OOP: Hogwarts student size new data

[lhunneb]

No: HPFGUIDX 63645

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "innovan" <innovan at y...> wrote:
> spoiler
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> More evidence for the low estimate of Hogwarts student population.
> 
> OotP p196 states "100 or so horseless stagecoaches" carry the 
students 
> to school. The stagecoaches carry 4 students each, but some of the 
> stagecoaches are also used to carry luggage, not students.
> 
> If we use the 45 students in Harry's class listed in the screen 
shots 
> of Ms. Rowling's notebook as an sample size, 7x45=315 students 
total 
> for all of Hogwarts.
> 
> 315 with luggage fit on a train.
> 315 minus the 1st years =270 students.
> 270 students at 4 per stagecoach = 68 stagecoaches for students.
> That leaves 32 coaches for seven year's worth of student's luggage.
> This scales properly. 
> 
> The high end estimate of 1000 students and their luggage, using 30% 
of 
> the stagecoaches reserved for luggage alone, gives us 12.24 
students 
> in each of 70 carriages. Obviously a no-go.
> 
> The mid-range proponents of the 450-600 students population size 
> results in 6-7 students per carriage. Tight, but still plausable.
> 
> "innovan"

But since all the students go directly to the welcoming feast, why 
can't the carriages all carry students on the first trip and then 
come back for the luggage on a second trip?
 
Or why can't the luggage be magic'ed across to the school.

I think the carriages can most likely carry 6 students.  Two seats 
facing each other with room for three on each side - like old stage 
coaches.