BEHIND THE SCENES: How a Christmas Train Became a Brick Legend

"Some trains carry passengers. This one carries memories."

TIME RUSTS STEEL, BUT NOT MEMORIES.

Designer Jon wasn't specifically looking for a legendary item that day. He stumbled upon the Polar Express while searching for Christmas gifts online, and that's how our Pere Marquette 1225 steam locomotive came to be.Its curves softened by fading light, the old steam locomotive seemed alive—like it was breathing history itself.

Jon asked himself: "What if this train could live on—not in photos, but in bricks?"

Back at his desk, he began sketching, not just to capture the train's form, but the feeling it left behind—steadiness, charm, and that nostalgic pull of simpler times. His vision was to create a building brick set that fans could proudly display, gift as a holiday present, and most of all, hold close like a memory you can touch.

HELD IN FORM, FELT IN SPIRIT.

Recreating the 1225 wasn't about copying details—it was about finding the soul. The train's gentle curves meet bold angles, strength hidden within elegance. Capturing this balance in 1587 pieces tested Jon's patience. Adjusting one slope often meant rebuilding an entire section.

For Jon, every line carried history. Every proportion whispered a story. The challenge was more than geometry—it was about making sure that, with just one glance, the model would awaken a memory, like the Christmas train from "The Polar Express."

A GENTLE TURN AWAKENS A SLEEPING SOUL.

This wasn't designed to be just a static display. Jon believed trains should move—even if only a little. Hidden inside the roof, he built a gear mechanism: twist the knob, and the wheels roll forward in a steady rhythm. No rush, no noise—just quiet grace.

It's not about speed. It's about presence. That subtle motion creates a moment: a bridge between past and present, where a simple turn of the wheel feels like time itself slowing down. A model that doesn't just sit—it lives.

WHY THE PERE MARQUETTE 1225?

The decision wasn't just about looks. The 1225 is more than steel—it's culture. Known worldwide for starring in The Polar Express movie, it became the ultimate Christmas train, a holiday icon tied to childhood wonder and winter nostalgia.

As one project lead joked: "Who could say no to a Christmas train?"

And that's why this set was chosen—to give fans not only a locomotive, but also a symbol of tradition, storytelling, and family moments together.

FROM DESIGN TABLE TO YOUR HANDS.

Along the way, the team faced real challenges. Test builders reported early issues—hoses interfering with side panels, wheel rods that didn't quite fit, carriage connections that were tricky to snap in. Iteration after iteration fixed these flaws, until the NIFELIZ PERE MARQUETTE 1225 became smooth to build and satisfying to hold.

Even the graphic designer played a role, refining the instruction booklet to make each step logical and intuitive. For a model of this size, clarity matters. Every turn of the page had to feel natural, almost like the train itself guiding you along.

CLOSING NOTE

Jon never planned to design a Christmas legend, but that's what the Pere Marquette 1225 became. More than just a static display, this model carries warmth, movement, and memory—an invitation to slow down, build together, and rediscover the charm of steam rail.