Amtrak’s Pere Marquette (P371) passes along the Lake Michigan shore line at St. Joseph, Mich. under foggy and “Winter Wonderland” conditions on Feb. 6, 2005 while en-route to Chicago. (Photo by J.R. Valderas)

Chris Van Allsburg’s Caldecott children’s book as well as the Warner Brothers’ movie “The Polar Express” has introduced a new generation to the excitement of travel by rail. The Pere Marquette 1225 locomotive, pictured on an excursion trip near the Saginaw County Fairgrounds on Dec. 11, 2004, served as the artist’s model for the animated movie. The locomotive is owned by the Owosso based Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation (MSTRP), which consulted on the movie. (Photo Courtesy of J.R. Valderas)

Amtrak’s Pere Marquette arrives to the Padnos Transportation Center in Holland, Mich. and passengers gather on the platform to board the train bound for Chicago, Ill. on Nov. 25, 2004.. (Photo by John Langdon)

Passengers board Amtrak’s Blue Water train at the former Michigan Central Station in Kalamazoo Nov. 13, 2004. Click HERE for more information about Amtrak’s services in Michigan.  (Photo by J.R. Valderas)