By Railfan & Railroad Staff

Pere Marquette 2-8-2 1225 has been sidelined for the remainder of the 2024 season, the Steam Railroading Institute announced over the weekend. The 2-8-4 N-1 Class Berkshire was expected to lead SRI’s popular North Pole Express through the month of December but an issue with the locomotive’s superheaters was recently discovered. 

The superheaters — which pipe pressurized steam back through the hot gas of the fire a second time to add more heat and thus more power — are located deep in the boiler and will require weeks to inspect, diagnose and repair. With 1225 sidelined, the North Pole Express runs on the Great Lakes Central will be led by diesels. The steam engine will be on display in Owosso for ticketed passengers to view. 

“Our entire team at SRI is just as disappointed as you are that we needed to make this decision, but our primary goal is for the safety of our passengers and crew during the North Pole Express trips and the protection of this treasured locomotive that is in our care,” SRI officials wrote. 

PM 1225 was built by Lima in October 1941. The locomotive is perhaps best known as the inspiration for the engine in the 2004 film “Polar Express.”