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FEBRUARY 27, 2004 at 3:17 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HP Fan Trips
Reminder: You can win a trip for two
on the weekend portion of this trip. Contest ends March 15, 2004.
February 27, 2004 - Participants on the first HP Fan Trips tour to Britain will ride on what Harry Potter fans worldwide recognize as the Hogwarts Express train from the films based on author JK Rowling's popular books.
The announcement was made after Beyond Boundaries Travel, the fan-created group's operating tour company, secured the deal this week with the West Coast Railway Company, the train's owner. The locomotive #5972 doubles as the celluloid version of the Hogwarts Express and is being put into service expressly at the request of HP Fan Trips while on exhibit in York for the National Railway Museum's Rail 200 extravaganza, celebrating 200 years of railways. Trip-goers will have private carriages just like the ones used in the films, with access to a candy trolly and other goodies during the ride.
"We're extremely excited to be able to offer this to the Harry Potter fans who will be coming on the first of what we hope is many HP Fan Trips operated by Beyond Boundaries Travel," said Jeff Guillaume, one of the group's organizers. "Only the people on this trip will be able to say they've ridden on the actual Hogwarts Express train seen in the Harry Potter movies."
An immersive week-long excursion through the United Kingdom, centered around the film debut of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, awaits participants who have until March 31, 2004 to book their reservations. Actor Chris Rankin, who portrays Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's head boy Percy Weasley in the movie, will accompany travelers for an entire weekend as they trek through London, feast at a Great Hall-style gathering, and watch a "Quidditch" match created exclusively for the tour by USA Team Handball, a member of the United States Olympic Committee.
(This is the first of three special announcements that will be made through the end of March. The tour, which celebrates the history of wizards, fantasy, and magical creatures using world-class storytellers and ingenious activities, is developed in cooperation with Visit Britain, the official British Tourist Authority, and commences on June 1, 2004.)
About HP Fan Trips
HP Fan Trips in July 2003 began planning a Harry Potter fan's dream vacation, focused around the premiere of the third Harry Potter film. Its organizers include Heidi Tandy, an intellectual property lawyer and co-founder of fan site FictionAlley.org; Jeff Guillaume, a 23-year-old programmer and creator of Harry Potter news site HPANA.com; Jeannie Barresi of Beyond Boundaries Travel; and Jonathan Trachtenberg, designer of the HP Fan Trips web site.
About Beyond Boundaries Travel
Since 1991, Beyond Boundaries Travel has designed theme-based experiential tours for group travel. It is an international tour company working with The History Channel, the World Bank, the United Nations, the National Institutes of Health and numerous other clubs and organizations. Beyond Boundaries works with actors, authors, film directors, dancers and choreographers and many other very special guest presenters on these customized programs.
CONTACT: Jeannie Barresi
TEL: 800-487-1136
E-MAIL: jeannie@beyondboundariestravel.com
CONTACT: Jeff Guillaume
E-MAIL: info@hpfantrips.com
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Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1303
wahnaroo22 says:
That is so cool!!! I would have to ride in the same compartment they used in the movies.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 10:53 PM EST
Witch
Points: 561
zorro says:
Oh man i real realy want to go but i'll be in school i don't have the money to go.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 11:11 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1122
Immortal Vegemite says:
I'm jealous i'm jealous, i'm jealous, i'm jealous, i'm jealous, i'm jealous, i'm jealous, i'm jealous, i'm jealous, i'm not happy that i can't go
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 11:12 PM EST
Points: 182
HPnerdANDproud14 says:
I wish i lived in england!!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 11:30 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 945
kingsley11 says:
Those who get to go are lucky. i live no where near there so theres no chance of me going.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 11:36 PM EST
Student
Points: 219
orlib_luvr says:
That sounds amazing! Not fair!!! I wanna win!!!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 11:39 PM EST
Weird Sisters Guitarist
Points: 3573
Prof. Sk8ergirl says:
Well I won't be able to go and that's sooooooooooooo sad!!!!!!!! I really envy those who are going on the train. Hope you have good fun .
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 1:13 AM EST
Snape's Woman
(Moderator)
Points: 5392
Prof. Andaxia Moonstar says:
Well, I just entered the contest. Hoping I continue my recent lucky streak and win!
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 1:41 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1772
MelancholyMarie says:
Wow, cool! I wanna go. I don't think I'll ever get to, though. Oh, well. It looks cool.
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 2:03 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1588
ravenbeaut says:
Wish I could go..... although, if jason isaacs was leading the tour I'D FIND A WAY!
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 4:27 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1368
Danzer says:
Wow would be brilliant to go on but i am in n.ireland so I cant.Can someone please help me i cant get a picture on my profile the internet always crashes anyone help please!!
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 7:04 AM EST
Mrs. Felton
Points: 4672
Lady Narcissa says:
o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o thats sounds so cool!!! I wish I could go there and have a ride........ it seems like so much fun.....to bad :-(
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 10:02 AM EST
Witch
Points: 697
kaela987 says:
That is beyond cool that the winners would get to do that! I am jealous of whoever wins. JEALOUS JEALOUS JEALOUS. However, with my luck, it would be impossible for me both to win or go, so, I'll just be happy for whoever wins (and be extremely jealous...)
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 11:20 AM EST
Witch
Points: 514
amy j says:
Nice one. Would love to go. Better start saving those pennies.
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 3:26 PM EST
Squib
Points: 100
Violet says:
I think that is soooo cool but i wish that they could have one here in the US. I cant wait till the movie comes out!!!
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 9:28 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 486
Maynard says:
Ok, that is seriously cool. I wonder how you get a heavy train onto the tracks? Where do they store that thing when its not in use?
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 9:56 PM EST
Witch
Points: 606
~*~Marauderette~*~ says:
I live in the US and I've entered in the contest thousands of times. But if I don't win then I won't be able to ride on the Hogwarts Express!! Aww! Bummer! I hope whoever goes has a great time and takes lots of pictures. It'll feel like I'm there.....in a way....sorta...
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 1:18 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 954
DaUltimateHP&SportsWiz says:
Coooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That would be soooooooooo coooooooooooooool to get to go on one. of those Harry Potter trips.
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 1:30 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 81
irfvan says:
That a good thing ever for the HP's fan...but i hope they would be more chance for other fan from other country. This prob has to be hear at the Ministry of Magic now!
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 8:18 AM EST
Metamorphmagus
Points: 37939
tonks black says:
You really entered thousands of times or were you just exaggerating that, ~*~Marauderette~*~?
I didnt enter cause im lazy..
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 11:36 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 819
Prof.Rolandus says:
Nice Work, But Is it allright if there is a dutch invasian of Harry Potter fans???
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 1:17 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1908
Opera Ghost says:
Wow, I don't have a hope of ever being able to ride it, but what a great experience for those who do. They are very lucky!
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 2:21 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 442
Adria_Tonks says:
Ohh, i wanna ride on the train
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 5:48 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 814
Keeper Of The Dragons says:
OH MAN !! that trip would be a blast to go on...but i can so i'm so bummed out on this one but sounds like the kids that are going on it will have an awsome time, something they will remember forever..well they should at least
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 6:53 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 328
hpcrazyfan says:
That is so awesome! I always wanted to go to England. I'm entering!
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 10:19 PM EST
Professional Beater
Points: 20891
feltonluver says:
Hey hpcrazyfan! You are a slytherin! Yay go and post in the slytherin commonroom, welcome here hopefully you can post more!
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 10:25 PM EST
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