Eastern Railroad Discussion > RBBB Blue Unit - moving Monday Oct. 24

RINGLING BROS. and BARNUM & BAILEY

RBBB Blue Unit - 58 cars - 134th Edition.

The 58-car RBBB Blue Unit Circus Train, carrying the show's 134th Edition in its final month, will be making its next jump from Manchester NH to Bridgeport CT, Monday Oct. 24. Bridgeport CT was the hometown of Phineas Taylor ("P.T.") Barnum, a former mayor there (!) who's spirit and vision started a tremendous legacy in 1871 that, as of January 2006, will be 136 years old: "The Greatest Show On Earth."

REMAINING TRAIN-RUNS FOR THE 58-car, 134th Edition:

Oct. 24 - Manchester NH to Bridgeport CT.
Oct. 31 - Bridgeport CT to Pittsburgh PA.
Nov. 7 - Pittsburgh PA to Auburn Hills MI.
Nov. 14 - Auburn Hills MI to St. Louis MO.
Nov. 21/22/23 - "Home [Train-] Run" - St. Louis MO to Tampa FL. (Winter Quarters new-show rehearsal site.)

In Tampa FL, and during late november and throughout December, the Blue Unit will begin rehearsals for the all-new 136th Edition two-year tour, which is slated to roll out on CSXT this-coming January 4. The 2006 tour is apparently being kept "secret" right now (perhaps to stimulate interest and/or publicity) - it isn't yet posted on their official website (LINK below), but the towns that are so-far-confirmed to be played in 2006 will be posted on the show's website soon enough, with other towns added to the list as they are also comfirmed.



RBBB Red Unit - 56 cars - 135th Edition remains in Cleveland OH through its last performance there on Oct. 30. The remaining Red Unit Train-Runs for 2005 are scheduled for:

Oct. 31 - Cleveland OH to Rosemont IL (west Chicago).
Nov. 14 - Rosemont to Chicago IL (downtown). (A portion of the train might move out on Nov. 13; that has been done in the past in order to avoid morning commuter trains, but that is NOT confirmed.)
Nov. 26 - Chicago IL to Columbus OH.
Dec. 5/6 - Columbus OH to Huntsville AL.
Dec. 12 - Huntsville AL to Orlando FL (for Winter storage/vacation-time.) The Red Unit's 135th Edition is to resume the second half of that show's two-year tour during the first week of January 2006, in Miami FL.

(The above "Home Run" DESTINATION was EDITED late on Sat., Oct. 22)

Circus Operations (railroad) radio frequency: 151.625
Official website: http://www.ringling.com

Ooooo. I'd like to know when it leaves Connecticut for Pittsburgh. :-)

--Dan

Just out of curiosity when the train arrives in Michigan will it run up the CN Holly sub,and park the train in the Pontiac yard?
Thank you
Hotbox

hotbox Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just out of curiosity when the train arrives in
> Michigan will it run up the CN Holly sub,and park
> the train in the Pontiac yard?
> Thank you
> Hotbox


I don't have a clue as to what railroad routing the two trains will be using, and I often become skittish about posting them in advance - unless there is only ONE rail line going to their next town. For obvious reasons. However, others who are "in the know" might choose to post "informed [suggestions]" here to give a heads-up to those who want to see and/or photograph it while enroute on the high-iron. That isn't usually a problem. Good luck finding it!

As for the question on when the Blue Unit departs Bridgeport, both trains normally depart as soon as everything is loaded and the host RR's dispatcher lets them go. In fact, they prefer to depart AHEAD of their scheduled departure time if possible.

Crew call set for 1600 EDT today at Springfield, CT (Amtrak passenger station) for CSOR (Connecticut Southern) to take the train to New Haven (Cedar Hill). CSOR will probably use CSX power already attached.

-PRR 5711