Dispute derails outing's Polar Express theme

PENINSULA, Ohio (AP) -- The Polar Express theme of a Christmas season railroad outing has come to the end of the line, derailed by a money dispute with Hollywood.
The nonprofit Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad near Akron, which sponsored the Polar Express rides, said it must find a new theme because it can't afford a fee demanded by Warner Bros. The railroad promised to find a replacement holiday theme. The size of the fee was not disclosed.
Warner Bros. owns the rights to the "Polar Express" children's book and Tom Hanks film. The railroad began using the Polar Express theme before Warner Bros. got the rights to the story about a boy's North Pole adventure.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products said Wednesday that the fee reflected a licensing arrangement "allowing us to create a consistent consumer experience that meets the high expectations of both fans of the book and film."
Last year, the Polar Express carried 20,000 riders, 20 percent of the historic rail line's year-round business.