Museums, galleries & stages / Owosso
Steam Railroading Institute
A steam railroading museum in Owosso and home of Pere Marquette 1225, the real Polar Express engine.
01 / The story of this place
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The Institute sits on the site of the old Ann Arbor Railroad steam shops and roundhouse. The star is Pere Marquette 1225: built by Lima Locomotive Works in October 1941, 101 feet long and 401 tons with its tender. For ten years it hauled fast freight between Detroit, Toledo, Flint, Saginaw, Grand Rapids and Chicago, war materiel included. It retired in 1951, Michigan State students started bringing it back in 1969, and it moved under its own steam again in 1985. Its blueprints and sounds were the model for the engine in the 2004 animated film The Polar Express.
- Pere Marquette 1225, a 1941 Berkshire-type steam locomotive
- Its blueprints shaped the engine in The Polar Express
- Free admission, donations welcome
- North Pole Express: a 4¾-hour round trip to Ashley's Country Christmas
A closer look
Photos were taken at different times; images are resized and cropped on cards.
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Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-10-23
An independently written bilingual guide. This collection is not an attendance-based ranking.
03 / Events
Events at this place
Published events automatically linked from our event guide. Times are local to the venue.
Nov 20, 2026, 5:00 PMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Friday, November 20, 2026 (5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Nov 21, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Saturday, November 21, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Nov 22, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Sunday, November 22, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Nov 27, 2026, 5:00 PMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Friday, November 27, 2026 (5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Nov 28, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Saturday, November 28, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Nov 29, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Sunday, November 29, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Dec 4, 2026, 5:00 PMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Friday, December 4, 2026 (5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Dec 5, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Saturday, December 5, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Dec 6, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Sunday, December 6, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Dec 11, 2026, 5:00 PMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Friday, December 11, 2026 (5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Dec 12, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Saturday, December 12, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Dec 13, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Sunday, December 13, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Dec 18, 2026, 5:00 PMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Friday, December 18, 2026 (5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Dec 19, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Saturday, December 19, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
Dec 20, 2026, 10:00 AMNorth Pole Express (Pere Marquette 1225)
The Steam Railroading Institute’s North Pole Express leaves Owosso on Sunday, December 20, 2026 (10 a.m., 5 p.m.): Pere Marquette 1225, the model for the Polar Express engine, pulls it to Ashley’s Country Christmas, 4 hours 45 minutes round trip. Coach is $85, but every seat was sold out as of October 18.
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