Ringling Bros 2017

Backshophoss wrote:LIRR,Amtrak,CSX if there are passenger cars to be dropped at Oak Island,then CSX all the way home

Yes, there are passenger cars to be dropped at Oak Island Yard for new owners. Some of these new owners are still struggling to determine what they need to do for a one time "one way move to home shop" on Amtrak. Right now the rules appear to be (1) provide PC-5 clearance diagram to Amtrak, (2) obtain 800000 series private car number from Amtrak, (3) car must pass modified annual private car inspection at Amtrak terminal of origin, (4) and wait for approval of the movement from Amtrak. There are 2 known limitations. Amtrak will not connect these cars to HEP due to safety concerns. Amtrak will not handle them on regularly scheduled trains on the NEC; they will have to be moved in one of Amtrak's shop equipment moves or work trains on the NEC.

The thought came to mind that the remnants of the RBBX Blue Unit train will soon pass the Amtrak Autotrain terminal at Lorton Va on their way back to Florida. Maybe that will represent the changing of the guard for the longest mixed train in the USA.

The final (funeral train) run of the EMPTY Blue Unit Circus Train is to start some time Tues. afternoon, May 23, from out in Uniondale, NY (Long Island), we believe: some personnel are being allowed to sleep off a 12+ -hour tear-down and loading of the flatcars through Monday night, with some departing early morning Tuesday, it's said. This should be taken with a grain of skepticism, as they plan to roll the 56 cars out of Uniondale as soon as possible, dropping off a large cut of coaches in Newark before heading south (we're also told, now, that ALL the fleet's passenger cars are now spoken for -- so at least we will see them PRESERVED and NOT scrapped, which is a great relief for Circus fans and also railroad enthusiasts, particularly passenger cars historians.

A stipulation in the sales contract for all individuals and entities (museums, excursion operators and railroads) getting the cars says they are NOT to divulge to anyone, even online, where they got the cars ... so far that is how it's playing out, however OUTSIDE OBSERVERS have already reported several cuts or individual cars to their new owners. This does not break the contract, as the purchasers are not the ones saying where they're turning up. (I am certain the show executives knew that could and likely would happen.)

We PRESUME the run back to Florida with what's left after the set-off in Newark is to be CSX, but that's not confirmed. Logically, the show (like ANY railroad customer) will try to avoid as many interchange charges as possible (they're already going to have at least 2 if going by CSX: LIRR to Amtrak, Amtrak to CSX, but if they have enough cars to set off on the way back to Fla. from Norfolk Southern locations, they use NS to Florida or somewhere between NY and FL. Most of us believe it's a CSX move, since that's the RR the remaining train ends up on in Florida.

So this is it folks: you may see the Circus Train's BLUE UNIT run south one more time, but no one will be aboard; the show is paying for all personnel to get home, even those on the other side of the planet. And regarding how much the 350 people who live aboard love the train-runs, that's perhaps the saddest notion of all.

Future? Maybe some day the show might be revived somehow, but it will never be like this again without a train. But here's hoping, some day, some how................

The cars will be traceable. Feld Entertainment may not want them to be traceable, but many of them were heavily reconstructed from their operating appearance before Amtrak took over. They'll be traceable.

Feld Entertainment's contractual clause is almost unenforceable.

See this LIRR RR.net page for a few pics of the train leaving Garden City, Long Island earlier today.

If you are on facebook and friends with Moderator Amtrak67ofAmerica, then you can see his video and photos of the final movement southbound enroute Lorton and handoff from Amtrak.

I have heard that NCDOT purchased several cars that they plan to use for parts.

Bob Roberts wrote:I have heard that NCDOT purchased several cars that they plan to use for parts.

Yes, I'm told at least 8 cars. I think they are former UP smooth sided cars. They could also be used for service expansion, after a complete rebuild at a shop like Delaware Car Company.

A stipulation in the sales contract for all individuals and entities (museums, excursion operators and railroads) getting the cars says they are NOT to divulge to anyone, even online, where they got the cars ...

As someone had already mentioned... this would be nearly impossible to do given how the cars were modified and the fact that they are moving in full circus lettering. And new owners are posting about their acquisitions as cars arrive on their property not to mention all the railfan reports.

