If you’ve ever watched The Polar Express and wondered what a “real” North Pole–bound steam train might feel like, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with the Steam Railroading Institute (SRI)—even if you didn’t realize it. Based in Owosso, Michigan, SRI is a nonprofit preservation and education organization dedicated to keeping steam-era railroading skills, equipment, and experiences alive for new generations. Today, it’s best known as the home of Pere Marquette 2-8-4 Berkshire No. 1225 and as the operator of one of the Midwest’s most iconic holiday excursions, the North Pole Express.
But SRI is more than a seasonal train ride. It’s a working shop, a museum-like destination (open on select days), a volunteer-powered restoration program, and an excursion operator that blends education with the unmistakable romance of big steam in motion.
SRI’s Roots
SRI’s story is tightly bound to Pere Marquette No. 1225, a powerful Berkshire-type steam locomotive built during World War II–era railroading and once among the largest steam locomotives to operate in Michigan. After steam’s twilight years, 1225 was retired and very nearly scrapped—saved instead through the efforts of preservation-minded supporters and eventually displayed for decades at Michigan State University.
Over time, the locomotive’s future shifted from static display to active restoration. The preservation group that ultimately became associated with SRI worked for years to return 1225 to operating condition, and the engine eventually steamed again—an achievement that helped set the stage for SRI’s modern identity as an operating steam program rather than a “fence-line” exhibit…