Eastern Railroad Discussion > RBBB Red: El Paso-Bound (June 1987)

MOONLIGHT LADY: A Circus Train Adventure
Written (and experienced) by RHETT COATES

IT'S HISTORY NOW:
117th Edition ("KING TUSK") 1987-1988 two-year tour

For more information:
FELD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows
8607 Westwood Center Drive
Vienna, Virginia 22182

Come aboard and ride the incredible four-day odyssey aboard the world’s longest passenger train, on the longest single move between cities of any Circus Train in history! Join us as we experience a momentous and joyful journey “…in the last place where the romance of the railroad still brings us the wonder of the circus.”

© 1987; 2008 ; 2012 Rhett Coates
---Published in abbreviated form in the Mar. 1994 issue of Passenger Train Journal under the title “Life Aboard the Circus Train” (a VERY SHORT version of what's below)
---Published with full text in the Mar.-Apr. 2009 issue of BANDWAGON Magazine (official, Quarterly publication of the Circus Historical Society)
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RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS – RED UNIT – 117th Edition – 1987 Tour

FIRST QUARTER - 1987
Jan. 2 - 6 … Venice , Florida – Circus Arena [1987 Winter Quarters]
Jan. 8 - 18 … St. Petersburg , Florida – Bayfront Center 125 [rail miles]
Jan. 20 - 21 … Lakeland , Florida – Civic Center [61 rail miles]
Jan. 23 - 25 … Jacksonville , Florida – Jacksonville Coliseum [219 rail miles]
Jan. 7 - Feb. 1 … Birmingham , Alabama – Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center [458 rail miles]
Feb. 4 - 15 … Atlanta , Georgia – The Omni [168 rail miles]
Feb. 17 - 22 … Greensboro , North Carolina – Greensboro Coliseum [354 rail miles]
Feb. 24 - Mar. 1 … Norfolk , Virginia – Norfolk Scope [311 rail miles]
Mar. 3 - 8 … Hampton , Virginia – Hampton Coliseum [185 rail miles]

SECOND QUARTER - 1987
Mar. 10 - 15 … Richmond , Virginia – Richmond Coliseum [82 rail miles]*
Mar. 17 - 29 … Baltimore , Maryland – Baltimore Arena [219 rail miles]
Apr. 1 - 4 … Charleston , West Virginia – Charleston Civic Center [544 rail miles]
Apr. 7 - May 17 … New York , New York – Madison Square Garden [716 rail miles]
May 19 - 24 … New Haven , Connecticut – Veterans Memorial Coliseum [72 rail miles]
May 26 - 31 … Hartford , Connecticut – Hartford Civic Center [37 rail miles]
June 2 - 14 … Philadelphia , Pennsylvania – The Spectrum [205 rail miles]

THIRD QUARTER - 1987
June 19 - 21 … El Paso , Texas – El Paso County Coliseum [2,230 rail miles]**
June 23 - 28 … Tucson , Arizona – Tucson Community Center [312 rail miles]
June 30 - July 12 … Phoenix , Arizona – Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum [119 miles]
July 15 - 21 … Anaheim , California – Anaheim Convention Center [431 rail miles]
July 23 - 26 … Long Beach , California – Long Beach Convention Center [48 rail miles]
July 28 - Aug. 9 … Los Angeles , California – Los Angeles Sports Arena [21 rail miles]
Aug. 11 - 16 … San Diego , California – San Diego Sports Arena [131 rail miles]
Aug. 18 - 23 … Fresno , California – Fresno Convention Center [515 rail miles, via “Tehachapi Loop”]
Aug. 25 - Sept. 1 … Oakland , California – Oakland Coliseum [189 rail miles]
Sept. 3 - 7 … San Francisco , California – Cow Palace [63 rail miles]

FOURTH QUARTER - 1987
Sept. 9 - 14 … Sacramento , California – Arco Arena [159 rail miles]
Sept. 16 – 20 … Portland , Oregon – Memorial Coliseum [653 rail miles]
Sept. 23 – 28 … Salt Lake City , Utah – Salt Palace [883 rail miles]
Oct. 1 – 11 … Denver , Colorado – Coliseum [612 rail miles]
Oct. 15 – 18 … Milwaukee , Wisconsin – Mecca [1,102 rail miles]
Oct. 20 - Nov. 1 … Chicago , Illinois – Chicago Stadium [84 rail miles]
Nov. 3 - 15 … Rosemont , Illinois – Rosemont Horizon [23 rail miles]
Nov. 17 - 18 … Rockford , Illinois – Metro Centre [84 rail miles]
Nov. 20 - 22 … Peoria , Illinois – Civic Center [214 rail miles]
Nov. 24 - 29 … Des Moines , Iowa – Veterans Memorial [262 rail miles]
Dec. 2 - 6 … Nashville , Tennessee – Municipal Auditorium [659 rail miles]***
Dec. 7 – 9 … (“HOME [train-] RUN” to Venice , Florida)

*RF&P Caboose #923 added here; to remain with show through Philadelphia (entire 2nd Quarter)
**Subject rail journey of this story
***ROUTE, Des Moines to Nashville: Norfolk Southern to E. St. Louis ; CSX Transportation rest of way.

