While Chris Van Allsburg's award-winning The Polar Express has been a favorite children's book since 1985, the recently released movie has generated a renewed interest in the classic story. The movie, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, was brought to life using revolutionary performance-capture CG animation. The story tells of a young boy's struggle to solve the mystery of Santa Claus, and plays out on a train called The Polar Express. Led by a massive Berkshire locomotive, the train transports wide-eyed kids on a hair-raising adventure to the North Pole.

Some of the most popular Polar Express items on eBay include three very special autographed Polar Express train sets by Lionel LLC, with all the proceeds donated to three worthwhile causes. These train sets were placed on eBay's Giving Works charity division, and have raised a combined $9,985 for the three selected charities.

Auction Items (scroll down for more details about each):

1) First, handmade, prototype of the Lionel Polar Express train set, autographed by Chris Van Allsburg and Tom Hanks. This item was introduced and on display for the first time at the 2004 International Toy Fair, making it a unique and valuable model for any serious train hobbyist. What makes this set even more unique is that the tender is signed on one side by Chris Van Allsburg, and on the other by Tom Hanks. All proceeds from this one-of-a-kind train set will be donated to the Hospice of Michigan pediatric patients' fund. Hospice of Michigan provides comprehensive, compassionate comfort care to people with acute chronic illness and support for families' loved ones. Regardless of age, diagnosis or ability to pay, the Hospice of Michigan has lived this commitment for nearly 25 years (http://www.hom.org/). This item sold for $6,600.

2) A production version of The Polar Express train set autographed by Tom Hanks. All of the proceeds will be donated to the charity of Mr. Hanks' choice, The James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Fund Hospital for Sick Children Foundation (http://www.jamesbirrell.ca/).This item sold for $2,476.

3) The third item to be auctioned is a production version of The Polar Express train set autographed by Chris Van Allsburg. All of the proceeds will be donated to the charity of Mr. Van Allsburg's choice, The Draw a Breath Foundation (www.lifespan.org/services/asthma/programs/drawabreath). This item sold for $909.

(1) Description of piece � from the eBay auction:

The Polar Express, the classic children's story written by Chris Van Allsburg in 1985, comes to life on movie screens around the world beginning November 2004 in a film by Robert Zemeckis, starring Academy Award® winner, Tom Hanks. Using ground-breaking, motion-capture animation, the story of a young boy's struggle to solve the mystery of Santa Claus plays out on a train called the Polar Express. Led by a massive Berkshire locomotive, the train transports wide-eyed kids on a hair-raising adventure to the North Pole. Now, you can own the Polar Express train featured in both the best-selling book, and this Christmas season's sure-hit movie, as only Lionel can create it.

This is the first, handmade, prototype of the Lionel Polar Express train set.

This item was introduced and on display for the first time at the 2004 International Toy Fair, making it a unique and valuable model for any serious train hobbyists. Or it could become a matchless discussion piece for the mantle or for display under a Christmas tree. What makes this set even more unique is that the tender has been personally autographed on one side by Chris Van Allsburg and on the other by Tom Hanks.

All proceeds from this one-of-a-kind train set will be donated to the Hospice of Michigan pediatric patients' fund. Hospice of Michigan provides comprehensive, compassionate comfort care to people with acute chronic illness and support for their loved ones. Regardless of age, diagnosis or ability to pay, the Hospice of Michigan has lived this commitment for nearly 25 years.

Painstakingly designed to be true to the original, this one of a kind exclusive Lionel train set features a die-cast metal 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive with a new, larger pilot, headlight lens cap and unique whistle and die-cast tender. The engine and tender are painted in a dark, matte finish to complete the image. Following the locomotive and tender are two lighted coach cars. The observation car features a new rounded observation deck, just like in the movie! Silhouettes in the windows depict scenes from the movie including the scary marionette car, and the joyful coach car where the kids get their fill of hot chocolate and candy.

Please note: Since this is a handmade prototype it does not come with a box or track.

