Western Railroad Discussion > circus train rolling stock

Has any of it hit the market?
Any estimate what each car will cost?

Posted from Android

It all was put up for bid a couple months ago. Some have sold, some have not. The real value in most of the cars is the discbrake trucks and wheels and the couplers.
Steve

September 30, 2016, 4th Street Yard south of UP/Denver & Rio Grande Western RR Burnham Shops, Denver, Colorado. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey (RBBB) circus train tied up for Denver performances. Last time circus train visited Denver, CO.

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Great Denver shot. This is a great show passing into history, sorry to see it go.

Bruce Stikkers
St. Joseph, IL

All but 4 coaches off the red unit were left in New Jersey.

Posted from iPhone

howeld Wrote:
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> All but 4 coaches off the red unit were left in
> New Jersey.

Hmm. Is Naporano still in business? Can't think of any customers in Jersey for a large number of heavily customized passenger cars.

The cars setout have already been bought through an auction and will be going to their new owners.

CPR_4000 Wrote:
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> Can't think of any customers in Jersey for a large number of heavily customized passenger cars.

As I recall, the plan was to set off all the sold cars at Oak Island Yard and distribute them from there to the new owners by rail. The few remaining unsold cars are going to Florida for future disposition.

illini73 Wrote:
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> CPR_4000 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Can't think of any customers in Jersey for a
> large number of heavily customized passenger
> cars.
>
> As I recall, the plan was to set off all the sold
> cars at Oak Island Yard and distribute them from
> there to the new owners by rail. The few
> remaining unsold cars are going to Florida for
> future disposition.

Red Unit; confirmed: all but psgr cars sold; those and the flats went to Florida. On approximately LATE DAY, May 23, or perhaps mid-day May 24, the Blue Unit's train will move from Uniondale NY to Oak Island NJ, and we've heard a rumor that all but ONE of that train's psgr cars have been sold. If true, that would see ONE coach and their flats go to Florida after those are cut out -- unless some cars go south to other set-out points along the way.

Seaview railroad posted on their social media pictures of three Ringling cars they purchased.
I don't know anything about Seaview.
This is what they posted:

"The Seaview is proud to be part of saving a piece of American history! Last night three unique cars arrived and now call West Davisville their new home. The former circus cars not only served as home for countless performers while on tour, but also brightened the faces of people young and old who viewed the train from trackside. We found it fitting that the cars were able to stay in the state where the troupe last performed. We’ll post updates about what is planned for the cars soon."

Posted from iPhone

Unless a museum wants a couple (and perhaps the wagons, etc. that rode on them) as a display, expect all the flats to be scrapped. There is literally NO market for old TOFC flats nearing their 50-year limit for interchange service.

As others have posted, the main value of the passenger cars is in the trucks. The value in the carbodies is to harvest them for equipment like door hardware, toilets/retention tanks, HEP auxiliaries and such for PV rebuilds/repairs, but a lot of that depends on the cost in labor to remove it vs. buying new.

Museums and PV owners will, however, be closely watching for any selloff/auction at the repair shop in FL. Lots of valuable parts and tools for car upkeep will be coming available, Ringling Bros. kept an extensive inventory of spare parts and there are even a few unmodified cars they held in reserve for future conversion, although I doubt they're in very good shape.

NZ