Gleewarts Express, July 16, 2005

"Harry Potter and the Marauding Mancho." That is honestly what I said out loud when I saw this guy. Mr. Weasley would never be caught dead in that!

I don't know who this wizard was supposed to be, but he looked pretty cool. And regal.

There weren't a lot of non-Gryffindor students so this "Fleur" really stood out. I would've liked to have seen her face on the way home when she discovered that her character's nickname is "Phlegm."

As other Slytherins were in short supply, we nabbed this way cool Draco and had him pose with the Snook.

I didn't take any pictures on the trip home, mostly because I was totally engrossed in the book. Here's a shot of the train back as we were all disembarking back at Central.

The insignia of the 3801. There are still two steam trains running from Sydney, mostly making trips for tourists and enthusiasts. According to the friendly volunteer in our carriage, none of the staff are paid except for the driver and the poor bastard that has to shovel two tons of coal for every forty kilometers we travelled.

Everybody wanted to pose with the engineer.

The Gleewarts Express from the front. How cool is that? It was neat seeing actual trainspotters along our route, who evidently wait just to see this old beauty pass by.

Another Platform 9 3/4 sign.

Amy and Rob at the end of a very long trip...

And lastly, me and my Snookums.

I can't begin to tell you how impressed I was with the Gleebooks staff and all the planning that went into the event. Thanks to all of the entertainers, the 3801 volunteers, the St. Johns Ambulance staff, and everyone who helped out. It was an incredibly fun day and the looks on the faces of the kids were priceless. I can't wait to go again!