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1987 RED UNIT CIRCUS TRAIN CONSIST (List is presented in alpha-numeric order)

CIRCUS Reporting Marks; Original Reporting Marks; BUILD DATE
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RBX 16 FLAT, ex- GTW 303142; 1969
RBX 17 FLAT, ex-GTW 303109; 1967
RBX 18 FLAT, ex-NIFX 13121; 1965
RBX 19 FLAT, ex-NIFX 8286; 1967
RBX 20 FLAT, ex-ACF 1; 1968

RBX 21 FLAT, ex-ACF 2; 1968
RBX 22 FLAT, ex-ACF 3; 1968
RBX 23 FLAT, ex-NIFX 8283; 1967
RBX 24 FLAT, ex-ACF ? (discrepancy w/ original marks); 1966
RBX 25 FLAT, ex-ACF 4; 1967

RBX 26 FLAT, ex-ACF 5; 1968
RBX 27 BI-LEVEL, ex-SHPX 99503; 1967
RBX 28 TUNNEL, ex-UP 6322; 1962
RBX 30 STOCK, ex-UP 6319; 1961
RBX 31 STOCK, ex-UP 6330; 1962

RBX 32 STOCK, ex-UP 6307; 1961
RBX 33 STOCK, ex-UP 6324; 1961
RBX 34 SHOP, ex-UP 6329; 1962
RBX 35 Concessions Storage, ex-WP 801 Silver Beaver (Acquired as Auto Train 1135); 1948
RBX 36 Concessions Storage, ex-BNP 582 (Acquired as Amtrak 4891); 1956

RBX 37 COACH, ex-UP 5433; 1950
RBX 38 COACH, ex-UP 5450; 1953
RBX 39 COACH, ex-UP 5451; 1953
RBX 40 COACH, ex-UP 5417; 1950
RBX 41 COACH, ex-UP 5414; 1950

RBX 42 PIE CAR, ex-UP 6317; 1961
RBX 43 Generator/DORM, ex-UP 6323; 1961
RBX 44 COACH, ex-UP 5425; 1950
RBX 45 COACH, ex-UP 5402; 1950
RBX 46 COACH, ex-SAL 50 Bay Pines (Acquired as Auto Train 602); 1955

RBX 47 COACH, ex-B&O 7104 Kingfisher; 1954
RBX 48 COACH, ex-NH 536 (former LIRR 2075); 1954
RBX 49 COACH, ex-SCL 5269 (Acquired as Amtrak 602); 1955
RBX 50 COACH, ex-UP 5459; 1953
RBX 51 COACH, ex-UP 5432; 1950

RBX 52 COACH, ex-SP 2214; (former Amtrak 4468; C&NW 3427); 1953
RBX 53 COACH, ex-UP 5457; 1953
RBX 54 COACH, ex-UP 5444; 1950
RBX 55 Generator/DORM, ex-UP 6313; 1961
RBX 56 COACH, ex-UP 5401; 1950

RBX 57 COACH, ex-UP 5453; 1953
RBX 58 COACH, ex-UP 5465; 1962
RBX 59 COACH, ex-ATSF 910 Indian Scout; (Acquired as Amtrak 2218); 1955
RBX 60 COACH, ex-UP 5458; 1953

44 cars; 3,520 Tons when fully loaded.

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1987 RED UNIT Circus Train particulars:
ANIMALS ON BOARD TRAIN:

RBX 30 -- 11 elephants (9 Asian; 1 African)
RBX 31 -- 10 elephants (all Asian)
RBX 32 (“Gelding Car”) -- 13 horses*, 2 llamas, 2 camels
RBX 33 (“Stallion Car”) -- 17 horses* (3 geldings; 14 stallions), 9 Russian wolfhounds (in “34-end” compartment)

(*30 HORSES: 18 Lipsanos; 14 Arabians; 1 Belgium ; 2 Shetland ponies)

RBX 27 BI-LEVEL -- 21 Big Cats (18 Bengal Tigers; 3 leopards) – 15 Performing Tigers; 4 cubs “in training”; 2 retired Tigers along for the ride, 1 leopard; 1 black leopard named “Blackie”; 1 leopard cub “in training.”

