Pere Marquette 1225, Owosso MI

Pere Marquette #1225's blueprints were the prototype for the locomotive image, and its sounds were used in the 2004 computer animated film “The Polar Express”. The film was based on the Caldecott Medal winning book of the same name. The children's book was written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, who grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and as a child attended every home football game at Michigan State, next to which this steam engine was on static display. He recalls playing on this engine many times as a child saying, "I remember that train on campus, I can't believe it's the same train! I climbed on that train. I actually stood on it.” Appropriately enough, the locomotive's road number is the date of Christmas, 12/25.