What kind of locomotive and passenger cars made up the Polar Express?
Could I find Polar Express decals?
Thanks,
Chris
Hi, Chris
Others may be able to fill in details on the rolling stock but the locomotive is patterned after the Pere Marquette 1225 (a bit of irony in that number, eh?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pere_Marquette_1225
Scroll down to the last paragraph.
More about the Author from Wikipedia:
Chris Van Allsburg based the story on a mental image of a child wandering into the woods on a foggy night and wondering where a train was headed.
At the premiere of the movie, Van Allsburg stated that Pere Marquette 1225, formerly owned by Michigan State University and now owned by the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan, was the inspiration for the story line.
He played on the engine as a child when it was on display and was inspired by the number 1225, which to him was 12/25 - Christmas Day. The real 1225 was used to create the animated image of the engine and all the locomotive sounds were recorded from the 1225. The only exception to this is the whistle, whose sound is cherished by fans for its unique sound and unknown origin as it does not belong to the 1225 Pere Marquette
At one time there were decals available in O scale but I'm not sure if they are still offered.
The observation car is kind of a hybrid open-ended yet tapered like a round-end streamlined type, very similar to the custom-made Silver Chalet formerly owned by Quad Graphics.
Regards, Ed
Here is the website to the Steam RR Institute that has the actual PM 1225. There may be resources on their website you can use, or they may be able to direct you to what you are looking for.
https://www.michigansteamtrain.com/
Chuck
Modeling the Motor City
This is my Lionel version of the Polar Express.
The locomotive is a metal casting and quite powerful. The cars are all lighted. I've added the baggage car, though it is not in the photo and a Railsounds tender. Sorry for the poor photo.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
Pere Marquette 1225 and the Polar Express were connected from the start.
There's a good "letter to the editor" in the current issue of Model Railroad News about it - from what appears to be an intelligent and well informed reader....
barrok Here is the website to the Steam RR Institute that has the actual PM 1225. There may be resources on their website you can use, or they may be able to direct you to what you are looking for. https://www.michigansteamtrain.com/ Chuck
I have not seen anything at the Steam Railroading Institute museum to help with actually modeling a Polar Express train. SRI actually runs their trains pulled by the PM 1225 as the "North Pole Express", as "Polar Express" is trademarked and only usable under license.
The Pere Marquette locomotive was used as an animation model and sound source for the movie, but with some modifications, such as a large tube pilot in the movie locomotive as opposed to smaller pilot with footboards on the 1225. The artists changed the overall proportions a bit also.
Lionel does make Polar Express trains in both HO and 3 rail O scales. But if you'd rather build your own in HO you could start with a Bachmann PM 1225 and fabricate a new pilot, and strip and repaint the tender. The Athearn Heavyweight passenger cars might be shortened and painted into something resembling the Lionel models. But for lettering you might have to use rub-on dry transfer letters. They can be found in gold font similar to the Polar Express cars.
And as a final thought, here's the 1225 on her last North Pole Express run for the year on December 17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGMl7W_7itg
George V.
georgevLionel does make Polar Express trains in both HO and 3 rail O scales.
Lionel also makes one in S as part of their American Flyer line.
Paul
In the actual movie, I noticed the PE had 15 cars when it was traveling across a long stone bridge.
When the train was skidding around on the ice, I noticed about 7 or 8 cars.
It seemed the train had different lengths in various shots.
I guess a 3/4 car set was easier to produce than 15, but a 15 car PE would have been awesome!
ATSFGuyI guess a 3/4 car set was easier to produce than 15, but a 15 car PE would have been awesome!
Yes it would. But you need a big layout to pull it off. With 8 cars my 5'4" x 12' wasn't really large enough.
Can you change out the curve radius to 22' or 24'?