A bank manager. A steam locomotive driver. A campaigner who helped put Britain's only passenger steam bus back on the road. This is the remarkable story behind the man who drove the Hogwarts Express.
London, United Kingdom (PRUnderground) July 22nd, 2026
Millions of people around the world recognise the Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter films.
Very few know the remarkable life of the man who drove it.
Before Vernon Smith found himself at the controls of one of cinema’s most recognisable steam locomotives, he had already lived a life defined by unexpected turns, unwavering determination, and a childhood dream that refused to fade. Now, in his memoir In My Happy Place, Smith shares the extraordinary story behind the railway career that captured the imagination of film fans, while revealing a journey that stretches far beyond the footplate of the Hogwarts Express.
Growing up in post-war Leeds, Smith fell in love with steam locomotives as a young boy, fascinated by the sights, sounds and engineering of Britain’s railways. That fascination became a lifelong passion, but the road to fulfilling his dream was anything but straightforward. Before returning to the railway full-time, he built a successful career in banking, navigated personal and professional setbacks, and spent years volunteering to help preserve Britain’s historic steam railways, determined that future generations would continue to experience a living part of the nation’s industrial heritage.
Eventually, that dedication led him to the footplate of the Hogwarts Express, where he operated the famous steam locomotive featured in the Harry Potter films. For many people, that would have been the story’s defining achievement.
For Smith, it was simply another chapter.
Away from the film cameras, Smith turned his attention to another ambitious project. Starting with a historic steam flatbed lorry, he created the Whitby Steam Bus, designing and building a period-style passenger body before embarking on years of work to overcome the legal barriers preventing it from carrying fare-paying passengers. His determination ultimately contributed to a change in legislation, allowing Britain’s only passenger steam bus to operate legally. Created so future generations could experience a disappearing part of Britain’s transport heritage rather than simply read about it, the Whitby Steam Bus carried millions of passengers over the years and remains one of Smith’s proudest achievements.
Yet In My Happy Place is not simply a memoir about steam locomotives, film sets or heritage engineering.
It is the story of finding purpose.
Throughout the book, Smith reflects with honesty on living with depression, the challenges that shaped different stages of his life, and the comfort he found on the footplate of a steam locomotive, where complete concentration, craftsmanship and responsibility brought a sense of peace that had often felt difficult to find elsewhere. Rather than presenting life as a series of achievements, the memoir explores the quieter journey of discovering where he truly belonged.
“People often ask me about the Hogwarts Express, but that was only one small part of my life. Looking back, I think this book is really about following something that mattered to me from childhood and discovering, after all those years, where I truly belonged.”
Rich with humour, personal reflection, behind-the-scenes stories and remarkable moments from a lifetime spent around Britain’s railways, In My Happy Place offers readers an honest account of resilience, reinvention and the pursuit of a dream that never disappeared.
For railway enthusiasts, it provides a rare glimpse behind the scenes of steam preservation and the Hogwarts Express. For everyone else, it is a reminder that it is never too late to rediscover the passion that first inspired you.
About Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith is a professional steam locomotive driver, lifelong railway preservationist and heritage transport advocate. Best known for operating the Hogwarts Express featured in the Harry Potter films, he has spent decades preserving Britain’s railway heritage while helping thousands of people experience traditional steam transport through projects dedicated to keeping that history alive.
About Grand Publishers LLC
Grand Publishers is a specialised author-assistance firm that supports independent writers through every phase of the book-creation process, from manuscript refinement to global distribution. Their model has maintained a high 95% client satisfaction rate, with 75% of authors returning for subsequent projects, and their marketing strategies have helped elevate over 300 titles. Rated highly on Trustpilot, they are recognised for providing a transparent, professional alternative to the traditional ”Big Five” publishing route.
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