Is this worth $500? | LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express REVIEW 

Did anyone else find it weird when he said “nine and three fourths” instead of “nine and three quarter”?

Making it not track compatable killed this for so many people. How hard was it for them to just give people a accurate train

As a hardcore Harry Potter and Train fan I still can't justify buying this at this price. Finding out that the train doesn't work on city train tracks is the biggest disappointment. I'd rather buy multiple small Hogwarts express sets to have multiple passenger cars.

This set just feels so massively out of touch. It's cheaper to buy an O Scale Hogwarts Express with premium detail, that will run on LEGO-Sized track, and has a consist of 3+ coaches.. LEGO Train fans have made beautiful, stable trains in every scale from 4 to 12 studs wide, and there is no excuse for not being able to produce something beautiful that would satisfy a larger group of people. They made a set that spends easily $100 of it's budget on the slab of a track, a comically small platform, and a train that can't even articulate. Why let the wheels spin at all if there's no function to it? Why make these little vignettes if they're going to look awful on display? Why the quotes? Older Ron? Hermione?

The green frog is Neville's toad. Not Ron's pet.

1:37 *FOURTHS?* Someone tell this guy it's officially Platform Nine And Three Quarters.

The hollow arches on the bottom of the platform isn't them skimping out or leaving it exposed, etc. That is what most old British train platforms are like. It's very common that they have these arches and empty space underneath, couldn't say whether you see that in the film's or not, but I'd imagine it's for accuracy.

Thank you for your honest review. Many times influencers/reviewers are just going to tell you how great it is and it is refreshing to see a moderated view that highlights positives but also gives a honest opinion.

I honestly like that this set isn’t motorized or compatible with the Lego track system. It’s clear the Lego made this set for Harry Potter fans looking for a display piece and that Lego train fans weren’t even considered as a target market for this. I would rather have a train that is more detailed and looks more accurate, than have it be compatible with Lego tracks and motorized. I’m definitely going to get it as I am a big Harry Potter fan and not so much a lego train fan

Take a shot every time he says " five HUNDRED dollar"

What an amazingly honest review. Thanks for your effort on this. I am one of the middle of the road Lego guys and was considering it but now am not so sure. As you said, there are so many awesome sets that knock it out of the part like the new Mandalorian Razor Crest...now that is a homerun that I will be buying🙂

I took this right off my wanted list as soon as I heard it wasn’t the conventional 6-wide train configuration with pivoting bogies. Seriously, what we’re they thinking?

I think the set is great. It's the best steam locomotive we've gotten since the emerald night. I'll definitely get it

Great review!!! Brutally honest!!! All great points, for Harry Potter fans and then Lego fans in general. 🤙

“It will be hard to motorize”. Moc builders: hold my beer.

For future reference, it is Platform 9 and three quarters not three fourths

Where are my fellow English brothers who made a face when he said platform 9 and 3 fourths and not 2 quarter's ..

10:45 the toad belongs to Neville (who isn't in this set), not Ron, hence why the quote for the first year diorama has Hermione asking if they'd seen it.

Appreciate your transparent review on the Lego set, the price, and missed opportunities by Lego

The set looks really nice! Great review!

I'm not a huge Harry Potter fan or ever Lego Harry Potter fan, but oh my gosh this is a glorious looking train!

When I tell you I would’ve love to see you putting together all of this in an hour or two video long or however long it takes I feel like that would be a really good thing for you to do.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

As a lego train lover this set is quite an odd one. Normal lego trains are 6 studs wide, this one seems to be 10. Imo 8 studs wide is makes most accurate minifig scale normal gauge trains. They probably went this wide to make the interior bigger to be able to better show movie scenes but it takes away from the model overall as it looks oversized. Plus the car is oddly short on top of that. If it was an 8 studs wide model with a longer car I might have considered getting it.

Just ordered this set, I absolutely love the Luna lovegood minifig!!

If this was track compatible it could have been one of the best LEGO pieces to have in a Christmas village setup ever lol

You do a great job on your builds and stickers. What tips do you have for doing stickers? Do you have video about that?

As a LEGO fan and a G scale (garden railway) train fan, the 7 stud wide track IS compatible with G scale train track so you could modify and motorize it to run on a garden railway. But yes, LEGO should have made it smaller (8 studs wide) for 6 stud wide track with two more coach cars and a full platform. In the real world, trains are twice as wide as the track they run on so LEGO could have made this train 12 studs wide for the 6 stud wide tracks and for the first time ever in its history LEGO could have had a true to scale train with regards to the width of the train in relation to the width of the track.

