Polar Express Locomotive

[jastod]

This is probably our most unique Shopbot project so far. A magazine asked us to build them a 6 ft tall model of a particular steam locomotive - the Pere Marquette Railroad #1225. The #1225 is famous because animators used it to create the locomotive in the "Polar Express" movie.


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[kartracer63]

Wow !!! Very cool

[shoeshine]

wow, Chris Van-Allsburg really hit a home run with that one. Nice to see Illustration inspired themes hitting the Sbot community.

and beautiful work folks...

[steve]

VERY nice , how many parts?
That's why I don't build houses...my attition span is waaay too short.

[bcammack]

Speaking as a railfan, that is bloody magnificent! Great work!

[wberminio]

Very very nice!

[navigator7]

That's a 2-8-4!
Wow! Simply Wow.

I love the ballast base realism.

Nearly 3000 Hp off 245 lbs of steam on two cylinders a guy could crawl through.

"Pere Marquette 1225 is a 2-8-4 (Berkshire) steam locomotive built for Pere Marquette Railroad (PM) by Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio. 1225 is one of two surviving Pere Marquette 2-8-4 locomotives and the only one operable. PM used 1225 in regular service from the locomotive's construction in 1941 until the railroad merged into Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) in 1947; it remained in use on C&O's Michigan lines until 1951. Slated for scrapping, 1225 was acquired by Michigan State University in 1957 and placed on static display.
In 1971, work began to restore 1225 to operation, an effort that culminated in its first excursion run in 1988. The locomotive, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is now used on excursion trains over the former Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway, now Great Lakes Central Railroad."

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pere_Marquette_1225

[phil_o]

WOW - that is special.

[myxpykalix]

I just want to know how you got the front of the locomotive thru the wall like that without causing much damage?

The detail looks fantastic. How long did this take to create? Like Steven, i don't have the patience to do that ype of detail. Very cool.

[chiloquinruss]

Wow, That is just amazing. I've posted several times my projects for the live steam hobby but my goodness, that is just a wonderful recreation. I would be very interest in the particulars such as materials used, paint, type of starting illustrations, etc,. I can't wait to see your next 'custom' project. Very very cool.
Russ

[khaos]

Fantastic. I stared and stared at the pics. Thanks for sharing. How many layers, parts, etc. I would love to know some more details.

The perception of depth must be very impressive in person! Great Job.