How Pere Marquette 1225 Became The Polar Express

[@AmtrakGuy365]

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!

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Thanks for making the video, of the beautiful Pere Marquette 1225 from Polar Express.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

And Merry Christmas to you too!

[@StephentrainboyRailfanbrony]

Merry Christmas Amtrakguy365 😊

[@norCali36]

Happy holidays AmtrakGuy365

[@MaxRich_CommentChannel]

It's gonna be your channel's 10th anniversary

[@harrisonallen651]

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.

[@amtrakdude432]

i think i know why The Polar Express’ number is 1225 it may be because that day was christmas

[@mlot1980]

Also the Birthday of Jesus too

[@GlobalBricks1]

​@@mlot1980yep✝️❤️

[@BeardedVet2803]

They laser scanned the whole locomotive and tender into a computer

[@Basinrails]

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

[@jakobhardy1734]

i actually saw that loco in person not to long ago its bit small lookin without its wheels though

[@nathancorcoran5347]

@@jakobhardy1734 I hope one day, I can see the beautiful Pere Marquette 1225. Since I was born on the same year the Polar Express movie was released.

[@amyolson5923]

i do too

[@amyolson5923]

because i am gonna ride it some day

[@nicholaspyancey41passwordg6]

🎄

[@BessemerProd]

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

[@joshmontemayor1212]

The Polar Express is so popular that it gets re-released in theaters every year since it 1st came out, mostly in IMAX 3D.

[@Shadowtiger2564]

It's simple Movies now are soulless and mostly just sequels in a huge series or shameless cash grab "remakes" While there was bad movies back then a lot more care used to go in to projects

[@CheeseMiser]

@@joshmontemayor1212 cuz it's a Christmas movie DUH

[@Blaze06]

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

[@dknowles60]

was not busy

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

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

[@switchgeer6519]

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.

[@br1gh7r4y]

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.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

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.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Literally, if 1225 was scrapped, The Polar Express would probably not have been possible

[@nathancorcoran5347]

@@adventuresofamtrakcascades301 But thank god that Pere Marquette 1225 was saved for preservation.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

​@@nathancorcoran5347 exactly

[@nathancorcoran5347]

⁠@@adventuresofamtrakcascades301 That’s Right.

[@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.

[@thekid9992]

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'

[@_chan.burn.21_]

I always was curious about why they chose a completely different locomotive's whistle for the film, and I read up on the exact same thing you said. Another couple interesting tidbits include the flux capacitor being in the engine's cab and the mall in the newspaper clipping at the beginning of the film being Lone Pine Mall.

[@kristoffermangila]

Actually, its not a producer, but the film's director, Robert Zemeckis who chose that whistle as a homage to BttF (plus the flux capacitor and the Lone Pine Mall clip at the movie's beginning).

[@DillianTrainzStudios]

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

[@teamhotwheels68]

Pere Marquette lives on forever!🚂☺

[@TehBellcarl]

Why sierra no. 3? Back to the future. Robert Zemekis directed both the back to the future trilogy as well as the polar express. Back to the future 3 features sierra no. 3 for its climax and Zemekis clearly incorporated elements like its whistle and pilot onto the virtual 1225. “I’ve wanted to do that my whole life!” Both hero boy and Doc brown say that in their respective films when blowing the whistle.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

I have seen Sierra Railway #3. I remember the first time I saw it was at the Polar Express train ride at Railtown. I hope to see the engine again.

[@giorgospapoutsakis5271]

Never realised that Thanks for pointing this out

[@nathancorcoran5347]

@@giorgospapoutsakis5271 I really love the whistle of Sierra Railway #3 (A 4-6-0 “Ten-Wheeler” built by Rogers Locomotive Works in 1893). It’s quite cool.

[@linkerthejedi2575]

Theres also a flux capacitor in the cab of the polar express you can see it in the background during the glacier gulch scene

[@nathancorcoran5347]

@@linkerthejedi2575 I know. I saw that already, it’s one of those references to Back to the Future. I know another being, Sierra Railway #3 (A.K.A Central Pacific 131 that has appeared in Back to the Future Part 3) whistle was reused for Pere Marquette 1225 in the Polar Express movie.

[@tevinhoward4419]

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.🎄🚂💖☕🌟

[@Brickify307]

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

[@pedrourbano501]

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.

[@aerocap]

Absolutely!

[@Polaris_1992]

Same here!! I like the way it looks and in one scene where the conductor and hero boy and hero girl was righting the locomotive before it tipped over on the ice and the cowcatcher on there looking like the locomotive was smiling in the moonlight saying I am a magical train and nothing will stop me and my passagers getting to the north pole!!!❤❤❤

[@damon810railfan]

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.)

