Re: [CBQ] Circus Trains

["Kirby Lambert kirby@prospectortech.com [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>]

 I should have also mentioned that Ringling built their own flats in their own shops. Their flats were the longest that were used on the rails so that they held more equipment. This was because the railroads charged them on a per car basis.

As a side thought has anyone done research on the beginnings of piggyback service. I was always led to believe that what the railroads adapted into piggyback was started by the Barnum and Bailly show at the end of the 1800's. When B&B toured Europe before WW I the German Imperial command studied their movement of equipment, supplies and people and adapted it for their army and used it in WW I. This included their methods of feeding their people.

Kirby Lambert

On Aug 19, 2015, at 11:59 AM, Kirby Lambert kirby@prospectortech.com [CBQ] wrote:

 

I doubt if the train was Ringling. They always used their own flats and other cars that were specially painted. The cars all carried the RBBX identifier. I have attached a picture of one of their flats.

<JJS2073.jpg>

Kirby Lambert

August 19, 2015

 

Bud and Archie - Good stories! Thanks - Louis

 

In a message dated 8/19/2015 7:36:14 A.M. Central Daylight Time, CBQ@yahoogroups.com writes:

Bud,  You hitching a ride on the forklift reminded me of a ride I caught in a brand new Dodge sitting in an auto rack.  I had walked back 40 cars to couple a crossing we had cut earlier.  After tying the train together, I noticed the auto-rack of new Dodges right beside me.  I climbed up into the car and the first door I tried opened right up.  So I told the engineer to highball and away we wen.  It gets better, I reached under the seat and found the keys which enabled me to start the car, turn on the heater, and listen to the radio.  Not quite a clown on a forklift but maybe a dummy in a Dodge.  PS  Didn't even run out of gas on the 50 mile hop to West Quincy.  Archie 

On Aug 18, 2015, at 10:09 PM, ralph linroth wcman8@yahoo.com [CBQ] wrote:

 

I did not work any circus trains prior to 1971.  But Davenport was a regular stop.  There were several circus trains, I think besides the Ringling Bros there was Cole Bros and the most recent was Royal American shows.  I remember that the trains had there own train master and a mechanical car equipped with replacement drawbars and bearings.  One of these companies had 2 trains, 1 was called red and the other blue.  I remember putting the trains together was a real pain.  The elephants had to be next to the engines to offset leaning weight on the curves.  In some trains the occupied coaches were on the rear end and on others the animals were there.  Some trains left Davenport went to Barstow and went to Minneapolis. Another went to Galesburg and went to Omaha.  One trip we had to double the train out of about 4 tracks at Peoria Edmund Street yard.

One trip we got a circus train at Galesburg and headed up the p-vine towards Minneapolis-St. Paul.  I was on the rear end and when I reached for the orders from the order stand there was none.  We found them in the Elephant car.  One other trip after doubling the train out of Moline we were short of time and went into emergency at Lynn Center heading for Galesburg. &nb! sp;I found a uncoupled air hose on the third rear car and saw a forklift on the rear flatcar (conductor only no W/C).  I got on the forklift, put the seat belt on and rode to Galesburg.  We made it with 5 minutes to spa re.  By the time we crossed Henderson St. there was a lot of traffic looking at the clown riding on the forklift.  

Bud Linroth

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From: "LZadnichek@aol.com [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
To: cbq@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 3:23 PM
Subject: [CBQ] Circus Trains [1 Attachment]

 

[Attachment(s) from LZadnichek@aol.com included below]

August 18, 2015

 

Group - Does anyone recognize where the attached Q circus train powered by FT 105D  was taken? And, can any one identify what circus it was from the paint schemes on the trailers?

 

This is the first Q circus train photograph I've come across, excepting for when 4960 was used for powering the Schlitz historic circus train in Wisconsin, but that was off-line.

 

Leo, you or others in our Group. any stories out there on Q circus train movements and how they were handled? I don't remember this subject being covered before. Best Regards - Louis

 

Louis Zadnichek II

Fairhope, AL  

 

 

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Posted by: Kirby Lambert <kirby@prospectortech.com>

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