Polar Express from a prototype vantage

[FJ and G]

By now, most of you must have seen the movie. Now a prototype discussion of the Polar Express.

First, there are several railroads that do, in fact, cross the Arctic Circle, notably one in Norway, a mining train on Spitzenberg and possibly the Alaska RR (not sure of this).

Of course (unless you BELIEVE), there's not a single train (yet) to the pole itself, which is actually flat and (don't tell anyone) does not contain an elf city with Santa.

However, truth is stranger than fiction. RRs have infact crossed ice lakes; notably Lake Baiykal in Russia and rivers in the Western US during the early years. And, some trains have actually sunk when crossing thin ice, while others, like in the movie, have scrambled to get across safely--and made it.

The little annoying boy in the movie seemed to know his trains, rattling off the date the locomotive was built, and builder, and the operating characteristics.
I've heard of hobos and I've heard of hobos riding atop the freight cars, but a hobo building a fire atop a train and skiing across the train is a new one--but possibly could have happened.

The dancing chefs too, perhaps have a precedence in the prototype; although I'd much prefer the Harvey Girls.

[Anonymous]

With the aid of performance capture, Actor Tom Hanks played the part of the boy hero, conductor, santa clause and the hobo.

[Anonymous]

The actual locomotive used for the movie, Pere Marquette 1225, was built by the Lima Locomotive works, not Baldwin as the movie said. Otherwise everything looked right, appearence wise. The engine sounds EXACTLY like 1225. The only thing I could find wrong was that the whistle stuck up to far on the boiler.

All in all, it was a great movie.

[FJ and G]

Jonathon,

Also, I don't think that passengers without tickets are thrown out the back or allowed to take the controls of the locomotive. :-)

[randybc2003]

To the best of my knowledge - The Alaska Railroad only goes as far North as Fairbanks Alaska - +/- 100 miles south of the Arctic Circle.
See:
www.alaskarails.org

[Anonymous]

Orig posted by FJ and G...Of course (unless you BELIEVE), there's not a single train (yet) to the pole itself, which is actually flat and (don't tell anyone) does not contain an elf city with Santa.

Answer from SANTA: I saw that, lets see FJ and G where did I see that on my Christmas list.[:D][:D][:D]