text: Pere Marquette 1225 Freight Special on DVD by Greg Scholl Train Video
  This video was shot in April 2007, and features a weekend of photo freights from Owosso, Michigan which is the home of the Steam Railroading Institute, where Pere Marquette 2-8-4 number 1225 resides. 1225 has never operated on a photo special like this, and is normally seen on sporadic excursions during summer season, or the holiday trains during the Christmas season. Speaking of the holidays, 1225 is well-known as being the locomotive that was used as the template for the movie "Polar Express" a few years ago.
  We arrived early so that we captured some of the activity on Friday with the train being assembled for the weekend. We see 1225 moving around, and Flagg Coal Company 0-4-0T Number 75, which was given its original number, 2 for this weekend. Both engines are seen at Owosso as switching duties are performed.
  On Saturday and Sunday we start before dawn, with sunrise scenes that accent the profile of the fine lines of this steam locomotive. We work two different lines on both Saturday and Sunday including the former New York Central line, and the former Ann Arbor line from Owosso, Michigan. During the days we are treated to several different runbys, that include reflection shots, grain elevators, and much more. In addition some period vintage vehicles are used with some of the runbys. There are scenes of 1225 on the turntable as it is serviced between runs.
  Two camera coverage includes extra scenes at some locations, plus some spots where we could combine two camera shots into one runby. You won't want to miss this first-ever photo special for Pere Marquette 1225.
  Color with live stereo audio. Approximately 98 minutes
  DVD Item#: GSVP-141
  DVD UPC: 604435014191
  Pat Hanna (Cambridge Ontario Canada) on 2011-01-06 19:45:57.
  We rode the PM 1225 several years ago on a passenger excursion with the kids. I was pleased to watch the video and hear the sounds of that beautiful locomotive again! The video camera work is excellent and I rather enjoyed the "staged" scenes complete with vintage cars and trucks. The weather and natural lighting was perfect and the multiple run-bys from different angles was very well done! Really beautiful sunrise shots...unusual! I would sincerely recommend this DVD especially if you are a fan of those big LIMA Berks! Great work Greg!
  Additional remarks by Pat Hanna:
  traingeek on 2010-01-05 13:37:18.
  This is an excellent video for your collection if your a steam fan, especially a fan of the 1225. Lots of excellent views of this superpower lima built beauty. The shots of the activity at the Steam railroad institute are very cool! The staged crossing shots with the vintage trucks are some of the best shots in this video. Overall an outstanding video of the 1225 strutting her stuff!
  rrvideoman on 2009-03-19 07:13:47.
  Steam trains have a fascination for the rail fan that diesels just can't quite live up to. But for so many of us, and the generation we are in, the memories of live steam in operation is to far gone as we approach 50 years since the last mainline steam engines operated.
  In this video, we are taken back in time to central Michigan where we are treated to a working steam train, pulling freight cars as it did over 50 years ago. In order to enhance the movie and give the viewer as much as possible, there are a number of runbys from different camera angles at different locations, using various props like old vehicles from the same time period to give the 1940's and 50's appearance. We even see a horse and rider making chase at one point.
  While I did enjoy the movie and I do recommend it, I would not place it on my favorites list. I did not see anything that would set it above other videos of the same theme and time frame represented. For the die-hard steam fans, it is a great video.