All Aboard The Pere Marquette #1225

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

The Pere Marquette #1225 2-8-4 Berkshire Classย 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 youโ€™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!

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