I am learning more and more as I read some of your posts as well as looking at other websites.  One thing I learned was that the Polar Express locomotive was modeled after the 2-8-4 Pere Marquette 1225.  I also learned that Bachmann created one of these, but am I right...only in HO scale?  I was wondering why they didn't do it on their Large scale version.  Instead they used the 4-6-0 that they use on tons of their sets.  Did they make, or do they plan to make the 1225 in large scale?

So we put our brand new (to us) Polar Express train set together last night and surprised our daughter for Christmas morning.  She is beautiful!!!  But the set did not come with the video manual and I need help, being a rookie to the model train world.  How do I get the sound and lights to work?  I put a 9-volt battery in the tender, but I am not getting anything.  Is there a switch somewhere I need to flip, or a connection that needs to be connected?  I did connect the wire from the tender to the engine, but I don't see other connections other than the couplers.  Help! 

Dave

I just purchased a Bachmann Polar Express G scale for my kids for Christmas.  I was wondering if Bachmann made any of the other cars for this set...ie Hot Chocolate, or Baggage, or Dining?  I know Lionel does.  Would theirs match this set though?