Personally, I think I'd have preferred an 8 stud wide flying Ford Anglia in lieu of Platform 9 3/4. The Platform's great but a bit awkward to display. A Ford Anglia with the quality and style of a Speed Champions set would have been very tempting, since in my head the Hogwarts Express and Ford Anglia go hand in hand. That's just me though

Hey David, great review as usual. One nitpick: the volume of your videos seem to be 10-15% lower than the "regular" volume of videos on RU-vid.

I think the problem is that they wanted to make the most accurate model that’s closer to mini figure scale, however the Lego track and trains are a lot smaller that minifig scale.

If you follow the 10 cent for brick formula, technically you are getting over a 100 pieces more than watch your paying for. Piece wise it’s worth the money, I knew weeks ago from the leaks that would have the track that it does, I didn’t assume track compatibility, so I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t set my expectations high and people shouldn’t really complain. If you have the money and you love Harry Potter, or if you love trains or both like me, this is a good buy

I think I'll pull the trigger on this set this weekend. With the double vip points and the $100 off it doesn't seem that bad for this big of a set.

Great video!! FYI though, the lost toad belongs to Neville Longbottom, not Ron Weasley!

The “coal car” is called a tender, and at the end is a passenger car, normally the first passenger car of a passenger consist is a baggage car, it looks a little different, but I really don’t know how that works in the UK, so it’s probably just a normal passenger car, but the engine is a 4-6-0, the actual engine is the “Olton Hall” and it’s actual number is 5972, so while it is the hogwarts express, it also has its own identity, the engine and tender were saved from a scrapyard and steamed for the first time in 1998, so it was relatively newly restored for the movies, the engine is still around today, I don’t think it’s running right now, but it’s still preserved

Personally I love the station build, would have loved 3 full arches. But love the half arch

What table do you use from Ikea? can you link it? I been trying to find your video from a while back that mentioned what table you use

I can't believe they let that massive oversight get past production of this set not being track compatible. There are only cons for that, its such a great build the price is too high for what it is, $400 or even $300 with reduced piece count would be better.

Tell me you're unfamiliar with Harry Potter without telling me you're unfamiliar with Harry Potter... "Platform Nine and Three-Fourths"

Ron Weasly’s lost pet? More like the gratuitous hidden frog that LEGO adds to many sets. It’s a well done video, showed me what I want to see. My take on this set… 1) Not a huge deal that it doesn’t fit the track system. The smaller Express set can be easily modified and works fine. 2) I think there was an missed opportunity to motorize the wheels so that they spin in place on the set. All the gearing appears to be there as seen my the hand actuation. Seems like a small mod with plenty of room for a power brick and motor to make that work. The illusion of the train rolling in place seems like it could be cool. 3) I think they dropped the ball on all the side builds. The luggage cart is basically the same as in the smaller set, same for the candy trolly. There is so much potential for the latter. 4) Good point with the light bricks. Given the new elements in the Ideas Lighthouse, and again with that price, I feel like this is missing something like a powered up function. Picture this set as a display with motorized functions that have the wheels “spinning” on the track and the option to light up the inside. That would be a set that justifies the price tag. 5) Last, I’m not that impressed with the mini figs. Good point re adult Harry and Co. However, they don’t really stand out. I actually like the set for the potential it has to modify and display, but imo when LEGO crosses the $400 range with their sets, all those little missed details start to become deal breakers. Thanks for the video, well done!

10:47 "Ron Weasley's Lost Pet." Bruh.

Would you be able to increase your recording volume?

the locomotive is actually GWR 4900 class 5972 "olten hall", so lego made a little oops with the modal type, still a neat set, wish i can get it but the price is rough.

I guess you could say it’s worth it doing the 10 cents per piece rule, but it’s like asking if the Star Wars dioramas are worth $75-90, which for most people (including me) isn’t.

I thought the only transportation models on Lego that are getting wider are cars, from 4 studs wide to 6 then 8... but looking at this set, it'll be a major breakthrough for Lego to wide every upcoming train set, and man that sucks...

I would say as a fan of trains, i do like this set, but i do not like the platform or the fact it doesnt fit on standard track, you would have to use the old style blue track if you wanted to have it working. I suppose there could be a way to moterise the tender or maybe the coach but of course that comes at the trade off of detail.

