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”

[DaBearOne]

Thanks Aquamarine, I had the darn thang turned to the highest. and part of the steak covered to boot. Why? Don't know.

[DaBearOne]

I read MamaBear's posts all the time. She is a very cool Bear. Being the talk of the forest, she always gives us good advise and we all love her.

DabearOne

[DaBearOne]

Thank you DollyCal. Now I know why LadyX counted you among her special friends. She spoke of you often.

bernie

[DaBearOne]

Thanks for the sweet Greeting card. Have a thang for pups and kittens.

bernie

[La Enchiladita]

Bernie, you are a trooper.

Well, re my mention of the banjo. I am strongly intuitive, some would say psychic but I don't like that word. Intuitive... in tune... with some people. That's all.

I like banjo as part of a good bluegrass set.

'Twas a great Christmas. And now, to all, a good night...;^)

[ST.LOUIE1]

[ST.LOUIE1]

RE:148

Wolfie has never looked better.

Of course, in your hands, with your talent, you can make anyone look great.

Hope your Christmas was everything you wished for. : )

[jazusamo]

:-)

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

[snugs]

That is the same on the normal train in Britain the conductor is responsible for the train.

They changed it for a wheel to make the driver in charge but it did not work and soon reverted back to the old system.

[snugs]

Just going through the posts on the finest that I have missed over Christmas and was so pleased to see you.

I hope that your Christmas went as well as could be expected being the first without Maggie.

God Bless you and yours

[potlatch]

Lovely photo Dolly! You and I like the same Christmas-ie type of clothes, lol. Hope you had a great Christmas.

[DollyCali]

awe.. we missed you and I am SO SORRY it is due to serious illness in your life (family/friend).

{{{ Pistov Elf }}}

Thanks for checking in FRiend!

[Temple Owl]

I'm trying to get a picture and story about Peewee together to put on the net, but I'm so inept I'll need the help of an expert (Tribune7) to succeed. I think you and the other dog-loving FReepers will like it -- if I can make it come to pass.

[SoldierDad]

Many thanks to you, and may our Lord Bless your home during this Holiday season.

[Lady Jag]

[Billie]

One of you needs to concede, but it sure looks like a standoff from here! LOL!

[Majie Purple]

((((Thank you for your well wishes in 519!
Right back atcha!))))

[DaBearOne]

Hi snugs,

Thank you...Had a good Christmas, thanks in a large part to the Finest. It quicken my spirit I must say.

I think Maggie is with me each and every day.

I know with her it's the Simper Fi thang. So I just sit back and enjoy all they great years we had together.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too.

bernie

[DaBearOne]

Suffering meatloaf La Enchiladita, you did it again.
The very first thing I do when I wake up is to turn the TV on the Bluegrass music channel.

I thought I was the only on that knew that.

Yikes, your not going to get spooky on me now are you?
(just funning)

bernie

Oh yes, have a Happy New year.

[Lady Jag]

Never give up!