LEGO Harry Potter designer explains changes to new Hogwarts Express

A new version of the Hogwarts Express was revealed this week and a LEGO Harry Potter designer has explained its revised look.

Five new LEGO Harry Potter sets for summer 2023 were added to the official online store this week, with the Wizarding World builds all due to launch on June 1, 2023. On that date fans of the magical theme can expect to pick up 76414 Expect Patronum, 76415 The Battle of Hogwarts, 76416 Quidditch Trunk, 76421 Dobby the House Elf and 76423 Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade Station.

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The latter is the latest in a long line of LEGO Harry Potter builds based around the distinctive red engine, with the most recent having been last year’s 76405 Hogwarts Express – Collectors’ Edition. As new versions of the locomotive are released, the team behind the theme makes various adjustments and updates, constantly refining the train’s appearance.

The same holds true for 76423 Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade Station, with LEGO Harry Potter designer George Gilliatt taking to social media to explain some of the decision-making behind the look of the upcoming model.

“These carriages fresh out of the paint shop would have light grey roofs and would get blacker through time due to the soot in the smoke” says Gilliatt on his Twitter account. “Because the scene this (model) depicts is relatively bright, we chose to use light grey (pieces).”

These carriages fresh out of the paint shop would have light grey roofs, and would get blacker through time due to the soot in the smoke. Because the scene this depicts is relatively bright, we chose to use light grey ?? pic.twitter.com/jpCcONg2Gn

— George Gilliatt (@GeorgeGilliatt) May 16, 2023

That would make certainly make sense for the engine and carriages included in 76423 Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade Station, offering as they do a subtle contrast to the black roof pieces that have traditionally been used on older versions of the brick-built locomotive.

Every LEGO Harry Potter set confirmed
and rumoured for summer 2023

Set name	Price	Pieces	Release date
40616 Harry Potter & Cho Chang	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	267	June 1, 2023
40617 Draco Malfoy & Cedric Diggory	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	262	June 1, 2023
40618 Kingsley Shacklebolt & Nymphadora Tonks	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	250	June 1, 2023
76409 Gryffindor House Banner	£29.99 / $34.99 / €34.99	285	March 1, 2023
76410 Slytherin House Banner	£29.99 / $34.99 / €34.99	349	March 1, 2023
76411 Ravenclaw House Banner	£29.99 / $34.99 / €34.99	305	March 1, 2023
76412 Hufflepuff House Banner	£29.99 / $34.99 / €34.99	313	March 1, 2023
76413 Hogwarts: Room of Requirement	£44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99	587	March 1, 2023
76420 Triwizard Tournament: The Black Lake	£39.99 / $44.99 / €44.99	349	March 1, 2023
76414 Expecto Patronum	£62.99 / $69.99 / €69.99	754	June 1, 2023
76415 The Battle of Hogwarts	£74.99 /$79.99 / €84.99	730	June 1, 2023
76416 Quidditch Trunk	£62.99 / $67.99 / €69.99	599	June 1, 2023
76417 Gringotts Wizarding Bank	$429.99	4,804	September 1, 2023
76418 Advent Calendar	$44.99	227	Summer 2023
76419 Microscale Hogwarts Castle & Grounds	$159.99	2,260	Summer 2023
76421 Dobby the House Elf	£24.99 / $34.99 / €29.99	403	June 1, 2023
40616 Harry Potter & Cho Chang	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	267	June 1, 2023
40617 Draco Malfoy & Cedric Diggory	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	262	June 1, 2023
40618 Kingsley Shacklebolt & Nymphadora Tonks	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	250	June 1, 2023
76422 Diagon Alley: Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes	£84.99 / $89.99 / €94.99	834	June 1, 2023
76423 Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade Station	£114.99 / $129.99 / €129.99	1,074	June 1, 2023
30651 Quidditch Practice	$4.99	55	March 1, 2023

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