Warner Brothers Entertainment is producing a animated movie called “The Polar Express” I think this is anther attempt to insult the railroads. The things they got right from what I saw in the Preview was the Round End Observation, and the 4-6-4 New York Central type Hudson Locomotive. The biggest mistake in this animated movie is that there are NO TRACKS, The Train is climbing a 15% grade and descending a 20% grade. No wonder why the train runs away!
[:)]
The movie is based on the kids book, “Polar Express”
Apparently the plot is basically all these children get to take a train up to the North Pole to see Santa on Christmas Eve… all the boy wants is a bell from Santas sleigh, so he gets it, then when he wakes up on christmas morning he realizes that he forgot the bell at the North Pole…
But then he finds it under the tree and only his sister and him can hear it ring because they believe in Santa, and the parents can’t hear the bell ring because they don’t believe in Santa, and the mom says “Isn’t that a shame, it’s broken.”
But the kinds know it isn’t broken.
That’s basically the whole book, certainly it’s aimed at children.
Jim, no kids or grandkids?
I dont have any kids and even I knew what this story was when I saw the preview…[%-)]
It doesnt need tracks because its a magic train that carries Santa believing kids to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. [:D]
I intend to go see it even if it is a kids movie it looks like it will be a very good Christmas movie for anyone…BTW If you dont like Christmas movies or Santa or Rudolph or Frosty, I suggest renting “Bad Santa” about as anti-snuggly-kid-Santa-Happy-Reindeer Movie you will ever see, its also one of the gutrenchingly funniest laugh out loud movies ever. [(-D][:-,][censored][X-)][
][:P][:O][8D][:D][alien]
yeah, but what about those steep grades…and the hobo by the Dome Car? Or what about the engineer jumping, and little kids operating a steam locomotive?
Yeah, and what’s with that movie the little mermaid, How can they all talk so clearly underwater? [|(]
15% to 20% grades,no tracks, little kids running the engine.What next,is Garfield the dispatcher?[:0]
I’m not quite sure but I distinctively remember there being tracks in the books. And how long is the movie, the book was only like 20 pages… with pictures.
Yeah, It think there were tracks in the book, but weren’t they suspended in the air or something?
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/the_polar_express/
Here’s a link to the teaser… looks like there aren’t any tracks in that picture.
Here’s a good question. Where will the train be stopping to take on water and coal?
TG3, Thats a very good question…The locomotive is a 4-8-4 type…looks Like a Mixed Breed of NYC, CP, CBQ,SLSF and ATSF. What do you get? PoExp #2004
That’s one unrealistic hell of a mountain pass they have to get through! Just for comparison, after watching the trailer, I took out my copy of the book, and it looked nothing like that. Gorgeous animation, though, and the whole thing seems worth renting just to see a bunch of kids drive a runaway locomotive over the polar ice cap.[:D]
BTW, the pictures take up most of each two page spread in the book, and each spread barely has a paragraph of text.
Everyone please remember, [:(!]
ITS A KIDS MOVIE!
Thomas the Tank Engine has a face for Pete’s Sake!
It doesnt matter if its rolling over mountains and icecaps, thats part of the story they are trying to tell. Its a story about belief and wonder…[;)]
Lets keep that in perspective when looking at the preview for this…[:D]
I loved that book as a kid, so I am going to see the movie.
[8]TrainFreak409[8]
Hey, Vsmith…no insults in here! 
To BNSFkline…Sorry.
My Apology, I didnt mean that to come of as it did, I have edited the previous post to reflect what I intended. [][X-)][sigh]
bnsfkline, If you thought Polar Express looked off the deep end, check out an Japanese Anime called “Galaxy Express 999” it takes place many centuries in the future, the title vehicle Galaxy Express is an interstellar space liner that travels between the major star systems, but get this, it built to look like AN OLD STEAM TRAIN. Yep, 4-8-4 Japanese J-class steamer complete with heavyweight passenger cars. It looks like this so the travelers have a feeling of nostalgia about a past now long gone. It leaves a from a train station complete with tracks, switches, train shed, starts out thru the city, then stars climbing a long ramp up up up then flies off , at the speed of a real train, off into the air and then into space. Sound ludicrious but this movie does it quite nicely. Recommend it if you can find it and put up with the older, now dated style of Japanese anime storytelling. I’m an old hand at anime, but the older style of some movies can be a bite slow or hokey for some today. Would LOVE to see this turned into a big screen movie!
Yes, I was a little too critical, and you’re right, it is a kids’ movie. Sorry. [sigh]
Note to self: Enough Mystery Science Theater 3000![:D]
The animation process used for “Express” is pretty interesting. Check out this article: http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-05-25-polar-express_x.htm
I bought this book for my Grandson about 5 years ago so he would become interested in railroading.
Each year I would read the book to him before Christmas. He is now 8 years old and is now reading it to me! Wow!
I am looking forward to taking him to see this movie after we read one more time!
The train used to create the computer graphics for the Polar Express movie with Tom Hanks is right here in Michigan. It is the 1225 Pere Marquette.
Here are its’ specs.:
Builder: Lima Locomotive Works, Lima, Ohio
Date: October 1941
Builder’s Number: 7389
Type: 2-8-4
Gauge: 4’ 8-1/2"
Weight of locomotive: 221 tons
Weight of Locomotive & Tender: 400 tons
Overall length: 101 feet
Driving Wheel diameter: 69 inches
Bore and Stroke: 26 x 34 inches
Cylinder horsepower: 2979 hp
Boiler pressure: 245 p.s.i.
Grate area: 90.3 square feet
Fuel: soft coal
Coal capacity: 22 tons
Water capacity: 22,000 gallons
Coal consumption: 12 miles/ton
Water consumption: 150 gallons/mile
It is operational out of Owosso, Michigan; The Steam Railroad Institute.
Go here to see some nice photos and learn about the Steam Institute in Michigan:
Awsome train and the Institute has a wonderful museum, turntable, and train cars with exhibits.
The 1225 does run some excursions throughout the year.
Happy 4th of July to all.