A Few of FR's Finest.Every Day.12-22 to 25-06..Polar Express - Christmas Weekend

December 22, 2006 | Dolly Howard

[DollyCali]

The magical train ride found in the Book and the Movie are the backdrop to the glorious adventure held nightly for 5 weeks in NE Ohio as part of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway (CVSR) offerings leading up to Christmas .

The story in a nutshell: A little boy, Jammie clad in jammies(FReeper material ) doubting Santa’s existence any longer, is whisked away one night on a magical train, that picks him up AT HIS HOME & takes him to the North pole where he views the magic of Santa, the elves and the life there. It is a short book with wonderful art work & was released in 1985.

At the Ohio Polar Express, this is captured in the several hour ride that parents & kids alike arrive in Jammies to participate in the fun. Thanks to the Polar express we now have a new dress category to add to Business casual etc. There will be Nighttime Jammies perhaps!

So very much goes on behind the scenes. For the ride of several hours for youngsters in wonderment along with their parents and grandparents, there is an amazing amount of ground work that is done. Professionals and volunteers all work together to make this a memorable part of the participating family holiday experiences. Many US cities have similar programs, we feel fortunate to be one of them.

Do you just decide THAT day, hey, lets go for the train ride tonight? Well, no NOT EXACTLY. The ride is sold out in late Summer and tickets chosen by lottery. There are actually two trains that converge in the North Pole. One begins in Akron heading North & the other begins in Independence heading south. They arrive at the N Pole about 15 minutes apart to gaze out the window at the merriment of Santa’s workshop, all the elves dancing (town folks, who have caught the spirit, Santa on sleigh, drummer boys, reindeer etc.

The deluxe Saint Lucie train car.which goes out each night is a luxury charter smf is sold out for next 3 years.. To say this activity is “in demand” is perhaps an understatement. This popular train, which runs in part through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park holds several other Christmas related series of Rides Mr. Jingeling's Holiday Express and Christmas Tree Adventure (train to neaby Peninsula & pick out /buy tree, return

In the story Polar express (as viewed in the movie) Director Robert Zemeckis revolutionized the art of animated film in 1998's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT by dropping cartoon characters into the same frame with flesh-and-blood actors. In THE POLAR EXPRESS, live action and animation have merged seamlessly, resulting in sparkling super-realism. A landmark technique Zemeckis and his Sony Pictures Imageworks team call "Performance Capture" perfectly suits the tenor of this wondrous children's Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg

A disillusioned little boy, just old enough to doubt the existence of Santa Claus, has the adventure of a lifetime one fateful Christmas Eve. Clad in his pajamas, he climbs aboard a magic train to the North Pole, driven by a kindly train conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks who starred in both of Zemeckis's Academy-Award winning films FORREST GUMP and CASTAWAY). Among myriad jaw-dropping moments, the train plummets brakeless through crystalline mountains in a simulated roller coaster ride. Going off the rails, skidding sideways, and snaking violently across a frozen lake, the train arrives at the North Pole (a vast, glowing city of brick buildings)

At that moment, the car carrying the kids detaches and they're sent tumbling down never-ending chutes and slides until they land in the middle of Santa's Workshop.

In the body of the thread are pictures/commentary from the last regular “run” of the season. Try to check back regularly for new additions. Your are invited to join in the “magic”

[WVNan]

Hi LUV, and bye LUV. I'm popping in and out. Have to go check on those muffins. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[luvie]

Mmmmmm...muffins!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

[Majie Purple]

((((Merry CHRISTmas in return Dr.S.!))))

[Majie Purple]

((((Love in return to you & fam Bernie!))))

[Billie]

Afternoon! I have just a few minutes without company and wanted to give a few Christmas Cards to some of our Finest Guys....hopefully, more tomorrow!

[lonestar]

Wishing a very Merry Christmas to all my FReeper "aunts & uncles."

Weinie

[Billie]

[Billie]

[Billie]

[DaBearOne]

And a very Merry Christmas to you sir.

[DaBearOne]

Hey Nan,

I finally gave in am ate ;ast night. (not much though)

Have to relearn this cooking thang. Maybe will do better in new house.

The oven here is awful. But that's apartments for ya. Spoils the fun of cooking and baking.

But alas that will change soon.

[Majie Purple]

Thank you Bernie...& just a reminder, I am a miss... not a sir...

[Lady Jag]

[Majie Purple]

Thank you!

[WVNan]

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Billie! Hope you have the best Christmas yet. God bless you and yours.

[WVNan]

What did you cook, Bernie? Remember: good nutricious food, not junk food. Gotta take care of the bod you know. I just made another batch of Blueberry muffins. Back later.

[proud2beconservativeinNJ]

You're the best, Dolly. I hope Santa has something special for you.

[DollyCali]

appreicate all your great news & great posts & graphics.

Here is something we don't have here. No complaints!!!! Unseasonably warm.. was 55 yesterday & high 40s today.

Off to see the Nativity tonight.. Later all

[DollyCali]

If he just puts my buddy Murphy in a bag & hauls him away that would be great!!!!!

[Majie Purple]

108 is a (made me stop & soak it all in one)...Striking!