PRO-TIP: These train rides make a perfect holiday date night, as well as a fun holiday gift. If you’re looking for a “polar express train ride near me”, or a “Christmas train ride near me “, read on for some special train tours in Michigan. If you haven’t seen the Polar Express yet, why not experience it first hand with these cheery Christmas train rides in Michigan and make it part of your holiday tradition? So ,get in your best holiday garb, strap on your Santa hats, and book your ticket now for the ride of your life. You can take a ride on this North Pole Express and other steam locomotives in Michigan to visit with Santa Claus this holiday season. It’s true: the steam engine featured, the Pere Marquette 1225 steam train in the book is real, and based on an experience Van Allburg has a child growing up in Michigan. Maybe you’ve seen The Polar Express movie, the story of a young boy beckoned on a magical Christmas Eve to ride a secret express train to the North Pole?īased on a book by Grand Rapids native Chris Van Allsburg, the story of an Polar Express Train to Santa’s north pole heaquarters has captivated both children and adults, and it is more than make-believe. Take a Magical Ride on a Michigan Polar Express to the North Pole From Santa trains to speacial holiday train rides through a snowy winter wonderland, a ride on Michigan steam trains or a diesel locomotive during the holidays is a Michigan Christmas must. The Polar Express Michigan is more than than just the stuff of holiday dreams, and we’ve got some amazing Christmas train rides in Michigan to share with you.Ī special ride on a Christmas train to ring in the holidays is one of the most memorable, kid-friendly holiday events in Michigan. 1225 and the the Steam Railroading Institute is available on the institute website visit FMW’s website for more on FMW Solutions.Michigan’s Polar Express Train Ride (Plus More Magical Michigan Train Rides) 1225 “has emerged as an icon in our industry and one of the few large mainline steam engines with a regular operating schedule, which puts a unique kind of demand on a machine that’s 80 years old.We’re looking forward to assisting SRI in getting thousands of miles more out of this machine.”

1309, among others.įWM Vice President of Mechanical Shane Meador said No. 576, the Nashville Steam Preservation Society project that is the subject of Trains’ “Steam the Stripe” partnership and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-6-6-2 No.

1361, being restored at the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, Pa. Sugar’s Sugar Express former Florida East Coast No. 1504, being rebuilt for operation on U.S. At FMW, we found partners who share our passion for preservation while understanding what it takes to keep steam-era railroading alive in 2022 and beyond.”įMW has performed work or is currently working on locomotives including former Atlantic Coast Line 4-6-2 No. Steve Wasiura, the institute’s superintendent of facilities and railroad operations, said in a press release that “1225 has been a reliable performer throughout its excursion career, and this work will keep it running for decades more.

The lift is planned for this month, with the work intended to be completed in time for No. In work underwritten by grants and donations, the locomotive will be lifted so 30 tons of drivers, axles, and wheel assemblies can be removed and rebuilt.

1225 since prior to the steam locomotive’s retirement in 1951. The Steam Railroading Institute has retained FWM Solutions to perform the most extensive running-gear work on Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. The locomotive is will undergo extensive running-gear work. Pere Marquette 1225 operates on a photo freight near Owosso, Mich.

Pere marquette 1225