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”

[DollyCali]

[DollyCali]

Elves are a very important part of the Polar Express. Each car has 5 & they wander around the car all evening adding fun & spontaneity. They serve cookies, hot cocoa along the way as well as offer elf dust, read the stories, carry banners, lead in sing along (on way BACK from North Pole). Also on the return Santa goes thru the train & stops with each child for pix & to get the last minute requests for Christmas. Mrs. Santa also is there to visit with family friends.

Elf Larry was the ringleader of fun & laughter and other elfes here were enthusiastic & endearing. This is a representative crew from CAR 3; Akron Run, December 19, 2006. One of these Elves is also a FReeper. Wheelbarrow has been an elf volunteer for 3 years now & at 81 this WW2 vet adds spirit & fun to the crew.

Elf Larry is applying angel dust to one of the riders. The magic train cannot depart until all have some angel dust applied. Not every rider however WANTS angel dust!

Elves come in all sizes & all ages. Here is a married couple that volunteers yearly.

Pretty young elves add zest to the evening

The “bell” is a significant part of the Polar Express Story

Each car has a “reader elf”. The book is available for sale in the one car that is the concession/snack bar car.

Here Elf Linda puts on nametags at start of ride

Some elves are also Park Rangers. Here is Cindy.

[DollyCali]

Some of the Passengers

Cameras are abundant on the trains! Here a mom passenger (neat jammies?) and her daughter are all smiles as they “shoot away”

Four generations of beautiful women shared the ride this night. Shown are Vera Kovacs (86); Carol Kovacs (64); Daphne Leon(41); and Sydney Leon (3)

[I still care]

I wanted so much to see this on IMAX this year, but I am in NY for the season and all the local Imax screens seem to be carrying Happy Feet instead. My friend saw this in 3D and says it was one of the most incredible movie experiences of her life.

[DollyCali]

Following are some shots from the engine car as we made our way south (to the NORTH Pole)..the sunset was gorgeous. Locals might recognize some of the sites.

Above and below the “Station Road Bridge Area”. This is about 1 mile from my home

The Interstate 271 Bridge which spans the Cuyahoga Valley. Currently under construction.

[DollyCali]

More pix to come later. My good buddy Murphy has assisted tremendously in this "effort". Check in throughout the four day week-end for additonal pix from the event

[mylife]

Where is the snow? ;0)

[DollyCali]

ah elusive snow... the difficulty with polar express in places OTHER than the North Pole..often no snow & like our weather here been balmy!

I volunteered as an Elf for several years before the demands of care-giving made it difficult, but I recall well my very first night.. about a week prior to Thanksgiving & we had a blizzard! I was wondering if I would spend the night in the train roundhouse as the roads to my house are "rough" in bad weather.

The kids were delighted and the NORTH POLE (ala Peninsula) was beautiful

[mylife]

I'll bet its gorgeous when the countryside is covered in snow.

NE Ohio snowless at Christmas, who'd of thunk it?
Dang Al Gore and his global warming ;0)

[DollyCali]

One thing you learn quickly..,The Engineer(man who drives the train) is NOT in charge. It is the Conductor!

The first leg of trip to North Pole I rode with Tony Hart, our Conductor. I rode in the front engine for the first hour to the stop to pick up the “elves” at Botzum Station. Shown below are Engineer Chad Crim(left), who was a volunteer since 1988 & on staff since 94. He grew up in Penisnula (the North Pole) and still has a passion for trains., saying the thrill is always there Also shown are Vern Davis & Mike Frastaci who are assistant engineers.

Above is the Conductor Tony Hart who has volunteered with the train for 5 years.

Above is brakeman Dan Krol. He and his wife have been volunteers for many years & do both elf & brakeman work as needed.

Above is CVSR Marketing Co-=oordinator Nicole. She handles many of the Train events including the Polar Express & the popular Wine Trains. She was on one of the trains handling the concession/gift shop area.

Smiling faced volunteers do MANY things on the train.. ~ most are behind the scenes but necessary.

Above are some of the crew/staff on the train:
(top) Joe Dorsey, Jim Roszak, Brian Kelly, Greg Szucs
(front) Charles Allen, Gary Spencer; Mary Spencer; Tony Hart

Above & below are Conductor Brian Kelly who is on staff & moved from WV where he did similar work on the Scenic Rail Road there.

[DollyCali]

I would love to see this on Imax also. ALmost anything is great on it. I recall seing Patriot Games on it (first non-documentary flick I saw via IMAX).. I was "hooked"

[DollyCali]

[ConorMacNessa]

Great thread and Pledge, Dolly!

[ConorMacNessa]

HAPPY FRIDAY TO THE FINEST!

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Wearing Red to support our troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan!

[DollyCali]

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you dear ["DollyCali"]:}}}}, pleas pray for "Kayak".
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[ConorMacNessa]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE FINEST!

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May the Blessings of the Christmas Season Fall on You and Yours!

[anonymoussierra]

I'm sorry pleas=please

[anonymoussierra]

I'm sorry pleas=please