The Polar Express

[RobS]

OK, it's not a tractor, but it's made of iron and makes a lot of noise! My son and I drove to Owasso, MI today to see the Polar Express. It's actually the Pere Marquette #1225 but it was the prototype for the animation in the movie. The weather was brutal but we had a fun day.

 

[jgrreed]

OK, it's not a tractor, but it's made of iron and makes a lot of noise! My son and I drove to Owasso, MI today to see the Polar Express. It's actually the Pierre Marquette #1225 but it was the prototype for the animation in the movie. The weather was brutal but we had a fun day.

That's a great shot!!

-J.

 

[Lasgambler]

Great Shot. Wish I could have been there. I will drive way "out of my way" to see Steam Engines. I love them. Terry

 

[DreaminGreen]

Awesome shot thanks for posting it.

 

[MossRoad]

Nice, Rob. Sure turned a tad chilly from a few days ago, eh?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Do they offer rides? How much if so?
Thanks for braving the weather, beautiful shot!

 

[JB4310]

Very cool picture, thanks

 

[EddieWalker]

Very "COOL"

Thanks for posting the picture, there's no way that I'd want to be there to see it in person. Looks way too cold!!

Eddie

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

wow, looks like an image out of the actual book!

it seems as technology changes, there is something intrinsic that is lost.......not sure how to explain it.......i'm sure the next generation will say the same things....

 

[jdmar]

Great photo! My wife, 4 children and I have gone on the "Polar Express" that our town puts on for the last 2 years. You ride the train through a valley to a local small town were people are dressed like elves, shops are decorated with "the North Pole, etc" It is a great ride and the kids love it. Santa comes on board and gives them a bell, they get cookies and hot chocolate...great time. They know it is not the "real" one but still never blink the entire trip. I will show them this pic...but not the whole story of course!. Thanks
Peter

 

[Ridgewalker]

Thanks for sharing! Great pix!

I remember putting pennies on the tracks and laying on the ground about 15 feet away to see the pennies get flattened when I was a kid.

I realize now that I had to be breaking some safety rule but at the time "who knew!"

My old hometown still has it's original train station (wooden), built in the 1800's and the new one (brick) built in the early 1900's. No trains thou!

 

[Egon]

I remember putting pennies on the tracks and laying on the ground about 15 feet away to see the pennies get flattened when I was a kid.

You Too!

 

[RobS]

Thanks everyone. It was a fun day for us. We joked that it was seven hours of driving for 13 seconds of photo op. Stopped at a hobby shop on the way back and picked up a few bits for his layout.

They do give rides on this but it sells out early. There must have been at least four full sized passenger cars plus two cabooses behind it. This summer they will host a large steam festival, we've already marked our calendars.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Thanks for the great pic Rob.

I live a couple hundred yrs from a RR track and about once a year I see 4449 come by. For those of you that are not familiar with 4449, it was pulling the Freedom Train around the country back in 76 during our bicentennial.

The town I live close to was the first and last stop on the Journey in 76.

 

[LBrown59]

http://shellhamerphotography.smugmug.com/photos/440666588_kTdkG-L.jpg
We have a couple of old steam trains around here.
One is about 75 miles north and the other is around 60 mile west of here.

 

[JB4310]

I remember putting pennies on the tracks and laying on the ground about 15 feet away to see the pennies get flattened when I was a kid.

I realize now that I had to be breaking some safety rule but at the time "who knew!"

I grew up 1/4 mile from the tracks in the 60's and 70's. We played on the tracks every single day, it's a wonder I'm still alive. we put pennys on the track to, as well as anything else we could find, thank goodness we didn't derail a train. My wife gets mad when I threaten to tell the kids who are just hanging around the house doing nothing "why don't they go down and play on the train tracks like I use to do"

My mother would sometimes cry and plead with us to stay away from the tracks, My youngest son was recently seen near the tracks by Amtrak police and asked for his name and address, when they came to the house to tell us we were really shook up and I realized what I put my mother through.

My brothers and I are still interested in anything rail related, ones a big insulator collector.

Here's the steam cog train that goes up Mt Washington in NH. also the "Frankenstein" trestle in NH.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Rob,
Very cool pictures, thanks for posting !

Kathleen and I stayed up last night to watch the movie, "Polar Express", and really enjoyed it ! It brought back memories of when my parents gave me my first train set !

Thanks !

BTW, John great pics also !

 

[Ridgewalker]

Rob,
Got any more pix?

 

[Dutch445]

nice thread,
and that steamer, beautiful!

what do you think the HP of that engine is!

and, hopefully it never "freezes" up like diesels do!

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks everyone. It was a fun day for us. We joked that it was seven hours of driving for 13 seconds of photo op. Stopped at a hobby shop on the way back and picked up a few bits for his layout.

They do give rides on this but it sells out early. There must have been at least four full sized passenger cars plus two cabooses behind it. This summer they will host a large steam festival, we've already marked our calendars.

What gauge does he model in, HO?