Built by Darren, Luke & Rose on the Sunday of Harry Potter Weekend
Set RRP: €499.99 | Piece Count: 5,129 | Mini-figures: 20 | Recommended Age: 18+
All Aboard for the Ultimate LEGO Wizarding Experience
As the golden morning light poured into the kitchen at Redmond’s Forge, Sunday began with the hum of excitement and the clink of bricks. After Saturday’s thrilling build of The Attack on the Burrow, barbeque, trampolining, Quidditch, and movie marathon, we knew we needed something legendary to close out Harry Potter Weekend, and the LEGO 76405 Hogwarts Express – Collector’s Edition was the obvious choice.
This set is more than a train, it’s a time machine through the saga of Harry Potter, blending masterful design, deep nostalgia, and a powerful sense of storytelling. And at over 5,000 pieces, it’s not just big, it’s monumental.
🧱 The Build: From Boiler to Epilogue
Darren tackled the heart of the engine with its gorgeous red boiler, piston rods, and custom-printed 5972 plates. Meanwhile, Luke took on the surprisingly complex carriage interiors, packed with Easter eggs from multiple Hogwarts years. Rose, ever the magical detailer, carefully assembled the Platform 9¾ station facade and helped place mini-figures from all three time periods.
Each carriage section reveals iconic moments:
- Harry’s First Year: The chocolate frog escape, with Ron and Hermione just beginning to form the Golden Trio.
- Year 3 Scene: Professor Lupin slumped asleep as the Dementors approach.
- Final Epilogue: Adult Harry and Ginny seeing off young Albus Severus Potter, flanked by Draco and his son Scorpius.
This kind of multi-era storytelling is rare in LEGO, and here, it’s executed beautifully.
✨ What Makes This Set Magical?
🔴 Incredible Detail & Display Power
The full-length train measures 118 cm long. This is not your standard Hogwarts Express, it’s a display centrepiece. The locomotive design, wheel assembly, and brick-built Platform 9¾ feel like they’ve leapt out of the films.
🧙♂️ 20 Mini-figures – Across Time
From 11-year-old Harry to his grown-up self, the included figs chart a wizarding journey like no other LEGO set. Every one of them is exclusive to this set. Harry, Ron, and Hermione each appear twice. Draco appears in his final scene attire. Even the trolley witch is here!
📚 Storytelling in Plastic
This isn’t just a static display. The play scenes inside each carriage segment bring scenes to life in a deeply immersive way. It’s less about “play features” and more about “story scenes”, ideal for collectors and storytellers alike.
🧩 Build Experience at Redmond’s Forge
We spread the build across the full Sunday, pausing for tea and laughs, with Harry Potter soundtracks playing in the background. Rose took charge of placing all the chocolate frogs, Daily Prophet newspapers, and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans. Luke kept time with how long each carriage took (he says the epilogue carriage was the trickiest, but also the coolest).
As each section clicked into place, so did our memories of the books and films. This build is less about speed and more about savouring the process, like watching the series again, brick by brick.
🔍 Final Verdict
| Feature | Rating |
|---|---|
| Design Accuracy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Build Enjoyment | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| Minifigure Selection | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Display Power | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Play/Story Integration | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value for Money (at €499) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
If you’re looking for a set that captures the heart of Harry Potter, offers a meaningful family build, and delivers on display, the 76405 Hogwarts Express Collector’s Edition is unmatched. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s also unforgettable.
This is the Hogwarts Express for fans who’ve grown up with the series. And for us, building it together at Redmond’s Forge during Harry Potter Weekend will always be one of those “Remember When?” moments.
🔮 Would We Recommend It?
Absolutely, for serious Harry Potter fans, LEGO collectors, and families seeking a magical centrepiece.
If you’re building it with kids, note that it’s a complex build, but there’s joy in the teamwork. And when you step back to look at that full-length train? It’s pure magic.
🖼️ From Our Kitchen Table to Platform 9¾
Sunday morning light, cocoa mugs, and bricks everywhere. This is what LEGO memories are made of.
