Empire State Express Coaches / James E. Strates Shows Train

The James E. Strates Shows circus train currently has four cars, numbered JESX 101 through JESX 104, that appear to be cars built by Budd as coaches for NYC's Empire State Express.

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPictur ... id=3454173
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPictur ... id=3242124
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPictur ... id=3242107
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPictur ... id=3253665

Am I correct as to the heritage of these 4 cars?

Any idea where (from whom) Strates Shows purchased these 4 cars? I am assuming these 4 cars were not acquired from the Rochester & Genesee Valley Museum collection of Budd built NYC Empire State Express coaches.

My guess would be they are the ones purchased from the Batten Kill a few years ago:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2667288

Yes, they are the former Batten Kill coaches.

Did Battenkill RR not get these from MNCR ?

Our ESE set is still intact:

http://www.rgvrrm.org/about/railroad/ese/index.htm

-otto-

RGVRRM Trustee