It's a scene many remember fondly; Harry meeting the Weasley family, saying goodbye to Hagrid and then charging at what looks like a solid brick wall.

Emerging through the portal onto the wizarding world's platform 9 ¾ , our protagonist rounds the corner. A cloud of steam disperses and reveals the face of the infamous locomotive. As Harry stares in wonder, the music swells. Our hero's journey is about to begin…

The iconic steam engine commands prestige on screen, but in real life it spent 17 years forgotten in a scrapyard in Barry.

Built more than 80 years ago GWR 5972 were one of the work-horses of the rail network across South Wales in the 1940-50s.

A golden era for steam train travel, Olton Hall would often make the return journey to London Paddington.

But as the world modernised, GWR 5972 just could not keep up with its electric and diesel-powered competition.

In 1963, it was withdrawn from the railway lines and headed to the 'locomotive's graveyard' AKA the Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry docks, a treasure trove for railway enthusiasts.

Olton Hall could have been left to rust if it wasn't for David Smith, the now owner of West Coast Railways, who purchased the locomotive in 1981.

With no cleaning spells in their toolbox, it took a small army of volunteers 16 years to restore Olton Hall to its former glory.

Then Hollywood called…

As Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was set to become a movie, film-makers wanted an authentic steam engine to portray JK Rowling's Hogwarts Express.

Quintessentially British, the author had apparently seen a GWR 5972 on a journey from Edinburgh to London.

A problem did arise, however, when it came to choosing the colour. Trainspotting purists wanted to retain the original green colour, which contrasted the red engine described in Rowling's story.

But, as you'll all remember, that iconic crimson red prevailed. GWR 5972 Olton Hall went on to have a starring role in all seven of the Harry Potter films after The Philosopher's Stone.

In fact, it plays a crucial role in the epilogue of the final film and as Harry, Ron and Hermione wave their own children off to Hogwarts.