Pere Marquette locomotive #1225 was saved from the scrap yard by a sentimental yard worker who diverted the loco to a safe siding just because it was Christmas time and the number on the loco was...12/25. That locomotive was the boyhood inspiration for the Michigan native who came up with the Polar Express story, etc. and is still in operation to this day. It was actually used for filming the Polar Express and its computer animation modeling. So no, the CGI for Polar Express was not done merely off of "measurements of 1225", it was done by overlay of the real deal. Not only can you buy tickets to ride 1225 excursion trains to this day, you can buy a ticket to DRIVE the beast for an hour! No joke. Contact the Michigan Steam Locomotive Museum and enjoy! Long live the old live steamers! Hip, hip, hooray!
That bridge over the river, at 2:02 looks VERY much, and probably IS the bridge over the Grand River in Grand Ledge Michigan. That line, was once owned by the Pennsy, and is the only bridge on that line that was that high The line ran from Detroit up to Grand Rapids and there definitely was a station in Grand Ledge, that was torn down in the 1960's, so it was a stop..... Why they stopped there at the bridge is a mystery, but My guess was that they did so so the passengers could see the Ledges, which are a VERY popular Grand ledge attraction. Believe me, it is and STILL today by CSX owned is used by devil dares and the marginally foolish to cross between the north and south sides of town. Hope this helps...
But you are correct: it IS the bridge over Grand River in Grand Ledge! My late father and one of his brothers claimed to have jumped off the bridge when they were caught in the middle with a train approaching. Can't verify that, but he was usually a reliable story teller. It would have been c. 1928 or so.
Pere Marquette locomotive #1225 was saved from the scrap yard by a sentimental yard worker who diverted the loco to a safe siding just because it was Christmas time and the number on the loco was...12/25. That locomotive was the boyhood inspiration for the Michigan native who came up with the Polar Express story, etc. and is still in operation to this day. It was actually used for filming the Polar Express and its computer animation modeling. So no, the CGI for Polar Express was not done merely off of "measurements of 1225", it was done by overlay of the real deal. Not only can you buy tickets to ride 1225 excursion trains to this day, you can buy a ticket to DRIVE the beast for an hour! No joke. Contact the Michigan Steam Locomotive Museum and enjoy! Long live the old live steamers! Hip, hip, hooray!
Very interesting to see this very rare footage of Pere Marquette #s 1206 and 1211. Very interesting video.
Thank you :)
Very nice. Thank you for sharing.
The last part of that video is from the Wyoming Yard shops just west of Grand Rapids.
That bridge over the river, at 2:02 looks VERY much, and probably IS the bridge over the Grand River in Grand Ledge Michigan. That line, was once owned by the Pennsy, and is the only bridge on that line that was that high The line ran from Detroit up to Grand Rapids and there definitely was a station in Grand Ledge, that was torn down in the 1960's, so it was a stop..... Why they stopped there at the bridge is a mystery, but My guess was that they did so so the passengers could see the Ledges, which are a VERY popular Grand ledge attraction. Believe me, it is and STILL today by CSX owned is used by devil dares and the marginally foolish to cross between the north and south sides of town. Hope this helps...
Thank you!
I miswrote..It WAS the Pere Marquette, NOT Pennsy. Thank you for the correction.....:-)
But you are correct: it IS the bridge over Grand River in Grand Ledge! My late father and one of his brothers claimed to have jumped off the bridge when they were caught in the middle with a train approaching. Can't verify that, but he was usually a reliable story teller. It would have been c. 1928 or so.
I love all those Americans.
SONG: 1812 overture (war with US and Canada)
*200*