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Type of Locomotive used in "The Polar Express"

  • Does anyone know what type of locomotive hauls the train in "The Polar Express"?
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  • Pere Marquette Lima 2-8-4. See Jan. Trains for the rest of the story.
    Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
  • Go to mstrp.com for the website on the locomotive where it physically resides in Owosso, Michigan (just west of Flint, Michigan).

  • I saw the film at an IMAX theater. The observation car exterior looks like it is based on one of North Shore Line's parlor-observation cars from the 1920's.

    For some nit-picking, the engineer pulls the throttle to stop the train in one scene.
    The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

    I saw the film at an IMAX theater. The observation car exterior looks like it is based on one of North Shore Line's parlor-observation cars from the 1920's.

    For some nit-picking, the engineer pulls the throttle to stop the train in one scene.

    The nit-pickers should avoid this movie at all costs!
    Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
  • Agree the nit-pickers shouldn't see "Polar"! While I loved the movie, there were a few annoying boo-boos:

    *As previously noted, the engineer stops the train using the throttle.

    *The train's length varies- for most scenes, its five cars long, but in others, it stretches to 20+ cars.

    *The engineer can steer the train left and right.

  • How about the scene where the train is sliding all over on the ice,but on the other side of the lake it winds up on the tracks again.
    Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
  • So the Polar Express engine was a Pere Marquette ? Fine, I just got one (Life Like) for XMas. [:D][:D][:D][:D]

    Anyway, I have to bother you gentlemen with a couple of questions.

    [?] The model has gleaming stainless steel wheels. Are they correct for a brand new engine ?

    [?] There's a line in the movie, that I "reverse engineered" back to (very bad) English (I'm from Italy) into something like "I'll tell you a thing about trains. It doesn't matter where they go. All that matters is riding them".

    What is the original line Tom Hanks says ? Thank you in advance and Happy New year!!!