Red Unit funeral train @Ashland, VA

The final run home for what's left of the Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey red unit circus train as seen from our live cams located in Ashland, VA.

[peggyscott]

In Richmond, in the 80s, I worked in Scotts Addition area. When Ringling train came through, I'd eat my lunch by the tracks behind all the buildings, to watch it. In later years I worked with a retired Ringling clown who rode the red unit. His stories about being a clown and traveling were so much fun! He also said that their animals were family to them and were never mistreated. Sad that it's gone now.

[sclm]

When the circus was in town, the train was often parked in an active rail yard. No doubt some of the performers going to or from their quarters became irritated with yard crews asking them for free tickets. Hated to see the circus trains discontinued. It was nice to see them utilizing rail carriers for their transportation needs.

[goodeye]

Sad to see it end. Kids in the future won't know what they are missing. Even without the animals the acts are really good.

[jerrypolverino]

I thought this intersection was only for trains crashing into trucks and cars.

[davidringo]

Every train is a potential funeral train at this crossing actually.

[flickinggamer]

It is amazing how much shorter it was after the elephants were dropped from the circus.

[WJack]

Thanks for documenting this passing of an era. All good things seem to have to come to an end. I remember seeing the movie, The Greatest Show on Earth as a kid.

[bubblelvr]

I’ve started with Conrail in 1990 and I remember to be called out I buffalo terminal to work I was 25 and new on the railroad I was called as a conductor pilot to help a train enter at that tine the N&W branch line now the NS at CP437 to CP draw low and behold it was the circus train leaving buffalo to go to Cleveland Ohio like wow oh boy I was I aaw. And I I was told they had more than one train they had others as well it was a huge franchise then in yet now that I’m retired with 30 yrs it’s another sad end to see this and my career come to a end I was always exited to see this train even in passing when I was engineering and was hoping one day I could pull such a train but that ended when CSX took over they gave the train to the NS for service and as you know big blue ended Conrail was the number one railroad to work for and will always be that CSX could never be able to top them

[BryanTorok]

True story from Cleveland, Ohio. Many years ago a man came into the police station and wanted to report damage to his parked car. He thought it was a joke that he had found a note on his car stating. "I'm sorry, my elephant sat on your car." It seems the circus had come to town and while the animals were being led into the main arena building, one of the elephants had sat on the fender and hood of this man's car. Best we could figure out, the elephant had an itch and the car looked like a good place to scratch it.

[TexasRailfan-RailfanRyan]

The Greatest Show on Earth is over and so is an arrow would spend 147 years I certainly hope all those cars and Equipment go to good private owners I would hate to hear if a lot of that equipment was cut up for scrap

[theoldar]

Somehow and in some form they will be back in a few years. The name and fame is too valuable to be left unused.

[Hunterwj]

The blue unit will be heading south also around the 23rd won't it?

[garybanglebangle]

What a loss to everyone. No more circus train.

[jerrysinclair]

Did any of the locals remove their hats the funeral train sped by?

[TheNChris]

I actually know where some of their remaining carriers still stand.

[fuzzybarnes]

Hope, the 10th car is'nt too stressed

[atrproductions]

i've only ever seen this train on the RF&P, sad to see it go

[katerinakittycat]

I'm just wondering, how is the show going to travel without the train? Even without the animals it's a lot of stuff to transport and I don't think the roads can handle that kind of traffic.

[trainfan]

That's a lot of train for 1 circus

[thenewstuffsucks]

Can someone explain to me why this is Funeral train?