How Pere Marquette 1225 Became The Polar Express

Pere Marquette 1225 is one of the most famous 2-8-4 Berkshire locomotives out there. Many know it as one of two remaining Pere Marquette Berkshires out there, but just as many other people know it as the real life Polar Express. You probably already knew that but if you didn't, well, now you know! In this video I briefly go over the service history of PM 1225 and how it managed to hit the big time in the 2004 Christmas film, The Polar Express.

Music Used:
Mario Party 3 - Chilly Waters
Sonic Unleashed - Holoska (Day)
Super Mario Odyssey - Shiveria
Animal Crossing New Horizons - Happy New Year Everyone!

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[AmtrakGuy]

Hey, thanks for watching the video! This is probably my last video for the year so I just wanted to say thank you for all the continued support, it really means a lot! I say that every year I know, but it really does help. It still amazes me how far my channel has come in the past 9 years. I have some video ideas lined up for next year so stay tuned for those. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a happy new year!

[harrisonallen]

The engines number as 1225 makes a whole lot of sense now, nice to hear that Warner Bros did use the actual blueprints for the locomotives during development.

[Basinrails]

It was actually quite awesome to find out that the polar express was modeled after Pere Marquette 1225

[BessemerProd]

Still amazes me how a movie from 2004 performs better in every way than most movies we have now, 18 years later to!

[Blaze]

I remember riding behind 1225 on the North Pole express a couple times as a kid! Fun fact, it was supposed to show up for the movie premiere of the polar express in Grand Rapids but that never happened because of issues with CSX. If it did happen, it probably would’ve used the Plymouth Sub but who knows how busy it was at the time lol

[adventuresofamtrakcascades]

The Polar Express is my favorite Christmas movie and the Pere Marquette 1225 is my favorite Berkshire steam locomotive! Also, Tom Hanks did a fantastic job with voicing most characters such as the Conductor, Santa, the Hobo ect

[switchgeer]

I actually lived by 1225's sister during my childhood. It sits by a coal tower in grand haven and is the only other surviving n1. I'd love to go to owosso and see the engine running, and maybe even this one could be restored and the two can run side by side.

[exveefan]

This is exactly what I wish was included in the Polar Express, Behind the Scenes DVD I got nearly 20 years ago.
All they talked about on there was the CGI effects and motion capture.

[brghry]

When it's running we can hear the steam whistle all over town. I think it's very nice and a distinctively charming part of life in Owosso.

[nathancorcoran]

Pere Marquette 1225 is one of my favorite steam locomotives. I have seen the Polar Express movie, when I was a little child. It’s one of my favorite Christmas movies. Because of the train. I was born on the same year, the Polar Express movie was released. Pere Marquette 1225 is another beautiful locomotive. Thank god.

[DillianTrainzStudios]

Considering that the Polar Express is my favorite Christmas movie (Obviously), I fully approve of this.

[tevinhoward]

The express train is one of my favorites which brings me joy with Christmas spirit what matters is deciding to get on not knowing where its gonna lead you but everyone can be our guest to enjoy the ride for years to come.🎄🚂💖☕🌟

[thekid]

Cool story about the Polar Express' whistle: Sierra No. 3 was the same locomotive used in Back to the Future Pt. 3, and the whistle was chosen because a producer for Polar Express (I believe it was a producer. It was definitely someone involved in the movie) alsp worked on Back to the Future Pt. 3, so as a nod to BttF, Sierra no.3's whistle was used as the Polar Express'

[pedrourbano]

One thing I loved about the polar express was that HUGE cow catcher it had, which is different from the one on the real Pere Marquette, it just gives a sense of power somehow.

[toughbowtietruck]

My son and I chased the Polar Express a year or two ago. It's amazing sitting at a railroad crossing and watching 1225 run by; almost takes me back in time to experience the old days when I wasn't born early enough to see.

[TobyPasman]

Awesome video. The Polar Express is one of my favorite Christmas movies and Pere Marquette 1225 is my favorite steam locomotive. I first saw the movie when it was in theaters in 2004. I share a birthday with Tom Hanks (July 9). I have four Polar Express trains in my collection (one made by BRIO and three made by Lionel). I also have an HO scale model of Pere Marquette 1225 (made by Bachmann) because I’ve seen 1225 in person twice (in June 2015 and June 2016).

[damonrailfan]

As someone who grew up in Michigan, I can agree that 1225 has a rather legendary reputation around here, and I do wish I can see her running again in person instead on just some railcams lol. (Since 1225 has been getting her running gear replaced, and its gonna be a while before she runs again), but I'm most definitely excited to see what's gonna happen next, i'd have to say
And P.S. I think it totally makes sense for MSU to call 1225 an "eyesore", although at the same time that statement was totally uncalled for IMO. (*cough* go blue.)

[joemayo]

Pere Marquette 1225 is what is sometimes known as a Van Sweringen Berkshire. During the 1920s, a pair of Cleveland real estate developers named O.P. and M.J. Van Sweringen began dabbling in railroad securities after they purchased the Nickel Plate Road from the New York Central in 1916. By the end of the decade, they controlled the Nickel Plate, Erie, Chesapeake & Ohio, Pere Marquette and Wheeling & Lake Erie, among others. They planned on merging all their railroads into a single system under the C&O banner and even began standardizing the locomotive fleets of their railroads in anticipation of the merger, but the Great Depression delayed these plans. While the Vans never lived to see their railroads unified under C&O control, the Pere Marquette was finally merged into the C&O in 1947 after having been under C&O control for nearly two decades. Originally, the Nickel Plate and the Wheeling (which was controlled by the Nickel Plate) were to have been merged into the C&O along with the Pere Marquette but were left out due to opposition from the Nickel Plate's minority shareholders.

[BrickifyYT]

Polar express is my favorite Christmas movie all time I've heard it's based of 1225 but never known its history well now I know as a kid growing up loving trains the polar express has been my favorite Train and Movie since I was 5 or 6 in 2012 or 2013

[stevendezwaan]

I am not far from Owosso, Michigan and had went to the Steam Railroading Institute a couple of times for college. I've been up in the cabin of 1225 and have walked around it as well. It sure is quite a sight and is impressive to see in person.