Movie star is prepped for magical half term

An enchanting spell will be cast over the Museum from 11 - 19 February 2012 with wizards flying in from miles around to enjoy the nine day Wizard Week celebrations. The main attraction of the event is set to be the steam star from the Harry Potter movies, Olton Hall, providing visitors with a rare opportunity to get up close to this rail celebrity.

Efstathios Tsolis, Conservation Manager at the National Railway Museum, said:

"A lot of hard work and elbow grease goes in to preparing our railway vehicles for big events, especially for a famous locomotive like Olton Hall which regularly operates on the mainline. Most of the heavy duty cleaning has been completed and we're now busy polishing the body work before Olton Hall’s big debut over February half term. Wizard Week is shaping up to be an exciting event with broomstick flying, a talking dragon and daily wizard duels and we hope visitors of all ages will join us in making it magical".

New to the February half term event is the chance for visitors to jump on a broomstick and see themselves flying through the magic of green screen technology. A cauldron load of other hocus-pocus is also being planned including daily wizard duels, beautiful owl displays, magic tricks and balloon modelling from The Magic Hatter, and a chance to meet Derek the talking dragon. Visitors can also take part in craft activities to reveal their inner wizard by making a wizard ID badge.

For the very first time, event attendees will also be in with a chance of winning a magical prize by donning wicked costumes and entering the ‘Best Dressed Wizard’ competition. Wannabe wizards and witches will be encouraged to get snap-happy at the event and upload pictures of themselves in magical costumes onto the Museum’s Facebook page –
www.facebook.com/nationalrailwaymuseum. The photos will be judged by a panel of National Railway Museum staff, plus a special guest judge from the world of magic, with the winner scooping a wizard-themed experience package, including a magic lesson with a real life wizard, The Magic Hatter, and an Owl Experience at Falconry UK Limited.

On Friday 17 February the author of 'The Science of Harry Potter', Roger Highfield, will also be giving a special talk as part of the nine day wizard-themed event. Visitors will find out how dragons fly and if invisibility cloaks would really work.

Admission to the National Railway Museum is free. Wizard duels, owl displays and science shows are all free with a small charge for craft activities and broomstick flying. Further information about the event can be found at nrm.org.uk/wizardweek.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Emma Rodgers, Press Officer, NRM
01904 686281
emma.rodgers@nrm.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
• Photo entries for the ‘Best Dressed Wizard’ competition will be judged by a panel of National Railway Museum staff, plus a special guest judge from the world of magic.

• The National Railway Museum in York covers over 200 years of railway history and its collections include over 100 locomotives , some 250 items of rolling stock and thousands of other objects - from posters and tickets to uniforms and silverware. Visitors can enjoy a fun family day out with the kids including an action-packed annual programme of special events and exhibitions. Admission to the museum is free. For more information visit nrm.org.uk.

• The National Railway Museum forms part of the National Museum of Science and Industry (NMSI), along with the Science Museum in London, the National Media Museum in Bradford and Locomotion – the National Railway Museum in Shildon.