Staunton, Virginia, used to be a railroad hub, but now, the rail station is mainly used for thrice-weekly Amtrak stops and scenic tours of the Shenandoah Mountains. But in late September, every year, the sleepy station is transformed into Platform 9 ¾, and the roaring Amtrak is replaced by a gorgeous vintage train referred to only as the Hogwarts Express. Hundreds of Harry Potter fans fill the waiting area as the train rounds the bend on a rainy Saturday afternoon, and one by one, familiar faces deboard and wave to adoring fans: Hogwarts faculty, friends and foes, and, of course, the Boy Who Lived himself.
"Our moms heard about the event," said 11-year-old Abby Thorgersen. Abby and her best friend, Rylie Nicollet, traveled with their moms Kim Thorgersen and Kerry Nicollet from Long Island, New York for the festival. The girls dressed up in blue and grey prep school uniforms to match Rory Gilmore on the show. Viewers first watched young mom Lorelai Gilmore and her teenage daughter Rory walk into a diner and beg for their coffee fix in October 2000.