(2) Description of piece � from the eBay auction:

The Polar Express, the classic children's story written by Chris Van Allsburg in 1985, comes to life on movie screens around the world beginning November 2004 in a film by Robert Zemeckis, starring Academy Award® winner, Tom Hanks. Using ground-breaking, motion-capture animation, the story of a young boy's struggle to solve the mystery of Santa Claus plays out on a train called The Polar Express. Led by a massive Berkshire locomotive, the train transports wide-eyed kids on a hair-raising adventure to the North Pole.

Now, you can own The Polar Express train featured in both the best-selling book, and this Christmas season's sure-hit movie, as only Lionel can create it. Painstakingly designed to be true to the original, this one of a kind exclusive Lionel train set features a die-cast metal Berkshire steam locomotive with a new, larger pilot, headlight lens cap and unique whistle, and a tender personally autographed by Tom Hanks. The engine and tender are painted in a dark, matte finish to complete the image.

Following the locomotive and tender are two lighted coach cars. The observation car features a new rounded observation deck, just like in the movie! Silhouettes in the windows depict scenes from the movie including the scary marionette car, and the joyful coach car where the kids get their fill of hot chocolate and candy. The main characters from the movie are included as articulated figures with turning heads, movable arms, bendable waists and jointed knees. They can be posed and placed on areas of the locomotive, tender and passenger cars to replicate your favorite scenes from the movie.

This set features:

• 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive and autographed tender, two passenger coaches, one passenger observation car with rounded deck, three straight FasTrack track sections, eight curved FasTrack track sections, one FasTrack terminal section, CW-80 Transformer, articulated movie characters, smoke fluid, How-to instructional video.
• Transformer controlled forward, neutral and reverse operation
• Air whistle in tender
• Operating headlight
• Operating coupler on rear of tender
• Powerful maintenance-free motor
• Two traction tires Puffing smoke
• Die-cast metal locomotive body and frame
• Separately applied metal handrails
• All-new pilot and headlight lens shield Interior lighting
• Decorated drumhead on observation car
• All-new, rounded observation deck
• Silhouettes in windows

100% of the proceeds from this auction are being donated, by Mr. Hanks' choice, to The James Fund.

(3) Description of piece � from the eBay auction:

The Polar Express, the classic children's story written by Chris Van Allsburg in 1985, comes to life on movie screens around the world beginning November 2004 in a film by Robert Zemeckis, starring Academy Award® winner, Tom Hanks. Using ground-breaking, motion-capture animation, the story of a young boy's struggle to solve the mystery of Santa Claus plays out on a train called the Polar Express. Led by a massive Berkshire locomotive, the train transports wide-eyed kids on a hair-raising adventure to the North Pole.

Now, you can own the Polar Express train featured in both the best-selling book, and this Christmas season's sure-hit movie, as only Lionel can create it. Painstakingly designed to be true to the original, this one of a kind exclusive Lionel train set features a die-cast metal Berkshire steam locomotive with a new, larger pilot, headlight lens cap and unique whistle and a personally autographed by Chris Van Allsburg tender. The engine and tender are painted in a dark, matte finish to complete the image.

Following the locomotive and tender are two lighted coach cars. The observation car features a new rounded observation deck, just like in the movie! Silhouettes in the windows depict scenes from the movie including the scary marionette car, and the joyful coach car where the kids get their fill of hot chocolate and candy. The main characters from the movie are included as articulated figures with turning heads, movable arms, bendable waists and jointed knees. They can be posed and placed on areas of the locomotive, tender and passenger cars to replicate your favorite scenes from the movie.

This set features:

• 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive and autographed tender, two passenger coaches, one passenger observation car with rounded deck, three straight FasTrack track sections, eight curved FasTrack track sections, one FasTrack terminal section, CW-80 Transformer, articulated movie characters, smoke fluid, How-to instructional video.
• Transformer controlled forward, neutral and reverse operation
• Air whistle in tender
• Operating headlight
• Operating coupler on rear of tender
• Powerful maintenance-free motor
• Two traction tires Puffing smoke
• Die-cast metal locomotive body and frame
• Separately applied metal handrails
• All-new pilot and headlight lens shield Interior lighting
• Decorated drumhead on observation car
• All-new, rounded observation deck
• Silhouettes in windows

100% of the proceeds from this auction are being donated, by Mr. Van Allsburg's choice, to The Draw a Breath foundation.

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