[@teddyobrien4801]

Hell yeah brother, GO BLUE!

[@pinocchioballer6084]

Built in the great state of Ohio though. By the Lima Locomotive works of Lima, Ohio.

[@damon810railfan]

@@pinocchioballer6084 ah, true. But still tho lol

[@stevendezwaan5707]

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.

[@TrainmanAndy]

I think one thing everyone forgets is that the Polar Express has no number, the toys are lying to you.

[@papyrus8mta498]

thats right

[@ScrapyardScriptures]

Indubitably

[@The_Canadian_Railfan]

Excellent video as always

[@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).

[@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.

[@edwardsnyder4264]

Originally the NPE went from Owosso to the Shiawasee County Fairgrounds but the tracks were "decertified" for the weight of the PM1225, so Ashley stepped up & is now the favored destination ❤️🚂

[@Thomasboi01]

The polar express is my favorite Christmas movie!

[@ThompsonSteamtrain]

The 20th anniversary of the polar express

[@michaelbenitez539]

Fun fact: I think The engine in the book as a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement

[@joemayo8254]

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.

[@Justakidthatrantsisapimp]

Because it's the coolest train ever with the coolest bell and the coolest stream and the coolest number and IT'S SO COOL

[@jessdatheturdle6602]

Another interesting fact is the cab of the P.E technically comes from the Santa Fe 3751. Producers went to LA and took reference photos of the 3751s cab and used those for the movie. While yes there are noticeable differences between both cabs they did use 3751 as reference. So the Polar Express wasn't just compiled from not one, not two, but three locomotives.

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

Honestly the movie locomotive reminds me of the erie Berkshires. Great video Jared! Merry Christmas

[@GleanerS97]

Wicked Way Cool!!! Riding that train in late December just got added to my bucket list.

[@birdhaus2021]

I was researching image reference for a Locomotive painting, particularly the smoke and steam dynamics and ran across this post. Very impressed with the history. Also, I've been doing 3d modeling for film and broadcast for 30+ years, and use C4d , the basis of the polar express film... so happy to have learned this

[@amyolson5923]

i love pere merquette and 1225 and the polar express

[@pmsteamrailroading]

The first several years the Saginaw county fairgrounds in Chesaning, Michigan was used as the North Pole. GLC, the host railroad, no longer uses that line so North Pole was moved to Ashley.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

The five 60 foot passenger cars that made up the Polar Express consist would have been child’s play next to what a big Berkshire like 1225 was built to be able to pull. After all, 1225 was built very similar to the coal-hauling Kanawhas built by the C&O.

[@SouthernFlyer1011]

To all rail fans and railroaders alike the pere Marquette 1225 is Michigan's own Christmas miracle

[@matthewcrawford4177]

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Polar Express movie. Surprises me how time flies so fast.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

I remember watching Steam in the Spring by Railway Productions for the first time and both me and my grandpa (well, more like my dad's second Dad) being surprised that the 1225 had the lettering "Polar Express" on the side.

[@thebigbluesteamengine63]

I love the Polar Express so much

[@manhunter433]

I remember reading about the group who set out to restore 1225 to working order. Everyone laughed at them till the day when the group let the loco's whistle loose. People took them seriously then and we have the group as they are now.

[@SC0CI]

Something really cool is that my uncle is one of the engineers for the pera marquee 1225 in

[@ClearTrackSpeed]

Solid choice for changing your outro song to animal crossing; another great video Jared

[@TrinityShoji]

Where my dorm at MSU was about where 1225 was housed. Me being a train fan and MSU student, naturally brings this up any time the Polar Express is brought up in conversation. Go Green

[@juice_box182]

The only reason I want to go to Michigan is go see the 1225 but there’s one obstruction, Detroit

[@OfficialSEIC2K6]

The history of Pere Marquette 1225 and how it became Polar Express. They decided to turn a 2-8-4 into the iconic Polar Express. 1225 has had a long and interesting history. It almost got scrapped as the C&O dieselized. Thanks to some people Pere Marquette 1225 was saved. It pulled the iconic excursions that still run today. Every Christmas with the Steam Railroading Institute is named the North Pole Express.

[@sambrown6426]

2:23 And the cowcatcher situation. The cowcatcher on the movie locomotive is much larger, and more prominent than the one on her real-life counterpart.

[@patrickmcarter6244]

I love both the Pere Marquette 1225 & The Polar Express train & the movie. Marry Christmas, Happy Holiday, & a Happy New Year!

