Heartwarming / The Polar Express

"Thank you! Thank you! Can't believe you found my ticket."

• Hero Boy stopping the train so the Lonely Boy could get on. When the Lonely Boy gets off for the return trip, he thanks the Hero Boy for doing so.
  • The Conductor is at first furious due to the train being stopped seemingly for no reason while they're on a tight schedule, but upon learning that Hero Boy only pulled the brake so the Lonely Boy can get on he quickly mellows out and agrees with the use of the brake.
• Hero Girl sneaks an extra hot chocolate to bring to Billy who's sitting alone in the caboose. When the usually strict Conductor sees what she is trying to do he heartily agrees and escorts her to the next car himself.
  Conductor: What about this boy in the back, did he get any refreshment? [Hero Girl shakes her head] Well then let's take some to him, by all means!
• Some elves get word that a boy put gum in his sister's hair. Rather than call Santa to have the kid put on the Naughty List, the head-elf decides to let it slide, since it's Christmas, and just has the offender put under "check twice" for next year.
• Hero Boy finally being able to hear one of the bells from Santa's sleigh after he lets go of his doubts and starts to believe in him. Then right afterwards, he's greeted by the man himself:
  Santa: What was that you said?
  Hero Boy: (stunned) I... I believe. I believe. (realizes he still has the bell) I... I believe that this is yours.
  Santa: (taking it) Well... thank you.
• The other kids being willing to help Hero Boy find his bell. Even the know-it-all kid.
  Billy: We'll find it!
  Lenny: Yeah! We'll help you! All of us!
• When Billy gets back to his house he finds Santa has already visited, and it has been decorated for Christmas. A stark contrast to how dreary it looked when the train first picked him up.
• When the Hero Boy gets off the train, he gives a thanks to the Conductor. The Conductor gives a big "No!"... and turns it into a "Thank you." It's a major Pet the Dog moment for such a divisive character. Then, the Conductor gives this piece of advice to the Hero Boy.
  Conductor: One thing about trains: it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on. (winks)
  • As Hero Boy is about to go inside his house, he turns and sees the Conductor yelling to him as the train begins to depart but can't hear him:
    Hero Boy: (calling out) What?!
    Conductor: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
• Sarah finds one last gift for her brother under the tree, which turns out to be the bell, which Santa found on the seat of his sleigh.
• Hero Boy's older self revealing that even after all of these years, he can still hear the ringing of the bell Santa gave him.
• The homeless man warning Chris about the tunnel, because apparently he himself perished by being knocked off.

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