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”

[La Enchiladita]

AWWWWWWWWWWWW...........

[Kathy in Alaska]

Very nice, Jack.....Gifts.....thanks.

[Peach]

Merry Christmas, Purple Moutanins Maj, and thank you for your beautiful threads and the visual images you provide all of us.

[Majie Purple]

Thank You Peach but I need to clarify because those are pings to already existing Threads...& I ping folks from my personal collective ping list.
Other people started the majority of what I ping You & others to.
My pings are just my contributions to those already existing Threads Themes d'Jour.
Merry Christmas to You & Yours too...
More pic pings to come!

[Libertina]

Sorry to hear that, Dutchess...you must feel such a loss. It may help that it was so peaceful a passing. No doubt you were a great kitty mom :) Merry Christmas to you.

[Aquamarine]

So sad to hear about the passing of Fred but also happy to know that he was with you all for 18 years (((Dutchess)))

[Aquamarine]

Love this post. :)

Not long now until Christmas Day.

[SeaBiscuit]

"May God continue to bless the United States of America"

A BIG AMEN! That was a wonderfully heartwarming and amiable post La dita, and I appreciate very much that you included me.

May this Christmas be joyful, peaceful and spiritually renewing to you and yours. God Bless you.

Merry Christmas and Bless FReepers all.

[luvie]

The reason....















...for the season...

Music for our Troops, Veterans, and their families!!

(Please support the artists below!)

Jim Brickman~What Child is This

Placido Domingo~I Heard The Bells
On Christmas Day

Manheim Steamroller~God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Jim Brickman~O Holy Night

Keiko Matsui~Flight of the Angels

London Symphony Orchestra~Winter Carol

Manheim Steamroller~TheFirst Noel

Artist Direct.com | Amazon.com | Ticketmaster.com |
Songfacts.com | Walmart.com

[La Enchiladita]

LUV, I once heard a composition by Keiko Matsui called "Northern Lights." This was about 10 years ago? Wow, it was so beautiful.

Maybe someday you can find and play it... no rush at all, though, okay? It's truly gorgeous.

Yes, our troops are in my prayers always.

(((LUV W)))

[La Enchiladita]

Oh hey, 204 is for you too. Sorry I missed you on the ping; won't happen again!!

;^)

[La Enchiladita]

(((SeaBiscuit...FRiend)))

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the nice pictures the words, and what they stand for.
Somehow I do not think our Lord of Hosts is yet done with what HE would have America provide for the world.
Merry Christmas, and a wish for a very healthy and happy new year. George

[TASMANIANRED]

Sweet Jack

[Majie Purple]

"Twas The Night Before Jesus Came
Author Unknown

'Twas the night before Jesus came
And all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care,
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap,
Was watching The Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment that this must be The Day.

The light of His face made me cover my head;
It was Jesus! Returning just like he said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name,
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find that the Bible was true after all! "

Author Unknown

[La Enchiladita]

Amen, George (one of my favorite names, btw)...

From the Kathleen family.

[Majie Purple]

Great post Luv!
T Y!

[luvie]

You're very welcome! Enjoy...and merry Christmas! (((hugs)))

[Majie Purple]

Same to You!
More post for You & others later!

[luvie]

I look forward to it. :D The others that I have seen were lovely!