My wife went to visit her mom today and they got to see the Barnum & Bailey circus train rolling thru So. Plainfield, NJ. Since I couldn't be there (that "work" thing) I don't know which way it was going but I think I'll look 'em up on the web and see what their schedule looks like- maybe I can plot a way to see it? Anyway, somewhere- the circus is coming to town. Mark
Per the Barnum website, the Gold train will be in Biloxi, MS late August. If CSX allows them to use the passing siding next to the MS Coast Coliseum where they perform, I should be able to get some photos of the unloading. Then I hope to get photos of the performers' cars if they are allowed to park the train on the station sidings in Ocean Springs. I had a bunch of photos of all this action from 15 or so years ago, but can't find them now....?
About four years ago, I was called as the Conductor (perfect Clown for the job:rn-goofy on the "Blue Unit" of the B&B train out of Bakersfield. Went over Tehachapi in the daylight none-the-less. The funniest thing I remember was looking in the mirror and seeing the elephant trunks poking out of the baggage cars. There was straw along the right-of-way for months....:we-spinny:
Circus Unloading @ Biloxi, MS I found a montage that my wife had prepared from my photos of the Barnum & Bailey train unloading. I'll keep searching for more photos, including those of the cars that are the performers' family living quarters for the 18+/- months that they are on the road.
I wonder if we'll ever see them pulled again by a steam engine? When was the last time? C&NW 1385, years ago? Boxcab E50
I would doubt it for a number of reasons. I assume that the insurance fees charged by the freight rails for allowing a non-standard "foreign" locomotive to operate over their lines, the fees charged by the freight rails for (steam qualified?) pilots, and the operating and maintenance fees charged by the steam locomotive owners would be greater than merely leasing freight rail owned locomotives and crews. I assume that the freight rail equipment and crews would not require additional insurance fees since that is an overhead expense already budgeted for by freight rail companies. Of course I could be dead wrong with my assumptions. Hopefully there are TB members better qualified to discuss this issue and who will correct me.
