Pere Marquette No. 1225 is an N-1 class 2-8-4 “Berkshire” steam locomotive preserved and operated by the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan. Built in 1941 by Lima Locomotive Works, it served the Pere Marquette Railway hauling heavy freight until its retirement in 1951.
Today, No. 1225 operates excursion trains and occasionally runs alongside another famous Berkshire, Nickel Plate Road No. 765. The two locomotives share a nearly identical design, showcasing the peak of steam-era engineering.
No. 1225 is also widely recognized as “The Real Polar Express.” Its sounds and appearance inspired the locomotive featured in the 2004 animated film The Polar Express, giving it a special place in both railroading and popular culture.
History of Pere Maquette 1225[]
Pere Marquette No. 1225 is an N-1 class 2-8-4 “Berkshire”-type steam locomotive built in October 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio, at a cost of $200,000 for the Pere Marquette Railway. The railroad had previously ordered Lima Berks in 1937 (Class N, Nos. 1201–1215) and would later order another batch in 1944 (Class N-2, Nos. 1228–1239).
For the first part of its service life, No. 1225 hauled steel and wartime freight between Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, and northern Indiana mills. Following the Pere Marquette’s 1947 merger into the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O), the locomotive was renumbered to 2657 but remained in Pere Marquette lettering, in accordance with the merger terms. By 1951, as the C&O dieselized the division, No. 1225 was retired and stored at the Wyoming, Michigan, shops alongside sister locomotives awaiting scrap.
Donation to Michigan State University[]
In 1955, C&O chairman Cyrus Eaton sought to preserve one of the PM locomotives by donating it to an educational institution. Through the efforts of Forest Akers, a Michigan State University trustee and former Dodge Motors vice president, No. 1225 was selected and cosmetically restored for display. In June 1957, the locomotive was placed on the MSU campus near Spartan Stadium, where it remained for more than two decades.
While on display, a young Chris Van Allsburg often visited the engine with his father before football games. Years later, the whistle and appearance of No. 1225 inspired his 1985 children’s book The Polar Express.
Restoration Efforts[]
In 1969, MSU students formed the MSU Railroad Club, initially as a railfan group. By 1971, the club had begun serious work to restore No. 1225 to operating condition, with the support of Dr. Rollin Baker, director of the MSU Museum. The students fired the boiler and blew the whistle in 1975 for the first time in over 20 years.
When the university made clear it did not wish to operate the locomotive itself, the students incorporated as the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation (MSTRP) in 1978. Ownership of the locomotive was transferred to the Trust, and arrangements were made to move No. 1225 to the former Ann Arbor Railroad shops in Owosso, Michigan—an ideal site with the necessary tools and facilities.
Return to Steam[]
After years of restoration, No. 1225 moved under its own power on November 30, 1985, the first time since retirement in 1951. Its first public excursions began in 1988 between Owosso and St. Charles. In 1991, the locomotive teamed up with Nickel Plate Road No. 765 on a 31-car excursion for the National Railway Historical Society convention in Huntington, West Virginia, marking one of the highlights of its excursion career.
During the 1990s, the Trust began using the name Steam Railroading Institute (SRI), though MSTRP remains the organization’s official name. No. 1225 was scheduled to participate in the 1995 Steamtown National Historic Site grand opening in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but routing issues prevented the trip.
Excursion Service and Overhauls[]
From the late 1990s into the 2000s, No. 1225 operated excursions over the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway (now Great Lakes Central Railroad), including the annual winter “North Pole Express” trains to Ashley, Michigan, begun in 2004.
In 2009, the locomotive attended Train Festival in Owosso, joined by NKP 765 and SP 4449. However, five flue failures sidelined No. 1225 during the event, and another failure in December 2009 forced its retirement for mandatory inspection and overhaul. A comprehensive rebuild, costing nearly $900,000, was completed between 2010 and 2013. No. 1225 returned to service in October 2013, resuming excursion operations later that fall.
Recent Operations[]
Since its return, No. 1225 has continued to operate over the Great Lakes Central, hauling excursions to Alma, Clare, Cadillac, and Mt. Pleasant. Its annual North Pole Express trips remain a major draw, with thousands of passengers riding each year.
In 2021, the locomotive received upgrades to its lead truck, trailing truck, and tender axles with new roller bearings. The following year, it underwent extensive running gear and wheel work with assistance from FMW Solutions. In late 2023, it returned to service with modern enhancements including a dual-beam headlight, a second Nathan lubricator, and electronic monitoring systems for bearings and brass.
In 2024, No. 1225 operated summer and fall excursions before being sidelined late in the season due to superheater issues, requiring diesel assistance for scheduled trains
Popular Culture[]
- In 2002, Warner Bros. approached the engine and had its blueprints, image and sounds used for the 2004 Christmas Holiday animated musical film The Polar Express, starring Tom Hanks. Chris Van Allsburg, the author of the original book, stated that he used to play on the 1225 as a kid while attending football games in college and that he couldn't believe it was the same engine that was based on the train in his book. However, the whistle in the film was provided by Sierra Railway No. 28 instead of the locomotive’s more traditional whistle. 1225's number is an obvious parallel to the date of Christmas Day, which is 12/25.
- 1225 has appeared in the videos:
- 1. Lots and Lots of REALLY BIG Steam Trains,
- 2. Project 1225,
- 3. Convention Highlights,
- 4. Steam to Huntington,
- 5. Huntington Steam Celebration,
- 6. Big Steam in Huntington,
- 7. Steam in Huntington,
- 8. Huntington ‘91,
- 9. Extreme Steam 2,
- 10. 1225 Freight Special,
- 11. 1225 Winter Steam,
- 12. Steam in the Spring,
- 13. Steam in the Great Lakes,
- 14. The Great Gathering at Owosso,
- 15. Berkshire Doubleheader,
- 16. Whistles In Owosso: Train Expo 2014,
- 17. In Search of Steam 3-The Best of 2019,
- 18. Steam Giants,
- 19. Midwest Steam 2009 Parts 1 & 2,
- 20. Big Steam
- 21. Steam Smoke & Thunder Volume 2
- 22. Today's Steam Across America
- 23. America By Rail-Winter Wonderland
- 24. 100 Steam Engines
- 25. Michigan Short-lines Part 2
- 26. Steam Smoke & Thunder Volume 2
- 27. A Quarter Century of Steam
- 28. Milwaukee Road 261: A New River Adventure
- 29. Steam Specials & Passenger Extras 2014
- 30. Steam Across America
- 31. I Love Toy Trains Parts 3, 5, & 7
- 32. Lots & Lots of Big Steam Trains Galore
- 33. Lots & Lots of Big Trains Part 1
- 34. Great American Steam Locomotives: The 2-8-2 Mikados
- 35. Great American Steam Locomotives: The 4-6-2 Pacifics
- 36. Introduction to Steam Locomotives
Gallery[]
.jpg "Owosso Train Festival 7-26-2009 017 N (3848341185).jpg (2.17 MB)")
