Pere Marquette 1225 and the 2021 North Pole Express

After a two year hiatus, Pere Marquette 1225 was steamed up for the highly anticipated return of the North Pole Express. Unlike any other railroad that paid Warner Brothers for the Polar Express Licensing, this is the only operation that can boast about having the real one. From the book's inspiration to its likeness and sounds used in the movie, 1225 is an annual holiday star. Follow along as we chase Pere Marquette 1225 from Owosso to Ashley. Filmed over three weekends with drastically different weather conditions, this is a must watch!
If you enjoyed this video, please give it a like and share it with your friends and family. It will really help out this channel. 2022 is shaping up to be a year of less trips for me, but there is plenty in the vault to show you. Subscribe to stay up to date with ToledoRails!
©ToledoRails 2021

[@CRBTrains]

Amazing footage! I saw her for the first time December 4th!

[@lashendawest7509]

Great catches and cool video

[@LukeLovesTrains-Mr.RailYard]

Great video of Pere Marquette 1225 ToledoRails.

[@amtrakandcsxrailfanning351]

great catches and video of this famous steamer on its polar express runs with some good whstle and horn action

[@Willysmb44]

Wow, Polar Express with former Amtrak superliner cars? Great video!

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Amazing video of one these heavenly beautiful steam locomotives. I would like to visit Pere Marquette 1225 in the state of Michigan. A lot of great videos of the locomotive in operation, trains give us the Brightness Days.

[@LegoPrime1225]

It is so nice to see the Pere Marquette 1225 on the rails again 😀😀😀😃

[@CannonMusic05]

She is a truly beautiful engine. I’m lucky to live pretty much 10 miles away from where she stays.

[@BalticFilms144]

Sick vid bud! Glad I could catch ya out there.

[@nothing_130]

THE POLAR EXPRESS/ALL ABOARD!

[@chendersonrailproductions704]

Was hard to beat your 2019 video, but i think this was a good attempt. Lucked out with some snow too! Merry Christmas!

[@ToledoRails]

I never knew I would top that Goliath of a video, but I’m quite satisfied with this year’s shoot given the circumstances. Perhaps 2022 will fare better, but it was just good to be back.

[@ErikButterworth]

I'll be damned. I didn't think the 1225 would fly the flags of the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans on one of its Polar Express runs this year. Nice show of support to our Big Ten universities.

[@ToledoRails]

As far as I’m aware this was the first time the UofM flag was on 1225. They had to celebrate the win!

[@ErikButterworth]

@@ToledoRails I know that the Spartans won the rivalry match for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Did the Wolverines win the Big Ten Conference Championship?

[@ToledoRails]

@@ErikButterworth yes but that was celebration of the victory over Ohio state.

[@ErikButterworth]

@@ToledoRails Ah, okay. So it was due to winning a different rivalry match with the Buckeyes, not the Big Ten title.

[@FoxIslandRailroadCo]

Great video as always, thanks for sharing!! Beautiful shots. Can’t help but notice she’s sounding a bit out of square and worn out though, any idea how long is left on her boiler ticket / before she gets some attention? Seems like 765 in Fort Wayne is in such better shape, curious if that’s a result of the organization’s different maintenance efforts, different volunteer numbers, or the time left on the tags (or a combination)…

[@bobertbobert6442]

Out of square and worn out? I only hear beautiful music out of her.

[@FoxIslandRailroadCo]

@@bobertbobert6442 Don’t get me wrong, 1225 is a beautiful locomotive and the organization clearly does a great job!! But the valves do look and sound like they’re blowing-by a touch (and aren’t super square), the bushings in the rods sound looser and clunkier, you can see the packing leaks, and the whistle even sounds a little growly and out of tune, no? Maybe just it’s me. Incredible camera operation and mics to be able to even notice these things, but with headphones, to me she sounds a little wet, loose, and generally unhappier than 765 for putting on fewer miles…

[@sd80mac]

1225 is going to get some much needed running gear work in 2022.

[@alexpaumen3937]

@@FoxIslandRailroadCo No I heard it too. That wsh wsh wsh at 4:20.

[@brandonharris7516]

I never get to see it

[@alexpaumen3937]

I can't help but notice the double whistles. Besides her 6 Chime, what's that other whistle?

[@laurie1288]

The whistle from a c&o kanawha

[@mqtcreations]

#iwasthere

[@ThatOneMichiganRailfan]

Could you tell me the location at 13:08? I wanna try catching it there for next years excursion.