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”

[ConorMacNessa]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE FINEST!

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May The Blessings And Joys Of The Christmas Season Be Yours Throughout The New Year

[ConorMacNessa]

“And suddenly
there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
Good will to men.”

[Majie Purple]

Thanks much for these recent pings/pretties/purrkitties & songs!!!!!

[DaBearOne]

Hi Nan,

Merry Christmas again to you and all. So enjoyed talking with you Nan.

We are all so blessed here.

Just finished my laundry, now for the ironing. Good thing my my mom taught me how. I just wonder how she manage to keep her fingers from being ironed? (must be a trick to it.)

Am lurking again today, as you see. Happy to see you on.

Love to all,

dabearone

[SnarlinCubBear]

BEAUTIFUL Conor

[MEG33]

All of your posts are just beautiful..Thank you!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[MEG33]

What a beautiful Santa! Merry Christmas

[MEG33]

I turned up the speakers for Mannheim Steamroller! Thank you!

[Aquamarine]

Cute post, you find the best music.

[Aquamarine]

This opener is remarkable! Have a Merry Christmas Dolly.

[ConorMacNessa]

Great pic, Dr. S.!

[Aquamarine]

Christmas Hugs DaBearOne.

[MEG33]

Yes, we are blessed.
Hugs, DaBear..I have my ironing board stored behind the Christmas decorations in the closet!LOL..
Merry Christmas!

[WVNan]

Thank you for the ping MEG. The last update does not sound good for Kay, but I'm banking on the Lord to see her through this.

[luvie]

You're welcome. Aren't they fantastic?? I posted more MS on the Canteen, too!

MORE MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER
Posts #378, 390, 400, 416, and 432

enjoy!!!

[MEG33]

You are welcome..Kayak posted last night from a laptop after I had read the update..Her spirit and faith are strong. Several people called her. May the good Lord sustain her and her husband.

[WVNan]

I just made my last Christmas shopping foray (I hope). Now all I have to do is wrap a gazillion gifts, with time out for Sunday services which include Holy Communion and a Christmas message, and then Christmas Eve services at hubby's church. I do hope that Christmas does not fall on the week-end the next few years.

Happy to know that you and your family are on top of things Rus. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS.

[luvie]

Thank you. Those first two were just so darn cute, I couldn't resist posting them. LOL!

[WVNan]

Hey Bear! I'm in and out today. Lots to do before daughter gets here. Guess what? I'm baking again. Making blueberry muffins for another neighbor. I may even bake something else while I'm in the mood. But I don't want to overdo it. LOL. (((((((Bear)))))))