200 series circus flatcars to debut at Trainfest

Wow. Very impressive, to say the least. Are the wagons modeled after prototypes at Baraboo? 

All are modeled loosely after Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus wagons but not after any specific ones at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI.  However, as you may know the museum occupies what was formerly the summer headquarters for the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus and is where most of their historic circus wagons are on display.  As you may also know the museum was the starting point for the annual Schlitz Beer/Circus World Museum circus train headed to Milwaukee for "Old Milwaukee Days" and the annual 4th of July circus parade on the public streets of Milwaukee.  As a kid/teen, I never missed a parade and on a couple of occasions was trackside waving and cheering with hundreds of other train and circus enthusiasts as the ultimate circus train rolled by.  Come see my Standard Gauge version of this train at Trainfest!

 

Bob

 

Below are pictures of three more unique 200 series circus flat cars with circus wagons.

Come see these cars along with the entire Standard Gauge version of the famous Schlitz Beer/Circus World Museum circus train, and many other great tinplate Standard Gauge trains from the past, in action on the SGMA layout at Trainfest in Milwaukee, November 9-10.

More unique circus flats posted next week.

Bob Nelson

Below are the final two pictures of the unique 200 series flat cars transformed into unique Standard Gauge circus flat cars, which will be making their first runs at Trainfest 2013 in Milwaukee.  Come see these cars and the rest of my Standard Gauge version of the famous Schlitz Beer/Circus World Museum circus train in action at Trainfest.

 

Also, be sure to bring your own Standard Gauge trains to Trainfest in Milwaukee, November 9-10, in order to participate in the fun with other SGMA members of operating your trains on the SGMA layout.  Hope to see your trains there. 

 

Bob Nelson

 

Beautiful cars, Bob!

Thanks Jim.  Come see them in action next month in Milwaukee at Trainfest.

Bob

 

Those are truly magnificient cars. Are they one of a kind or will more be produced? I'm just getting started in Std Gauge and would love to put a circus train together. Unfortunately, I can't come to Trainfest.

 

Bob

For the present they are unique and more are not scheduled to be produced.  That said, sometime in the future more may be made.  They are all based on MTH 200 series flat cars on which custom-made circus side rails and wagons have been mounted. 

 

Over a year ago I recommended to MTH (LCT) that they needed to produce some 200 series circus flat cars with circus wagons to go with their other 200 series box, cattle, gondola, tank and caboose circus cars but they never responded positively to my suggestion.   I plan to show these circus flat cars to MTH reps at Trainfest.  Hopefully they will respond positively and in the near future produce their own 200 series circus flat cars with a variety of circus wagons. 

 

Sad to learn you can't make it to Trainfest.  However, I am sure several videos will be taken of these cars in action at Trainfest.  Be on the lookout for them after Trainfest is over.

 

Bob Nelson