[@AngelHernandez-dz9jd]

A little fun fact the movie is directed by Robert zamackas the same person who did back to the future films, the whistle in part 3 is also used in polar express even there is a flux capacitor in the polar express as well

[@cashstrains652]

Pretty cool how a engine that would be thought to be scrapped. Would be moved by a Stadium, and later, restored to its fullest. Its amazing what some people can do, in the future i hope to see more people take an interest in preserving more engines, for years to come.

[@kennyt1674]

Imagine if Pere marquette had Sierra railway no 3 whistle

[@davidwhiting1761]

01:27 But the book version doesn't look like 1225! It looks like a mountain type. This has driven me nuts for years ever since the movie released because it's like everyone just collectively forgot what the loco looked like in the source material and doesn't acknowledge the difference between the book and the movie.

[@UPRailRoad-xg8cb]

1225. What a fitting number for a Christmas Train.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

I don't think any locomotive would fit that theme any better than 1225 herself

[@ryderlx]

I volunteer with a man named Gary Knudsen, an older volunteer with the SRI, in Kansas on Santa Fe #3463, he speaks often about PM#1225, And he shared with me some additional insight on why PM 1225 was chosen Finances! Warner brothers reached out to numerous railroads before they landed on 1225, they reached out to Santa Fe 3751 (due to proximity in California), and cousin engine NKP 765! However, the two organizations owning the two engines requested Warner brothers a payment, to contribute to the engine’s upkeep, while the crew with 1225 elected to do do it all for free! (With the exception of fuel) Additionally, Warner brothers modelers were referred again to Santa Fe 3751 for additional reference, namely the layout of the Cab I can’t entirely speak for the accuracy of some of this information, but it’s always fascinating to hear old railroaders tales.

[@trainglen22]

Thank you for showing this. It is a great video.

[@yeoldeseawitch]

Pls cover the "I love toy trains" series next it was a must watch for me and its what got me into railroad history in the first place

[@USS_Grey_Ghost]

I feel that the whistle they chose for the movie fit’s the train perfectly even though it’s from a different engine that deep tone makes me think Large steam engine which the train is.

[@WillyBilly18]

Thanks for teaching us that because I really never knew!

[@AlaskaAirlines1000]

Funny that they used Sierra railway NO.3 from back to the future part 3, and 1225 from the polar express 😂

[@Gaminggunzeller]

Yeah indeed, expect the film design of Pere Marquette no 1225 had a few changes to the engine and it's whistle came from Sierra Railway no 3's whistle which of course as most would already know is a Lima 5 chime steam whistle and No 3 has had that whistle ever since, even though the whistle itself was rebuilt it still sounds the same but more tuned up in a way.

[@CREATIONSGALORE]

i beleive at one point that the 1225 had the name "Polar express" written on its tender

[@Yogasefski]

The engine was my favorite part of The Polar Express, and to hear not only did Werner use the train as a base model but referenced the original design is amazing.

[@hawkeyetherailfan]

Great shot at 3:41.

[@linkerthejedi2575]

Awesome video about 1225 i cant wait to see her after restoration

[@sambrown6426]

I've always wondered why the movie whistle sounds so different to 1225's real whistle. Now I know it's because they used the whistle from Sierra No.3, which you may know as the Back to the Future locomotive.

[@linkerthejedi2575]

Theres actually a flux capacitor in the cab of the polar express it can be seen in the background during the glacier gulch scene

[@sambrown6426]

@@linkerthejedi2575 That I did actually know.

[@jamesbelcher8509]

2:16 [Train Whistle]

[@andrewreynolds4949]

This is really neat, I'd never heard some of these parts of the story before

[@MegeGabe_Personal]

I love your videos Keep up the good work!

[@TheOneTrueDragonKing]

You missed a fact here AmtrakGuy365. PM 1225 was actually lettered for the Polar Express one year!

[@hoonami139]

and here I thought for the last several years that the only reason 1225 was the polar express was because of the number, I had no idea there was any other connection. Thank you for posting this

[@brandonharris7516]

I really loved to see the real one

[@iftheseoldbeastscouldtalk7796]

Just had the pleasure of telling exchange students the real loco from the movie is about 30 minutes north of our town! They were all surprised and happily so. Nice to see it is being put into the spotlight despite it looking like an erector set.

[@iiLuxis]

Awesome 👍

[@LucianoSalazar1776]

I Love The Polar Express Movie And Book. And Pere Marquette 1225 Is One Of My Favorite Steam Locomotives In The World

[@joneau261]

Considering that Robert Zemeckis had utilized Sierra 3 for “Back to the Future Part 3”, one wonders if whistle recordings were reused there.

