Model Railroading > My second circus flat, RBBX 84716

RBBX 84716, the latest addition to my Red Unit circus train. The 89' flat is a Walthers all purpose flat with the center rub rails removed and C channel added to both sides. Wagons are by Circus City Decals and Bachman. Tow motor is by Authagen and the car by Busch.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/24 03:12 by needles_sub.

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Gotta say, I love your circus fleet! I thnk I've caught most of your posts but how big is the fleet now? What was a typical train length?

I'm a retired DC Firefighter. I went on the job in '78, The older guys used to talk about taking the engine down to Benning Yard and watch them walk the Elephants down East Capitol St. to the National Guard Armory where the show was held. I never got to see that but I did see the circus at the Armory as a kid. 

If you can, show us a picture of your circus fleet lined up. What is the hardest thing to duplicate for the train?

Thanks for posting!!!

RBBX 84716

Original Reporting Marks:  RTTX 930192
Built in 1966 by Bethlehem Steel as a TRI-LEVEL Auto Rack 

Ringling Bros.’ ownership data:  Purchased in 1996 from TTX Corporation.
 

1966-19xx: RTTX 930192 [N. America] TRI-LEVEL Auto Rack
19xx-19xx: JTTX 930192  [N. America] 89-ft. SINGLE DECK flatcar
1996 - SOLD to RBBB Circus; sent to …………………   Progress Rail Corp. - RECYCLE - (Out 11/6/97)
1997-2017: RBBX 84716  RED UNIT
2018+   930192 sold to Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation
 Car Body Type:  (CS) Carbon Steel
Brake Valve Type:  ABDXL
LAST Recycle Date:  11/06/1997 – Progress Rail Corp.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/24 12:49 by rbx551985.

pilotblue Wrote:
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> Gotta say, I love your circus fleet! I thnk I've
> caught most of your posts but how big is the fleet
> now? What was a typical train length?

The prototype trains were the two longest passenger/mixed trains in world history:  by the early 20--teens, the Red Unit (upon which these models are based) was up to 60 cars - at a full mile in length.  It's sister show, the Blue Unit, was 1 coach LONGER - and was just OVER a mile in length.  (There are many videos on YouTube showing the two prototype RBBB trains running and, WOW, they're "impossibly long" (Jim Wrinn's comment in a 2017 TRAINS Magazine article description).  When the host RR's motive power was added, they were even longer.

John Rezuke's HO scale model of the Blue Unit's 61-car train has 32 model cars - and even that nearly half-length of the prototype overwhelms layouts he runs it on.  If t"needles_sub's  Red Unit model is made to be actual length, I will be totally and pleasantly surprised - and would feel my eyes wide open seeing it run on ANY layout for that reason.

Wow.  Just wow.  (---with a huge grin on my face, as I lived aboard both of the prototype trains - Red, then Blue - for many years between 1985 and 2017.)  Both model Circus Trains are astonishingly well made.  Congratulations to both of you.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/24 05:13 by rbx551985.

pilotblue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gotta say, I love your circus fleet! I think I've
> caught most of your posts but how big is the fleet
> now? What was a typical train length?
>
> I'm a retired DC Firefighter. I went on the job in
> '78, The older guys used to talk about taking the
> engine down to Benning Yard and watch them walk
> the Elephants down East Capitol St. to the
> National Guard Armory where the show was held. I
> never got to see that but I did see the circus at
> the Armory as a kid. 
>
> If you can, show us a picture of your circus fleet
> lined up. What is the hardest thing to duplicate
> for the train?
>
> Thanks for posting!!!

At present, I have 46 cars, with more flats in the works. My initial train will have fifty one cars. As I can, I will add the final cars. The wagons, support cars, trucks, etc take a bit more time to finish. I want to model the variety of wagons that add character to the train. 
The hardest part of the train to model were the Budd cars with fluting. Union Station Products made it easier. Filling windows on these cars was tedious. Making the circular vents on the stock cars was tedious also. When I get back to the sates, I will get all the cars together. At the moment, half of my red unit is on a SE Asia tour. 

 

needles_sub Wrote:
> Filling windows on these cars was
> tedious. Making the circular vents on the stock
> cars was tedious also. 

One interesting idea that Rezuke got for his Blue Unit model was taking a photo of real windows on the Blue Unit (the other RBBB train) and reduce them to fit the HO model..... thus he ended with "scenes" aboard the train that could never be "modeled" persey.  I would suggest you try that same idea with your train's coach windows, using photos of the real Red Unit's coaches you've modeled.

rbx551985 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> needles_sub Wrote:
> > Filling windows on these cars was
> > tedious. Making the circular vents on the stock
> > cars was tedious also. 
>
> One interesting idea that Rezuke got for his Blue
> Unit model was taking a photo of real windows on
> the Blue Unit (the other RBBB train) and reduce
> them to fit the HO model..... thus he ended with
> "scenes" aboard the train that could never be
> "modeled" persey.  I would suggest you try that
> same idea with your train's coach windows, using
> photos of the real Red Unit's coaches you've
> modeled.

I tired that early on after your suggestion to John, but found the results one dimensional. Same reason why I never put figures in the vestibule. The figures available now don't capture the feel and appearance of the people that I saw in the vestibule. Lots of variety.

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