Ringling Bros Circus Shutting Down: CIRCUS TRAIN!

[justalurker66]

Hopefully some of the cars wind up at the "Circus World" museum in Wi.

A nice place ... but without a major touring circus I am afraid that interest will fade.

[Gilbert B Norman]

I'm certain the various classic movie channels will be airing "The Greatest Show On Earth" infinitum/nauseam.

It's good for a laugh, complete with a rear end between two Lionels, tigers on the loose, an actress doing a headstand compliments of post-production, a host of other what the IMDB site calls "goofs", and of course unrequited love.

In short, how they made 'em back in.the '50's.

http://imdb.com/rg/an_share/title/title/tt0044672/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MrCloud9guy]

Does anyone have or know where I can get any information on the route the red unit might take to/from Worcester? I'd like to try and get a video of it passing by if possible. Thanks!

[Frank]

Here's my video of the Circus train on the Garden City secondary in 2006.

https://youtu.be/_yAi7xAC8Ag

Enjoy!

[jhdeasy]

What Ringling passenger train equipment is unique, historic (other than just being old) or significant?

From my perspective, there is nothing particularly unique, historic or significant about any of the cars in Ringling's large fleet of passenger cars.

You will not find any feature cars from famous trains. The interior of all of the passenger cars have been extensively modified; the exterior of cars have also been modified. For example, someone who did not know passengers cars well may look at RBBX 41402 and have no idea this car was built as as a 16 duplex roomette 4 double bedroom sleeper (KINGFISHER) for B&O, since the window profile has been extensively altered. http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPictur ... id=1179601 If you looked at RBBX 41405, it would be hard to discern that Budd built it as a (5 bedroom 1 compartment 4 section 4 roomette) sleeper (CEDARTOWN) for SAL's Silver Meteor in 1955. http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPictur ... id=2420271 After all, these cars "ran away from home and joined the circus", taking on a new persona.

A large number of cars are former UP cars, which were built as coaches, baggage and postal storage cars. There are also a few former UP ALPINE and AMERICAN series sleepers.

The second largest group of cars are the former PRR and N&W sleepers that PRR converted to coaches in the first half of the 1960s.

To date, Ringling Brothers has not announced their plans for disposition of the fleet, and their large inventory of components (trucks, wheelsets, couplers, AC units, etc.) and shop equipment. I suspect an auction is likely. There may be minimum bids set for each car. However, they may be approached directly by various railroads who may want to purchase selected assets. In the past, UP has purchased former UP cars from various owners for refurbishment and a place in their executive and excursion fleets. AAPRCO and RPCA members are watching this one closely, with cash at the ready.

[Gilbert B Norman]

Mr. Deasy, at first I was astounded to note your immediate reporting a 1955 Budd Sleeper configured 4 Sec 4 Rmt 5BR 1 CP acquired by Seaboard, but checking two sources - Official Register and Wayner confirms such.

Somehow, I think the shelf life of an open Section car assigned to the Meteor was short lived. I first rode the Meteor (dang; 6BR-Lng "--Mountain" was pinch hitting for Sun Lounge "-- Beach") Sep 1962. No sign of any car with Sections. SAL always reported in both their Public TT and the Guide each train's normal consist, so possibly someone with a more extensive collection of Guides can locate and report here or at the Fallen Flags Forum when those cars were assigned to the Meteor. Wayner reports that they made it to the SCL and a Hamburg lease.

With the Sections there for Government and Pass transportation, I would have thought they were assigned to "secondaries" such as The Palmland.

[Gilbert B Norman]

TRAINS Newswire presently offers free access to their material. Those who do not subscribe, here's your chance

[Backshophoss]

IN the newswire is a map of the final routing of the RED and BLUE Trains,and it's a downloadable .pdf file!
go to the previous day tab and click on it.

[Ocala Mike]

I believe the last show will be in May at the Nassau Colisseum. LIRR gets the honors for the train's move to the show's final performance.

[sd80mac]

I believe the last show will be in May at the Nassau Colisseum. LIRR gets the honors for the train's move to the show's final performance.

The show at NC is not the only one. There are two of them. That's why there are RED train and Blue train. One is at NC and another one is at Providence, RI..

[Backshophoss]

Both the Red and Blue units will start heading home on the NEC,the Red unit train might pass thru NY Penn while the Blue
unit train is still on the LIRR.
Red unit gets to Worcester via NS and PAR(PAS)

[Gilbert B Norman]

The latest Newswire (paywalled again) has more reports about any RBBX cars joining the "PV" fleet.

Short answer; a source of replacement parts:

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/20 ... ng-rebuild" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fair Use:

At first glance, the announced shutdown of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus would appear to be a boon to railway passenger car preservation. There may suddenly be available a vast fleet of heritage passenger cars that Ringling Bros. maintained in excellent mechanical condition. You won’t find rust and rot in Ringling’s fleet, all of which has been equipped with head-end electrical power.

The problem for museums and preservationists is there is a little if anything left of the original interiors, says Brad Black, a vice president with Virginkar & Associates, Inc., which consults on passenger car and rail transit rolling stock, equipment, and locomotive projects. Black says the cars have been “tunneled out,” with the interiors stripped to empty shells. So the cars bear no resemblance to when they were in their previous service. In fact, Black says, in recent years Ringling has been purchasing old coaches rather than sleeping cars, because there are fewer interior walls to tear out

[R36 Combine Coach]

If they're Budds, the car shells will be good for decades to come, perhaps as conversion kits or rebuild kit shells.

[Jeff Smith]

Per Trains, cars to be sold at auction: Ringling Brothers to auction off passenger cars, equipment

Brief, fair-use quote per railroad.net policy:

PALMETTO, Fla. — Managers at Feld Entertainment say they'll auction the fleet of more than 120 railcars and other assets that make up the two Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus train consists. Passenger car collectors, tourist rail...

Remainder behind subscriber wall.

[RandomRailfan]

Will it be coming through Long Island this year? I really want my kids to see it and am wondering when to take off work in order to see it!