Hogwarts Express Conductor

> Hogsmeade, next stop!
>
> The conductor, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)

The **Hogwarts Express conductor** (fl. 1960—1993) was the wizard who took tickets and kept the Hogwarts Express on time.

## Biography

### Early life

> Ya' know, I tried one of those *[Muggle recording cameras]*, and it does not taste like an apple.
>
> The conductor relays information on his past experiences with "Muggle contraptions", The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

This individual was born at some point in or before 1960, probably somewhere in the British Isles, given his British accent. He did not seem to have been raised around Muggles. In his youth, he attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and admitted to have gone into the kitchens on at least one occasion. After his education in the magical arts, he joined the Hogwarts Railways and started working as the conductor of the Hogwarts Express sometime before 1978.

At some point in his life, he tried to eat a Muggle cine-camera expecting it to taste like an apple. As such, when he recalled this incident, he remarked he was "not a fan of eating cameras".

### Conductor of the Hogwarts Express

 File:Conductor.JPG  Sometime in the 1970s, the conductor met Sirius Black, then a student at Hogwarts School. He recalled him as a "bright lad, very good-natured".

By the early 1990s, the conductor was reported by some students to smell "funny".

In the summer of 1993, Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban, where he was imprisoned on false charges. Having met the man as a student years prior, the conductor did not believe he was, as the Ministry of Magic had declared, an ally of the Dark Lord. On 1 September 1993, the train was stopped on its way to Hogwarts for inspection by Dementors searching for Black. During the stop, Remus Lupin went to have a word with the driver. The Hogwarts Express non-stop journey from King's Cross to Hogsmeade was interrupted briefly, but the conductor still managed to assist it in arriving at its destination on time.

> All aboard.
>
> The conductor, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

As of 2017, he still worked as conductor for the Hogwarts Express, and was still making it from the platform to Hogsmeade station on time.

In the August of 2019, he appeared as a Foundable during the Calamity. Volunteer members of the ***Statute of Secrecy Task Force*** were able to free him.

## Behind the scenes

* It is unknown if the conductor underwent the same sort of progressive "mental takeover" by the Express as experienced by the Trolley Witch, and by the same token whether his life was similarly extended.
* As a wizard with strong connections to Hogwarts, he, along with the Honeydukes Express lady, may have been called upon to participate in the Battle of Hogwarts, however this is unknown.

 File:Conductor.jpg
* The conductor is included in Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The conductor of the Hogwarts Express knows anything and everything about the village of Hogsmeade. He maintains a keen knowledge of what can be purchased where throughout the area, as well as knowing the history of the village and all the locations within. Visitors to the town may stop by the station to ask him any number of questions, as he enjoys answering any query delivered his way. The conductor carries with him at all times a ***gold enchanted pocket watch*** that he uses to be sure everything in his charge is always on time. The Hogwarts Express engine head plaque is engraved on the top of the watch cover along with the engine number of the Hogwarts Express, 5972. On the reverse side is the Hogwarts school crest and motto. The face of the watch is enchanted but may appear to show the words "Hogsmeade Station" on the top of the face, "King's Cross" on the bottom, with the left hand side reading: "Late" and the right hand side reading: "On time".
* Through the film series a lot of people can be seen with clothes identical to his own, so it is possible that he appears in the films too, despite never identified.

## Appearances

 File:Hogwarts Express conductor WU.png
* *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film) Template:1st mention (Possible Known-Physical Appearance) (First Entire Appearance)
* *Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban* (film) (Mentioned only) (Possible Known-Physical Appearance)
* *Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (film) (Possible Known-Physical Appearance)*

## Notes and references

1. ↑ A callsheet for auditions for the ***Wizarding World of Harry Potter*** in Japan (transcription here) lists the Hogwarts Express conductor as being portrayed as between his mid-30s and 60s.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 He claims to have tried a camera once, and that it "does not taste like an apple". As such, it is unlikely he grew up among Muggles.
3. ↑ "More Wizarding World Preview on LeakyTV - June 4, 2010" on Youtube.
4. ↑ He claimed to have met Sirius Black while he was a student at Hogwarts, so this is the latest date he could have started working as the conductor, as Sirius graduated the summer of that year.
5. ↑ "Infinitus - Hogwarts Express Conductor" on Youtube.
6. ↑ "Conductor of the Hogwarts Express from "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter"" on Youtube.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Ryan meets the Conductor of the Howarts Express!" on Youtube.