the Polar Express
The Polar Express Train Ride Experience by Puffing Billy Railway.
In 2022, Festive Tribe was commissioned by Puffing Billy Railway’s Visitor Experience Team to create the North Pole Set for The Polar Express.
The North Pole set was based upon the animated film The Polar Express, released in and the design brief included meeting specific aesthetic criteria to replicate the look and feel of the North Pole in the final climactic scenes of the film. The brief required the team to utilise the space of the Great Hall and museum at the Emerald Lakeside Visitor’s Centre to create a magical and grand experience where children and families, once they have completed their steam train ride and enjoyed the live action performances by the cast, enter to meet and have a photo with Santa.
Our team matched the industrial aesthetic of the village, and built a huge clocktower, complete with a glowing clock face, an over sized magical sleigh loaded with presents to match those seen in the film, and replicated interior scenes from the factory where the elves are at work wrapping gifts, checking the naughty and nice list and making final preparations for delivery.
Our North Pole set was a huge success as we rose to meet the challenges and limitations of the museum space whilst keeping to our budget and timeline to deliver a polished and contemporary take on the brief.
The Polar Express Train Experience by Puffing Billy Railway is the only one in the southern hemisphere and catered to a sold out season of thousands of passengers over the 7 day event.
Project Lead: Jules Konda
Project Manager: Phil Byers
Set Building: Art Boards Australia
Scenic Artist Lead: Raquel Carter
Scenic Artist: Rose Amara
Sleigh design, build, art and set dressing by Mandy MacGarrigal
Soft furnishings, props and set dressing by CJ Baxter
Additional support by OBJ Productions, David Whyte, Tomas,
