In July 2002 Warner Brothers Studios began production of the movie ‘Polar Express’. They were searching for an authentic steam engine that was still operating so that they could record the sounds.
It just so happened that the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan was still operating a 2-8-4 Berkshire from the Pere Marquette line, which coincidently was numbered ‘1225’. Hollywood then scanned and digitized the entire locomotive, coal car, engineers, and even the Lionel train set under the Christmas tree (that you can see at the end of the movie). This real life railroad became the ‘Polar Express’ movie…but you can still ride the real train today.

For the Polar Express to operate it takes one ton of coal (from Kentucky) for every 12 miles, and 150 gallons of water per mile to produce it’s 3000 HP.

Tickets go fast…you have to buy them about a year in advance. The journey takes you from Owosso, Michigan to the end of the line at the North Pole, an enclosed fairy land decorated with lights, displays, amusement park rides, a model railroad layout, Polar Express souvenirs, and Santa himself.

For more information see…

http://www.mstrp.com