Polar Express is pulling into mid-Michigan

"All aboard...the Polar Express."

The Pere Marquette steam locomotive No.1225 will make it's official appearance the first weekend of October, which will commemorate with the steam railroading institute celebrating 50 years.

MSU students established the Michigan State University Railroad Club in 1969 with a goal of restoring No. 1225.

They worked to restore the actual displayed monument that was on campus since 1957.

Eventually it was relocated to Owosso in 1983 and the group the MSU Railroad Club became the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation - which is now known as the Steam Railroading Institute.

The Steam Railroading Institute is located at 405 S. Washington Street in Owosso.

On October 4, in the afternoon, the train will leave Owosso and travel with Santa Claus and his elves on an excursion.

But not just one Santa Claus - many from the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School of Midland will be on board.

The school trains Santas, Mrs. Clauses, and elves from around the world, according to a press release.

The full weekend is full of events to celebrate the anniversary of the train.

- in case you didn't know, No. 1225 was in the 2004 Warner Bros. Christmas movie, THE POLAR EXPRESS™.

1225's blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life.