Pere Marquette 1225, made famous by the 2004 movie ‘The Polar Express’ starring Tom Hanks, lives out its restored days pulling excursions on the Great Lakes Central Railroad in north central Michigan, its home base located at the Steam Railroad Institute in Owosso.
On Saturday, October 28, the Steam Railroad Institute sponsored a day long excursion featuring the 1225 called ‘The Curwood Highlander’. The train boarded passengers in Alma, MI and traveled southeast through the small towns of Ithaca, Ashley, Bannister and Elsie before arriving in downtown Owosso, where passengers could take a tour of the Curwood Castle.
I followed the excursion on its southern run between Alma and Owosso. This was my first time seeing the infamous Berkshire and it most certainly did not disappoint. Time stamps and locations can be found below.
0:00 - Static shots of 1225 being prepped for the southbound excursion.
2:15 - 1225 departing Alma, heading south across Ely Street. A GLC unit is tacked on to the rear.
4:53 - After quite a lengthy wait, 1225’s plumage can be seen blowing across the barren fields of north central Michigan as the train leaves the village of Ithaca.
6:34 - 1225 approaches a busy grade crossing south of Ashley.
7:44 - Since I didn’t know roads very well, I managed to latch on to a caravan meandering through some back roads. I was led to this spot in ‘downtown’ Bannister.
8:58 - After getting stuck behind an 18-wheeler, I missed the train at Elsie, but caught up to it south of the famous location in Carland.
9:42 - Just north of Owosso, 1225 slows for a dual crossing.
11:11 - Creeping through the curves, 1225 nears its destination at the Steam Railroad Institute in Owosso.
Many thanks to the Great Lakes Central Railroad and the Steam Railroad Institute for hosting and operating this excursion. I look forward to seeing more of 1225 in the future.
Enjoy, subscribe, thanks for watching and Happy New Year!
15 авг 2024
