Western Railroad Discussion > Dutch doors - circus train

Every time I see video/images of the circus train(s) most of the dutch doors are open while the train(s) are moving. Occasionally someone can be seen hanging out the DD but more often than not there is no one there. Are the DDs kept open for a particular reason? Seems like keeping them open could be a liability issue for the circus train should an derailment occur.

Thank you

Lot of smokers on those trains.

DFWJIM Wrote:
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> Every time I see video/images of the circus
> train(s) most of the dutch doors are open while
> the train(s) are moving. Occasionally someone can
> be seen hanging out the DD but more often than not
> there is no one there. Are the DDs kept open for a
> particular reason? Seems like keeping them open
> could be a liability issue for the circus train
> should an derailment occur.
>
> Thank you

Unlike Amtrak, the two Ringling Bros.' trains are rated for 60mph MAXIMUM speed (track conditions permitting), and often travel much slower. Ringling Bros.' encourages its personnel to ride outside whenever they like to take in North America's scenic wonders, and there are also many employees who share their experiences with the general public via home-videos taken from on board (in those opened vesitubles) which are posted on YouTube. (TO.COM policy restricts posting actual links to those, but they're easily found.)

As for "liability issues," all Circus personnel are trained (put not intended) in railroad safety at the beginning of each tour, and there are indeed STRICT restrictions on what can and cannot be done in those areas of the train (no riding with the doors completely open, no riding ON TOP OF the train, etc.). As for the incident in Indiana recently, a new employee fell off the moving Blue Unit and received severe injuries -- while violating those rules (he was alledgely intoxicated), and to my knowledge he has not been allowed back on the show. There are approximately 350 people who actually LIVE on each of the two RBBB trains, and all are expected to adhear to railroad safety protocol -- and 99% of the time they do. What about that 1%? That guy in Indiana is that 1%, and that happens about once every 10 or so years at most, which is an excellent record: Ringling Bros.' personnel are, by and large, thrill seekers -- but they are not stupid. This guy was a "First-Of-May" (new) employee, and didn't use his head [the right way]. The other 349 people on the train stayed SAFE each and every train-run, and still do.

There were people riding in the vestibules during the Jan. 13, 1994 derailment of the Blue Unit near Lakeland, Florida in which 17 cars turned over at just about 40mph. They all knew the train was derailing (the instant the airline "big-holed" with that familiar LOUD PHISSSSSSS was their warning) and hurried back inside the coaches just in time. Yes, two RBBB employees were killed in that crash (one of which I was acquainted with), however they were inside other cars, one of which had another car careen through it, and another which turned over and trapped the second person under debris. No one who was riding outside was harmed.

CHECK OUT those YouTube videos (many are posted by Lane Vernardos, who's son Kevin was Blue Unit's Ringmaster for 5 years during the early 2000's). You will be pleasantly surprised at the astonishing length of the train as seen from aboard, RIDING IN THE VESTIBULES (Lane's footage covers many famous areas of N. American railroading, including riding over Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans, at Keddie Wye in California, and many more locales).

I hope that answers your question.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/11 07:42 by rbx551985.

Heres a wave from the Circus Train as it rolls past Mt Shasta at Cougar.

Robert Morris Photography
http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/index1.html

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Of course the main reason that the train is limited to 60 mph is all those freight cars on the rear of the train.

Here's another pair of shots, of Yours Truly, waving to RBBB fans (1) as the Blue Unit enters Denver, Colorado on Sept. 28, 2010 -- riding behind Union Pacific's Challenger 3985 (this shot was taken by New York Times photographer LUKE SHARRETT - [Photo Copyright Luke Sharrett and the New York Times] ), and (2) from the Red Unit as their train is interchanged from CSXT to NS at Collier Yard (Petersburg), Virginia in April 2011 (photo by Virginia railfan MICHAEL PATRICK). As you can see, Circus folk love to ride outside -- it's "the only place to be" during train-runs on either RBBB Circus Train. And yes, I'm flashing Michael the Vulcan "LIVE LONG AND PROSPER" salute, from "Star Trek."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/11 09:32 by rbx551985.

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photobob Wrote:
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> Heres a wave from the Circus Train as it rolls
> past Mt Shasta at Cougar.
>
> Robert Morris Photography
> http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/index1.html

EXCELLENT shot, Robert! That route is always a favorite among Ringling' personnel -- the scenic beauty of the Shasta area is simply breathtaking. BTW, that's obviously a pre-1995 photo, as the "RBX" reporting marks were replaced as of 1995 with "RBBX" marks -- the year after the tragic Lakeland, Florida derailment of the same train in the photo, the Blue Unit.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/11 10:04 by rbx551985.

Thanks for the YouTube tip. Those are excellent videos, very professional.


rbx551985 Wrote:
> CHECK OUT those YouTube videos (many are posted by
> Lane Vernardos, who's son Kevin was Blue Unit's
> Ringmaster for 5 years during the early 2000's).