Circus train
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
A circus train is a modern method of conveyance for circus troupes. One of the larger users of circus trains is the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus (RBBB), a famous American circus formed when the Ringling Brothers purchased the Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1907.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circuses separately and together grew to dominate live entertainment through their frequent purchases of many other American circuses. In modern times, they travel in two circus trains, the blue unit, and the red unit, following an alternating two-year schedule to bring a new show to each location once a year.
The consists of the RBBB circus trains are more than a mile in length, and include living quarters for the performers and animal keepers. There are also special stock cars for the exotic animals and flatcars for the transportation of circus wagons, equipment, and even a bus used for local transportation at performance sites.
The circus trains have proven well-suited for transportation of the heavy livestock such as elephants, despite several tragic accidents over the years. Many railfans keep track of the movements of circus trains.
Another circus train is operated by the James E. Strates Shows.
See also
- Phineas Taylor Barnum
- James Anthony Bailey
- The Greatest Show on Earth
- Showmen's Rest
- Hammond circus train wreck
External Links
- Yahoo group for Circus Train enthusiasts (http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/CircusTrain/)
- Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus homepage (http://www.ringling.com/)
- Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus Animal Abuse (http://www.circuses.com/ringling.html)
- Circus World Museum (http://www.circusworldmuseum.com)
- James E. Strates Shows homepage (http://www.stratesshows.com)
