Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus Trains auction:

Assuming these have to be kept to Amtrack Standards and all are in working order, I wonder what they will go for on average?

They have more passenger cars than I realized as well.

The new issue of Trains magazine covers the circus trains, and also points out that all the passenger cars have been completely gutted and rebuilt to suit the needs of the circus performers and their equipment, so they are not really candidates for display or use (except as examples of circus cars). The cars are otherwise in good mechanical shape and have been fitted for HEP. 

Some could be used for baggage and/or support cars for various trains.

Can we all do a co-op bid on item # 40012? Yes, it's the Clown Car!

Who would buy such a specially built car?  I saw a video tour of the interior of the train and its 100% made for a circus. The sleepers for the star acts are like small apartments with a bedroom, bath and a kitchen. The supporting acts and staff live in dormitory type sleepers with one bathroom in the car for all. There are community clothes washers, dryers and showers.  The dining car is like a standard RR dining car but with very different decor and all of the equipment is well maintained but very old, maybe 60+ years. The Barnum and Bailey circus train is something like 60 cars long so there is much to be sold. Museums would be the only place for these but they usually pay either the scrap price or want the stuff for free.

Maybe some MOW kinda stuff?

Dennis LaGrua posted:

Who would buy such a specially built car?  I saw a video tour of the interior of the train and its 100% made for a circus. The sleepers for the star acts are like small apartments with a bedroom, bath and a kitchen. The supporting acts and staff live in dormitory type sleepers with one bathroom in the car for all. There are community clothes washers, dryers and showers.  The dining car is like a standard RR dining car but with very different decor and all of the equipment is well maintained but very old, maybe 60+ years. The Barnum and Bailey circus train is something like 60 cars long so there is much to be sold. Museums would be the only place for these but they usually pay either the scrap price or want the stuff for free.

I was checking out some of the Ringling train videos on Youtube and was thinking the same thing. I'd imagine a larger tourist or "train-cruise" operators might buy some of the best, strip them out and renovate them while they're still railroad-transportable.

I doubt the Alaska Railroad is looking.  They are currently hurting.  31 employees were cut last week.  Freight revenue is way down.  Export coal is gone & they sold off a large portion of their coal hoppers.  Oil prices took a dump & the State of Alaska is hurting.  Alaska is dependent on oil prices & is currently paying out more than what is coming in.  The 3 major oil companies dropped out of natural gas line project & the State is trying to go it alone on getting the 800 mile line built.  It doesn't look good up here.

Friday, March 10, is the last day to submit your bid!