So ive asked this on like 10 other review videos from different channels and no one has replied so ill try my luck here as well, might as well lol. Pretty much everyone has stated that the platform is bad with just 1 complete arch. There are 2 half arches though. Is there a way to rearrange the arches to where you combine the 2 half arches into a full one, giving you 2 full arches in the end?

I was so excited at first when I heard about it but then when it was revealed I was disappointed that it wouldn't be able to run on standard gauge lego rail tracks I have a layout that needed a new hogwarts express

I have most of the newer HP sets since 2018. This looks beautiful but I want a full on motorized hogwarts express.

I dont care if its not compatible with the tracks im just glad I got another train to my collection ( a fine addition to my collection )

I'd wish they make some light, powerd with a batterypack or cord for these large displaymodels i mean no one gonna press those buttons more than like once anyway.. (something official, those light my bricks thingys cost as much as the set many time lmao.)

I don’t understand why people are upset it’s not compatible. It’s meant to be just a display set. It was pretty obvious that it’s wasn’t gonna be compatible.

I'm so thankful for reviews such as this. I am a hardcore Harry Potter Lego fan and was really looking forward to the train. I had this set saved to my Lego wish list. I planned to order when it was released, but after watching the reviews, I too feel like Lego missed with this set. The platform is useless and a horrible representation. The price simply does not justify a static display model.

I really wish this set was compatible with the system train tracks. I want more detailed sets like the crocodile locomotive from lego

I changed my mind. I went to the lego store today and they had this on display. It looked awesome, so I bit the bullet and bought it. Oh my!

Why did lego forget to make it possible to integrate this set on the existing lego railroad system. Waate of money and space to. The smaller playset train is good enough. But indeed when you are a big harry potter fan with an even bigger pocketbook, than go ahead. Afterall it looks good.

If the train could run on the Standard Lego-rails, I would definetly buy the set. I have longed for a minifigure-scaled Hogwarts express for so long but as it is, I don't know

I can't get the wheels on the engine to work. I've taken it apart some, but still can't figure out what is wrong. Any advice?

I don't know why Lego does this now a days but there are no good Lego sets with a lower price point and more play features any more. Lego needs to remember that they they aren't just for adults now.

i stopped by two lego stores yesterday and neither of them has yet sold one of these sets

Im not a Harry Potter fan, but I really like the way the train looks

I don’t care about it not being track compatible but that price really kills it for me

The hole gaps under the platform are accurate to UK train platforms

I am not a huge Harry Potter fan but I love the train said I think it’s absolutely amazing… It’s a display piece end of story ❤️

It’s platform nine and three quarters and the Philosopher’s Stone. Other than that great video and I really want this set!

rip i wish it was motor compatable, but i think i could just get the older version and put a motor and battery box in that, sooo yeah

I agree, it's just not worth it. The train is too huge, doesn't fit in well with the other sets in size comparison, though it's pretty awesome looking. Don't plan on buying this set. I also don't want something so big to overtake my home. Will stick to the older Hogwarts Express set.

Great video :)

I really wish they would start making Lego train sets that come with tracks and stuff like they used to because I tell you every single time Lego has released a train set. the last time I ever saw one in the stores that I can go to was back in 2012.

Where did you get your shelving from

laying your legos in front of the window like that is the best way for ABS plastic to loose it's color

I find people asking: "Why does it not run on a regular track" funny. Remember the 71044 disney train and station? It is motorised and run on regular track. Trade off is, the interior detail of train is missing. Now they did this and you want it to run on track 😅 I mean it just going to be another version of the playset hogwarts express. Repetitive. Then also, if they were to make that, the amount of pieces will definitely be significantly less but the price will be the same.

A cool set, but where to put it? I don't have any space for it, nor the Hogwarts castle. Need to move to the country-side and buy a house just to be able to get these sets 😅

I am not a Harry Potter fan, but a Lego train fan. The price is obscene, but I need to defend the underside of the platform. Some platforms look like this. Actually the arches side of the bottom of the platform is IMHO better than the brick wall side.

There's a great deal with 5X point for the Hogwarts Express here in Canada atm :P

It works on n gage model railroad track so working on motorizing it

“Nine and three fourths” 🤦🏼‍♂️🤣 I can tell you’ve never seen Harry Potter.

