Glacier Gulch is a roller coaster-like railroad track that appeared in the 2004 animated film, The Polar Express.
Role in the Film[]
With a 179° grade, Glacier Gulch is, according to the Conductor, the "steepest downhill grade in the world." The Polar Express once went too fast down this roller-coaster-like track after Steamer broke the engine's throttle cotter pin, causing the train to speed out of control.
Before the train goes down the track, the Conductor tells Hero Boy and Hero Girl to hold onto the safety bar while using the ropes from Hero Boy's robe to tie them to the bar to keep them from falling off. After the train reaches the bottom of the gulch, it speeds over a roller-coaster like bridge. While that happens, the pin comes out from the vent it fell into and Steamer catches it in his mouth, only to swallow it after the train goes over another hill. The train then ends up on the Ice Lake.
Later, when Hero Boy, Hero Girl, and the Conductor get back to the passenger cars, Know-It-All, who had experienced the events from inside the train, thinks Hero Boy missed it and tries telling him about it. However, Hero Boy is uninterested and heads to the observation car.
Trivia[]
In the book, Glacier Gulch does not appear.
In the film, a sign says the gulch has a 179° grade. However, a vertical drop is 90°, so it would make more sense for it to say 89°.