RBX 28 TUNNEL Car -- 2 Big Cats (Siberian)

PHOTO BELOW: The "TUNNEL CAR" (hollowed out former U.P. Baggage car) BEING LOADED:

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ANIMALS NOT TRAVELING ABOARD THE TRAIN:
“KING TUSK” (“Big Tommy”) – traveling aboard specially-designed trailer, overland via highway
SEA LIONS (traveling overland via highway w/ their owners)

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RED UNIT FACTS (1987-1988 Season)
(List EXCERTS as follows were distributed to arena managers in advance of show’s arrival)
Prepared in cooperation with the Staff of the Red Unit by the THUNDERBOLT ADVANCE TEAM®

1987 RED UNIT ARENA DETAILS
Number of Performers: 114 (Number DOES NOT include 100+ Teamsters [Red Unit Crew] or 80+ Concessionaires)
Number of dressing rooms: 14
Number of chairs: 117
Number of tables: 36
Number of coat racks: 16
Number of waste cans:16

In advance of show’s arrival, backstage areas should be cleared and/or consolidated to allow enough space for Circus props, trunks, wardrobe areas and rigging. The suggested list above indicates what may be needed. If arena is unable to provide, items may have to be rented. [Red Unit Performance Director, or Assistant Performance Director] will notify upon arrival. RMD should have a contract of a local rental firm.

The following areas are required to be set up near the back door:
1. Ladies Wardrobe - 2,000 sq. feet with 2 tables
2. Men’s Wardrobe - 1,500 sq. feet with 4 tables

Prior to show’s arrival, it is suggested that you discuss move-in details with [Red Unit Assistant General Manager]. Show management should have available a telephone number for you where you may be reached 72 hours prior to show’s arrival in case the show has any last minute needs.

1987 RED UNIT NORMAL MOVE-IN TIME ON OPENING DAY: 8:00 A.M.

1987 RED UNIT ARENA ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Arena Floor: 400 AMPS per leg, 3-Phase 208V
Meat Truck: 220V 3-Phase, 20 AMPS
Pie Car Junior.: 220V Single Phase, 100 AMPS
Wagon #46: 110V, 30 AMPS
Wagon #14: 110V, 30 AMPS

Show carries Spot Light Carbons
Show does NOT carry actual Spotlights until second year of season when they carry six Supers.
~~~10-15 House trailers [for “Over-Landers” who do not live on the Circus Train]
~~~One Semi (carrying elephant “King Tusk,” which needs to be close to arena)
~~~One trailer and truck with live SEALS needs to be close to back door and drains for water
~~~One BUS needs to be close to back door.
Show carries two tents for animal storage where required.

PHOTO BELOW: Yours Truly as seen aboard old "RBX 55" in Venice, Florida, December 1986 (Brooks Farmer photo). Was I really THAT skinny back then? Or, that young? To quote Capt. Kirk to Pavel Chekov in the seventh "Star Trek" movie, "No, you were YOUNGER." (LOL)

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~~~AND NOW, RIDE A CIRCUS-TRAIN JOURNEY TO REMEMBER!!~~~



JUNE 1987: RED UNIT, EL PASO-BOUND

For me, as a musician/singer and railroad enthusiast, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (RBBB) Circus came as a timely answer to prayers for a job where these interests might be combined. I’m always asked about life with Ringling, and thought it would be fun to share a personal, written account of a ride aboard. So, in the tradition of legendary film director (and Circus fan) Cecil B. DeMille, I chose to write about a trip of epic proportions, and one in June of 1987 fit the bill.

First, here is one note of background historical importance, to begin this feature: how the “Edition Numbers” work for the two railroad shows. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey came under the ownership of the Feld Family as of 1968, when Irvin and Israel Feld purchased The Greatest Show On Earth from the Ringling-North Family, and the Feld Brothers had something special in mind to reinvigorate the show. Their idea, born of long-time experience as aggressively successful American concert tour promoters, would see two complete RBBB tours as of 1970. With their first Circus tour (the 99th Edition) going out on a two-year tour as of 1969, and termed the “Red Unit,” they set about hiring acts for another RBBB tour, calling their second show the “Blue Unit” (which, in 1970, was the 10th Anniversary Edition.)

The RED UNIT takes all odd numbered Editions of The Greatest Show On Earth on the two-year tour beginning each odd-numbered year, on a 2-year tour. The BLUE UNIT takes all even numbered Editions of The Greatest Show On Earth, on basically the same 2-year tour, beginning each even-numbered year. Thus, twice as many cities can be played in a given year, which means twice the fun for “children of all ages.” The actual Edition Numbers are measured from the original P.T. Barnum show of 1871. This measure of show-years made the 1987 Red Unit the “117th Edition.”

