(Above) The Glenfinnan Viaduct crossed by the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter Films
A station familiar to many as home to the Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter films has been awarded £195,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The investment will be used to completely revitalise Glenfinnan Station Museum, restoring its main buildings and allowing items which have been stored away, including dining and sleeper cars used during the golden age of the "iron road to the isles", to be brought out on display.
The signal box will still be operated manually after the revamp, but will be expanded to include an education area enabling the museum to develop a full schools programme for the first time.
The damaged trail between the station and the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct will also be reconstructed so that visitors can safely walk up to the viewing point looking out across the area of outstanding natural beauty Loch Shiel where Bonnie Prince Charlie once raised his standard.
Glenfinnan Station
"We are excited at the prospect of now being able to bring all our development plans into fruition," said Museum Curator John Barnes. "We are tremendously grateful for the encouragement and support we have received from the Heritage Lottery Fund.”
HLF Scotland Head Colin Mclean said he was thrilled with the pledge. "The rarity of a station like this, complete with so many original features in such a stunning natural setting, is a gift to Scotland's tourist industry and one we should treasure and enjoy," he added.
Glenfinnan Station is one of the best-preserved working stations on the West Highlands Line that trails through the Scottish countryside. It was used for the train journey to Harry Potter's magic academy, Hogwarts, and the nearby viaduct can be seen in several scenes in the films, including the flying car sequence in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