Does anyone have a list of who bought them or where they are headed?

This is a list that was lifted from the Circus Facebook page and so far the majority of cars' dispositions seem to be correct...

40003 Circus & Traveling Showmen Retirement Center
40006 EL Dining Car Society
40007 Mr. Kevin Moore (DuBois, PA)
40011 Two Tails Ranch Williston, FL)
40012 PanAm Railways (Unconfirmed)
41301 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41302 Mr. Brian Miser (Peru, IN)
41303 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41304 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41305 Gold Coast Railway Museum
41306 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41307 Dearing Railroad
41308 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41309 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41310 Tulsa, OK (Unknown)
41311 Roanoke Chapter NRHS (Roanoke, VA)
41312 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41313 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41315 Cincinnati Dinner Train
41316 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41317 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41406 Cincinnati Dinner Train
42005 Two Tails Ranch Williston, FL)
42009 Gold Coast Railway Museum
42010 EL Dining Car Society
42013 Baraboo Circus Museum
42017 Mr. Kevin Moore (DuBois, PA)
42018 Seaview Railroad
42019 Seaview Railroad
42022 Mr. Jason Sobczynski
43001 NCDOT
43002 NCDOT
43004 NCDOT
43005 NCDOT
43006 NCDOT
43007 NCDOT
43008 NCDOT
43010 NCDOT
43011 Seaview Railroad
43012 NCDOT
60012 Mr. Jason Sobczynski
63001 NCDOT
60017 EL Dining Car Society
63006 Baraboo Circus Museum
63007 At Morristown, NJ (Unknown)
63008 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
63010 Vermont Railway
80707 Baraboo Circus Museum
84804 Gold Coast Railway Museum
84706 Gold Coast Railway Museum
88802 Gold Coast Railway Museum
Mix of 18 cars to private buyer in Florida. No number att.

As an aside, if you go to Ozark Mountain Railcar's site, you'll see the impact of the RBB&B sale on the market.

There is hardly a car on the market that hasn't been discounted recently...

As an aside, if you go to Ozark Mountain Railcar's site, you'll see the impact of the RBB&B sale on the market.

There is hardly a car on the market that hasn't been discounted recently...

No surprise... some of the circus cars went for as little as $15,000 even though they were readily usable with various inspections being done. A real bargain when it comes to used passenger cars.

jmlaboda wrote:

A stipulation in the sales contract for all individuals and entities (museums, excursion operators and railroads) getting the cars says they are NOT to divulge to anyone, even online, where they got the cars ...

As someone had already mentioned... this would be nearly impossible to do given how the cars were modified and the fact that they are moving in full circus lettering. And new owners are posting about their acquisitions as cars arrive on their property not to mention all the railfan reports.

Does anyone have a list of who bought them or where they are headed?

This is a list that was lifted from the Circus Facebook page and so far the majority of cars' dispositions seem to be correct...


40007 Mr. Kevin Moore (DuBois, PA)
41301 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41303 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41304 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41306 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41307 Dearing Railroad
41308 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41309 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41312 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41313 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41316 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
41317 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)
42017 Mr. Kevin Moore (DuBois, PA)
63007 At Morristown, NJ (Unknown)
63008 Crossroads Railcar (Stearns, KY)

Thank you for this list, Mr. Laboda, and thank you for your passenger car photo website.

A few comments:

63007: I think this car (power car) was acquired by David Winters. You may have seen pics of his 5 Amtrak certified private cars traveling between their home base in Orange Park FL and various locations on the Amtrak system, and Montana Rail Link.

Crossroads Railcar: I believe they are acting as an agent for PAXRAIL. I suspect many of these cars may be available for resale by PAXRAIL.

40007 & 42017: Dr Kevin Moore (executive sleeper BERLIN) is assisting someone who wants these two cars for stationary service at Dubois PA. The cars will be re-trucked for the new owner, allowing the good Doctor to add their current trucks and wheelsets to his inventory.

41307: Dearing Railroad LLC intends to rebuild this car as a six bedroom luxury sleeper (each bedroom to have its own shower) to accompany their heavyweight business car DEARING. Work will be done at Huntington WV.