Harry Potter try not to make an overly-large and awkwardly-shaped D2C set challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)

I will be buying it, but will probably hold off for a while. Will ptobably buy The Office set, and the rumoured $600 UCS Razorcrest(October) and rumored $600 Eiffel Tower( November) before i buy this

Going to half support Lego here with not finishing of under the platform a lot on them are like that hear in the U.K. and even at kings cross not all of them have been them have been filled in

Despite being expensive, it still looks like a very nice set

My mans said Ron's lost pet🤣🤣🤣

Theres some mistakes on the plaque I believe its a model 4900 locomotive, not a 5900 And its Kings Cross not king cross

Platform Nine and three quarters. That’s how you say it. Not three “fourths”. Love your channel but that really bothered me lmao

I would have bought this if it was track compatible. Imagine having this going around the Christmas tree…

I adore this set, as a big Harry Potter fan myself I will be buying this set day 1. The scale is a little off where it is more minifigure scale rather than the usual LEGO City play scale. I appreciate the new train wheel moulds and the movie scene recreations inside the passenger car. The train station size makes sense because the way it's designed, you aren't blocking the locomotive or the passenger car when you display it station side. If the station were to be the full length of the train than it would add another $100+ onto the price and also completely block out the train rather than just the coal car being blocked out, and if you were to display it train side in that scenario, well then the huge station platform taking up $100-$200 of the set would be completely blocked out too. So having the station smaller but still present so we can re-create the Deathly Hallows ending scene on the platform by posing the figures, while still being able to see substantial parts of the train behind it is a well thought out design. The minifigure selection in this set is also good, I do wish we got adult Ron & Hermione though. Overall, I think this set gets a lot of backlash from the LEGO train community because it doesn't run on LEGO's track system, they wanted a motorised train in the scale of the Crocodile Locomotive and that's understandable but I think it's important to stress that this set is primarily aimed at the adult Harry Potter fans first. It's a homage to the Harry Potter series and that's painted all over this model. I think for people wanting a motorised LEGO Hogwarts Express, hopefully we get a set some day which caters better to that, but at least we have the 2018 Hogwarts Express set still on shelves until the end of this year which works with LEGO's track system and is easily motorizable.

You mentioned something about possibly getting it for $50 off? How does one do that?

You can pay less for a pretty nice O gauge set that comes with an engine, multiple cars, a full loop of track, and a transformer. Wouldn’t pay this much for a Lego set when you can buy something of comparable size for less that actually drives around track.

That would probably work with the old Blue Train Tracks from 1970s

3 fourths.... Ron's lost pet 🤣 dude clearly hasn't seen the movies 😂

Nice run-through of the set. A tricky one to be positive about given the cost, what's in it and the fail of not working on LEGO Train tracks!!!! For me - and I think most other LEGO train fans - this set is sooooo far off the mark for what most people wanted it's just not funny. It looks great but it just doesn't seem to make anyone happy bar a small niche. What we really wanted was a detailed 8-wide creator-style Hogwarts with some good figures that we could display or put on our tracks. They could have included a platform or sold a decent-sized 2nd set to go with it. Why is that so hard? Instead they made something at an odd scale with more minifigures than anyone bar hardcore fans want. It makes me sad as I was looking forward to it! I actually think we might still get a creator-quality version. Then LEGO gets to double dip. What do you think?

I have a huge massive Lego display taking nearly 4yrs to develop and I find this and most new box sets absolutely disgraceful with prices out of most peoples reach

people just don't understand scale. the train is at least 2x the scale of the trains that are track compatible. They would need to release a whole new track system (which maybe they should, for huge detailed train models like this)

The set is $850 (NZD), and I can't justify spending that much money on a Lego set, although I won't deny that the locomotive looks good. She is meant to be a Great Western Railway 4900 or 'Hall' class 4-6-0, as that's the type they chose to pull the train in the films, but the red colour is historically inaccurate for this particular class. Instead of this big display set, I got the more affordable Hogwarts Express that's compatible with standard Lego track; set number 76423. I'd sooner get the Orient Express over this big Hogwarts set.

How much is the set? I couldn’t hear it

I can see someone building a track just for this train

the only downside of lego is its unaffordability

So in all seriousness outside of the wrong joke cause we all make mistakes I quite like your channel and I follow it a lot for like a lot of recommendations and recommendations and lego helped get me into model bill do model building and I'm starting to try model building which is pretty awesome

I wish that they made the station a little bit bigger than that

Your reviews make my decisions for what sets I buy. so I have got like 5 republic gunships lol

Typo on the plaque: King Cross vs. Kings Cross.