The Pere Marquette 1225 - Polar Express
SQ1225DW - First Place in the “2024 Best of Steam Photo Competition (Huckleberry Railroad & Crossroads Village)." The 1225 was built in Lima Ohio in October, 1941 and still runs today every December as the Polar Express from Owosso, Michigan to Ashley Michigan. The 1225 got it's fame when featured in the Movie staring Tom Hanks "The Polar Express" based on the children's picture book by Chris Van Allsburg written in 1985 by the same name.
Who doesn’t love the story The Polar Express? The book and especially the movie adaptation, featuring Tom Hanks was incredible. Every year the Polar Express runs from Owosso to Ashley, Michigan. Every year I say I would love to meet up and photograph it. Well this was the year. The weather was cold and rainy and I almost didn’t go, but something told me to get back in the truck and go anyway. You get very few chances to see the most famous train in the world and there was only a couple weekends left.
I was in Carland the day before and took some shots at the Carland Elevator, but I didn’t care for the results. The steam wasn’t right and was blowing in the wrong direction, so I returned the next day hoping for a second chance. It was cold and dreary that morning. I loaded up the truck and sat inside letting the engine warm up a bit. It started to rain. I got out of the truck and went inside the house. I wasn’t going. It wasn’t 5 minutes later and I was back in the truck backing out of the driveway. It’s a 45 minute drive, maybe, just maybe it isn’t raining there I thought. I was off…
It was still raining when I got there, not hard, but just enough to make it cold and miserable. I stood in my spot and patiently waited. You could hear the whistle blow for miles before it finally arrived. I’m so glad I went. The steam that gloomy Sunday morning was as magical as the train itself. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
I got the shot I wanted, but it wasn’t enough, the chase was on….
I chased that train all the way to Ashley stopping at every crossing I could, just to get another shot.
~ A magical day with a story that I love.
SQ5366DW - Second Place in the “2024 Best of Steam Photo Competition (Huckleberry Railroad & Crossroads Village).”
SQ5424DW
SQ5225DW
SQ5309DW
SQ5344DW
SQ5254DW
Sofa size canvas print (30” x 40”) going where else? Above the sofa….
If you see something you like, prints and canvas prints are available for purchase! Click here!
(If you would like one of the other images shown please email (dan.waltz.dw@gmail.com). I can make it happen for the same price.) Thank you!
A 30" x 40" canvas displayed in our living room with two Pere Marquette lanterns, and a Lionel "O" gauge Polar Express train(AKA Pere Marquette 1225)
16 x 20 canvas displayed in my home office, with a Bachman "HO" version of the Pere Marquette engine and tender, along with many PM lanterns and other PM memorabilia (most not pictured)
Above is my full collection to date (8/24) of Pere Marquette Railroad lanterns. More info here.