All Aboard The Pere Marquette #1225

Published Jan 16, 2019 By Robert Blue

Shovel Cam, Engineers View, Snow and plenty of Steam!

The Pere Marquette #1225 2-8-4 Berkshire Class locomotive is the sister locomotive to the Nickle Plate Road’s #765.

Owned by the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation, Pere Marquette #1225 is used for rail excursions on the Great Lakes Central Railroad.

This is the same locomotive that inspired the book and Warner Brother’s movie The Polar Express!

Note: Notice the bilevel passenger cars that this train is pulling? The double-decker cars were built in the 1950’s and 1960’s are subleased from the Michigan Department of Transportation. The MDOT is now spending $1.1 million a year to lease from Great Lakes Central Railroad 23 double-decker passenger cars for a proposed commuter rail service between Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan. The project is still years away from being completed!

Note: Don’t forget to turn up your speakers!

Quick Facts

Rail Line: Great Lakes Central Railroad
Train Name: Pere Marquette #1225 (Berkshire)
Power type: 2-8-4 Steam Locomotive class N-1
Builder: Lima Locomotive Works 1941
Locomotive and tender weight: 727,300 lbs
fuel type: coal

If you’ve ever taken a ride on the Pere Marquette #1225 or a train like this let us know in the comments below! Would love to hear your experience on this classic piece of history!