[@sd80mac]

Zemeckis specifically used Sierra #3's whistle again in the Polar Express because he loves the way it sounds

[@OutaTimeFPV]

Interestingly, Sierra 3 was out of service and disassembled when they were recording audio for Polar Express, so there’s a likely chance that’s what happened, or 3’s whistle was attached to another locomotive. Even the staff who tended to 3 aren’t sure what happened at the time and how they got those recordings.

[@sd80mac]

@@OutaTimeFPV Leftover stock recordings from BTF3

[@OutaTimeFPV]

@@sd80mac possibly. Nobody has confirmed that

[@sd80mac]

@@OutaTimeFPV It's the only explanation.

[@EdwinTheSillySquid]

0:08 Hey bois look its sonic from sonic x!

[@MrBnsftrain]

The Know-It-All says this engine is a 1931 Baldwin 2-8-4 S3, which is an Erie locomotive. The S3'ssmokebox appliance configuration matches that of the Polar Express engine and its overall body is similar to the 1941 Lima 2-8-4 N-1. Both Erie and Pere Marquette were Van Sweregin railroads so that's probably why they look so similar.

[@TheRailwayGuy175]

Just watch The Polar Express in cinema last night.

[@bnsflover7062]

I imagine they would use the NKP 765, I wonder what it would look like if the marslight were to be on the polar express if it was based off 765 it would be so Damn cool to see it rotate through the snow As it comes closer from the far distance

[@steam1303]

I just love the whistle on the polar express from Sierra railways no.3

[@Gideon_the_Video_game_railfan]

The whistle for the polar express is not only taken from sierra railway #3, it is also taken from Santa Fe 3751 and south simcoe railway 136 whistles

[@MaddoxsTrains]

What a coincidence! I just watched The Polar Express in 3D at the IMAX!

[@BB_Sebring]

Kinda ironic how there are trains designated as "The Polar Express" since they have the funds to pay for the license (such as the Durango and Silverton, and the Grand Canyon Railroads). But the original that was used as a model and had its sounds recorded has to use a copyright-friendly version despite them arguably should be able to do so for free. Gotta love Hollywood for this kind of BS only they can create

[@jakef9266]

You should do a video about the PRR s2 6-8-6

[@dfwrailvideos]

Railroad fact of the day: The Rock Island, owning more 4-8-4s than any other railroad, had every single one scrapped. Not one organization wanted one for preservation, which I find sad.

[@ryguygaming06]

The whistle sound effect was also Canadian pacific railway number 136

[@tornado5d267]

I always wondered what kind of locomotive the polar express was and now I do

[@Aqua_108]

Merry Chrismas 🎄

[@bbtrainproductions1225]

Imagine if the polar express was a Camel back locomotive 😅

[@nickbuckley4371]

The number is perfect imo

[@bungieman2810]

2:13 There was actually a second whistle used when the train arrives at the house. I think it might have been sampled from 1225.

[@brandonharris7516]

I loved that train

[@kameronbowers432]

The polar express is probably the most divisive Christmas movie ever made.

[@mikeninneman6575]

Production quality in your videos is fantastic, but I do have to point out this long perpetuated myth: Sierra No. 3's whistle was NOT used or recorded for any scenes in the 2004 film. While a production crew from Skywalker Sound did in fact venture to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park to record sound, it was Sierra No. 28 that was used, as engine No. 3 was not in service at the time. We received a letter from the head sound producer a few years ago recalling this occasion, and were even provided a photo from their visit showing it was the 28. As with all motion pictures, especially animated films, the creators drew from a massive archive of sound recordings for the final film, so other than a few that can be positively attributed to 1225 (the bell can be heard when the fireman gets his head stuck in it), it's nearly impossible to say for sure where the others actually came from. None of the whistle blasts heard in the film sound like the 3 to me.

[@TKSP4449]

Maybe for a future topic you could cover the history of Thomas & Friends in Trainz, from some of the earliest Thomas Trainz models ever made to the up to where Thomas in Trainz is today.

[@SEM4official]

Even though I knew about it, it was still amazing knowing about the bases of The Polar Express

[@alexnorfolksouthernmedia]

Greetings! From Chattanooga, Tennessee! 🚂

[@Thomasboi01]

Chris van Allsburg the person who wrote Jumanji and Zathura? These stories were adapted into movies later on. Anyway That's so cool!

[@landon176]

In real life today, the Amtrak took over the pere Marquette and runs on the same route as it used to in between Chicago and Grand Rapids

[@elijahwilliams4110]

Train Number 1225 Is Date Of Christmas Day 12/25 At 2:40 Sec

[@Filoxenía-d6c]

To be honest it's Awesome that the Polar Express locomotive was Real when i found out when i was like around 7-8 years old!