PM 1225

The Pere Marquette 1225 is one of two surviving Pere Marquette 2-8-4s.

About
1225 was built by the Lima Locomotive Works in 1941 the engine was used until 1951 and was placed on static display by the Michigan State university in 1957. Later in 1971 the 1225 went under restoration to operating condition and in 1975 then engine went under steam for the first time in two decades. In 1983 the engine was moved to the Ann Arbor Railroad in Owosso, Michigan. The engine moved under its own power in November of 1985 and hauled its first excursion in 1988. In 1991 the engine teamed up with NKP 765 for the NRHS convention in Huntingdon, West Virginia. In 2004 the 1225 was used in the Warner Bros. animated movie The Polar Express starring Tom Hanks. Ever since then the engine has been properly named The Polar Express Engine. In 2007 the 1225 has operated excursions over The Great Lakes Central Railroad. In 2009 the 1225 attended TrainFestival 2009 where it was schedualed to haul excursions, but had flu problems. Since 2010 the engine is currently undergoing its 15 year FRA inspection. The 1225 is curently owned by the Steam Railroading Institute.