid, and luggage ejection in the engine it's a pretty cool set. Platform naturally has a secret door, a spinning wall, one side opening on to the muggle world, showing a train timetable, the other opening out on to the platform. Great fun, even though the set comes without tracks

LEGO Stories & Themes Harry Potter Hogwarts Express (4758)

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwart's Express 4758 is a small set by Lego standards - only 386 pieces. But you do get the basics - the train, Harry, Ron their teacher, Professor Lupin, as well as - bad for them, good for play - the Dementor. Naturally, there are secret compartments and magical things you can do with this train. If you lift off the top of the boiler, and pull the handle in the steering house, you will reveal a secret compartment. Top comes off the passenger car so you can put Harry and his friends inside the train. The set includes Hogsmeade station. This train does not run on LEGO train tracks but can be modified. The train really looks like the one in the movie. Details are great.

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwart's Express (4841)

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwart's Express 4841 is one of the trains that are part of the Lego Harry Potter line. It comes with 5 mini-figures: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood and Draco Malfoy. I addition to the engine and the coach, you get a food trolley, suitcases, suitcases, ice cream, , Invisibility Cloak, owls and more. The blue car looks like the one in the movie. Passenger car roof can be removed, to see the baggage compartment - or to pile on mini-figures there. Total piece count is 646.
What this Hogwart's Express does not have is track or motor. If you want it to run on track, you can get it a couple of sets of Lego 7896 and some switches too (7895) - important - these trucks do not conduct electricity, so they are not compatible with the older Lego 9V track. If you want to motorize the train, you would do well to read up on Lego Power Function components, as the older 9V accessories are starting to become hard to get. In the meantime, chances are your kid will want to fly over the Hogwarts Express with Harry and Ron, as they can borrow Mr. Weasley's flying blue car and catch up with the Hogwarts Express. Check out the top of the tender - it's hinged, so it can be used as a secret compartment. A neat little play set.

Lego Harry Potter 10132 Motorized Hogwarts Express

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwart's Express 10132 is a motorized play set. It comes ready to run. It is the only Hogwarts Express set where the train is motor powered. It has the Hogsmeade station, a locomotive with a tender and a coach, as well as a circular train track and a speed regulator. The mini-figures included are: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Professor Lupin, and a Dementor. Wizards have magic wands. The tender has a hollow compartment covered with a hatch at the front that contains a spider, a book and a suitcase. Behind it is a compartment that contains the coal (1x1 rounds) and a shovel. The rail coach has enough space for three mini-figures to sit. Naturally, there an owl and a rat are included. The set is great fun, and as the only out-of-the box motorized Hogwart's Express, it's a blast. Eventually, you will want to get some more track, but this can wait. If you want a Hogwart's Express that's ready to run, this it the train to get.