The first half of the 1987 “Concert Route” (or Gravy Route), which the first half of a contemporary two-year RBBB tour is sometimes called, had been Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the time the events of this story took place. As of 1987, the stand after Philadelphia would occur half way across the continent, usually Tulsa, or Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - then the show would move on to Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona before heading into California by the third quarter of the Concert Route. Tulsa had been on the "Rodeo Route" (the second half of the 2-year RBBB tour) until 1988, when the show's 118th Edition [Blue Unit] skipped Tucson due to a boat show being scheduled in that town's arena the only week RBBB had open for their show's Concert Route; the Tulsa market was shifted to their Concert Route to fill in the gap.

The longest single train-run, or "Jump" in Circus parlance, between cities is said to have occurred before 1900 when the Nickel Plate Circus, owned by W.H. Harris, moved from Halifax to Winnipeg: 2,200 miles. This record was to be broken in June of 1987 when RBBB’s Red Unit made a jump from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to El Paso, Texas, on a four-day, 2,336-mile train-run, through seven states and over five railroad lines. The Pie Car's menu board noted it with little fanfare, simply listing the date each day over the phrase: "EL PASO-BOUND." It's been said that "It's the going, and not the getting there, that's good," and this experience would inspire me to write about what I would come to call the Moonlight Lady.

PHOTOS BELOW:

(1) The Pie Car's menu board: "EL PASO-BOUND"
(2) LOADING THE TRAIN (Bill Atkins photo)
(3) Another shot of us getting the flats ready for departure. (Bill Atkins photo)

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~~~AND HERE WE GO~~~

LOAD-OUT: Sunday evening, June 14, 1987

An Amtrak television commercial lyric once sang, "There's something about a train that's magic!" It's an extra special magic that we'll share with children of all ages as they witness our passing through their hometowns tomorrow through Thursday. Now, please by my invited guest as The Greatest Show On Earth tears down the 117th Edition "King Tusk" tour, and begins a journey to remember!

PHOTOS:
Ringmaster Eric Michael Gillette stands next to Concessionaire Dwayn Thorpe during the first minute of Intermission of the 117th Edition; inset next to them at right shows KING TUSK during "Spec" (Circus lingo meaning 'Spectacle').

Last pic: TEAR DOWN in progress (I'm in the sweats, sweating as we sling steel beams from the riggin into the wagons....

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OUR ROUTE FOR THIS 4-DAY JUMP TO THE NEXT TOWN IS TO BE:

CONRAIL (CR) from Philadelphia , Pennsylvania to East St. Louis , Illinois - via Horseshoe Curve
CONRAIL TRAIN I.D. – “CIR 111-14” (Conrail Train #111, departing Philadelphia on June 14)
TERMINAL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION of ST. LOUIS (TRRA) over the Mississippi River via Merchant's Bridge
BURLINGTON NORTHERN (BN) Railroad over the former "Frisco" to Ft. Worth , Texas
UNION PACIFIC (UP) Railroad from Ft. Worth , Texas to El Paso , via Odessa
Our final arrival and spotting on SOUTHERN PACIFIC (SP) Railroad in El Paso

In less than three hours, wagons full of show equipment and materials are packed and lined up along the street leading to Conrail's Greenwich Yard along the adjacent, overhead Interstate-95 Bridge for loading onto the show's flatcars. A short time ago the Philadelphia Spectrum was a musical, light-filled fantasyland of excitement and mirth. Now it is but an empty shell of concrete, vacant of the famed sawdust and popcorn, as heralded by Cecil B. DeMille in his 1952 Circus movie, filmed on tour with this show during 1951 -- the show's 81st Edition. The year now, here in Philadelphia, however, is 1987, and the exodus of The Greatest Show On Earth’s 117th Edition has left the backstage area with a tinge of loneliness, punctuated by empty tables, scattered chairs, and litter strewn across hallways and dressing room floors.

I'm the last Circus employee to leave, after a phone call home to tell my mother we'll be riding the Circus Train for the next four days. Her comment: "Good grief!" Now, imagine sixty families of five simultaneously packing for an extended vacation (appearing somewhat like an organized madhouse) and you'll have the perfect picture of the midnight scene before us at the Circus Train. After a late meal, it's off to sleep before we ride off into the night, EL PASO-BOUND….

~~~TO BE CONTINED~~~

COMING TOMORROW: “EL PASO-BOUND, DAY ONE”

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FURTHER ONLINE READING for this segment of the story:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: http://www.Ringling.com
Philadelphia Spectrum (1987): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrum_(arena)
Greenwich Yard (Philadelphia): http://www.railfanguides.us/pa/phl/rrsites/greenwich.htm
“KING TUSK” http://www.ringling.com/ContentPage.aspx?id=45840&section=45825
Irvin Feld: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irvin_Feld

“The Greatest Show On Earth” (1952 motion picture): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greatest_Show_on_Earth
*This epic Paramount Pictures movie features many railroad scenes, including PRR GG1 No. 4821 bringing the show’s First Section into Greenwich Yard, Philadelphia in one sequence, as well as ACL red-painted, wooden caboose No. 0447 in two scenes.