The Pere Marquette 1225 was used by Warner Bros. to record the actual sounds of a steam locomotive for the 2004 film The Polar Express.
The locomotive 1225 is one of only two remaining Berkshire-type locomotives built for the Pere Marquette Railway.
The institute occupies the historic Owosso roundhouse and backshop facilities originally used by the Ann Arbor Railroad.
The 1225 locomotive weighs approximately 400 tons and required extensive mechanical restoration to return to active service in the 1980s.
The Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan, preserves and operates historic steam-powered locomotives and rail equipment. The facility is famously home to the Pere Marquette 1225, a 1941 Berkshire-type steam locomotive that served as the prototype for the train in the film The Polar Express. Visitors can view ongoing restoration projects in the active mechanical shop and explore historical rolling stock. The institute frequently hosts seasonal excursion rides, including the North Pole Express, which utilizes restored vintage passenger cars. Its mission centers on the technical preservation of steam-age railroad technology through operational restoration. The site serves as both a functional railroad repair facility and an educational museum.
The front pilot of the Pere Marquette 1225 when parked outside the main shop building.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes suitable for walking on gravel and around industrial machinery.
Check the website calendar in advance if you intend to see a specific engine in operation, as locomotives are often off-site for excursions.
Bring hearing protection if you are visiting during an active steam-up or shop maintenance day.
Attempting to enter the mechanical shop areas during active repair work without authorized guidance or supervision.
The facility operates on a seasonal schedule primarily tied to excursion dates; the site is not open for public tours on a daily basis.
Maintain a safe distance from all tracks and machinery; do not touch mechanical equipment unless permitted by staff.
