Skip to comments.
A Few of FR's Finest.Every Day.12-22 to 25-06..Polar Express - Christmas Weekend
December 22, 2006
| Dolly Howard
Posted on 12/22/2006 7:42:47 AM PST by 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”
|
|
|
|
|
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: christmas; polarexpress; santa; trains
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 301-320, 321-340, 341-360 ... 541-552 next last
To: Mrs.Nooseman
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours!
321
posted on
12/25/2006 8:35:25 AM PST
by
The Mayor
( http://albanysinsanity.com/)
To: Billie
322
posted on
12/25/2006 8:37:29 AM PST
by
The Mayor
( http://albanysinsanity.com/)
To: Billie
Billie
323
posted on
12/25/2006 8:50:19 AM PST
by
luvie
(We didn't lose almost 3000 people that day.We lost one wonderful person at a time, almost 3000 times)
To: Purple Mountains Maj
That's an absolutely gorgeous graphic, Maj. I hope this Christmas Day finds you happy, healthy and with all the presents you hoped for. :)
324
posted on
12/25/2006 8:51:29 AM PST
by
Wolfstar
("Common sense is not so common." Voltaire, 1764)
To: MEG33
Megsie
325
posted on
12/25/2006 8:52:11 AM PST
by
luvie
(We didn't lose almost 3000 people that day.We lost one wonderful person at a time, almost 3000 times)
To: SoldierDad; MostHatedSkin13; PsyberAce; NorCal_Freedom_Fighter3
SoldierDad
MostHatedSkin13
Psyberace
Norcal_Freedom_Fighter
Luv W
God Bless and Keep You All
326
posted on
12/25/2006 8:58:03 AM PST
by
luvie
(We didn't lose almost 3000 people that day.We lost one wonderful person at a time, almost 3000 times)
To: Billie; Mama_Bear; jkphoto; ST.LOUIE1; snugs; silent_jonny; GodBlessUSA; Wolfstar; TPartyType; ...
((((Happy Birthday to YOU! Happy Birthday to YOU!Happy Birthday Dear JESUS! Happy Birthday to YOU!))))
To: Wolfstar; Kitty Mittens; MEG33; jwfiv; Jack Deth
To: DaBearOne
Merry Christmas, Bernie, so glad you could be with us today.
Yes, one way or the other, we learn each day.
To: GodBlessUSA
((((Merry Christmas GeeBee!))))
To: GodBlessUSA
Merry Christmas, GeeBee, to you and BooBoo and the whole entire GBU family. Heard you had a little cold...phooey. My thoughts: you like your new home so much, that is where you want to be!
All is well here. The sun is shining. I just saw a LIVE interview with two of our soldiers over in Iraq, on local television. They're husband and wife, in the same battalion but different companies. Needless to say, warmed my heart incredibly.
I'm getting ready to go to Christmas mass, but will be back later to visit. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!!
To: Purple Mountains Maj; Billie; dutchess; DollyCali; ST.LOUIE1; JustAmy; GodBlessUSA; Mrs.Nooseman; ..
332
posted on
12/25/2006 9:46:50 AM PST
by
luvie
(We didn't lose almost 3000 people that day.We lost one wonderful person at a time, almost 3000 times)
To: Aquamarine
To: Mrs.Nooseman
That kitty is my Brigid, when she was littler.
;^)
To: LUV W
Merry CHRISTMAS, Luv!! I'm listening to this lovely music now as I get ready to go out.
That was fantastic of you to play "Under Northern Lights" last night. Thank you so much, and the photo you found...Wow!!
Christmas HUGS...!!!
To: Purple Mountains Maj
Christmas HUGS, Ms. Maj. I'll be back in a few hours.
To: La Enchiladita
Good Christmas morning to you! I was hoping that you had found my ping to you for that wonderful song. Glad you enjoyed it and the one I just posted.
Have a wonderful time, wherever you are going. Hope all your dreams came true!
(((((Christmas Hugs))))...back atcha! :D
337
posted on
12/25/2006 9:55:26 AM PST
by
luvie
(We didn't lose almost 3000 people that day.We lost one wonderful person at a time, almost 3000 times)
To: LUV W
((((All together Lovely Luv! Same sweet wishes to You!))))
To: MEG33
You're CHRISTmas snowmen singing a Hymn to HIM is precious, Dear Meg!
To: Billie
((((Breathtaking BIRTHDAY card & greeting thereon!))))
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 301-320, 321-340, 341-360 ... 541-552 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson
