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If there's one type of train that really gets people excited, especially little kids, it probably is circus trains. I mean, who doesn't like brightly colored freight cars carrying wild animals, performers and extravagant props?

What I notice is that the O gauge world is kind of lacking in circus train related product. Yes, there are some modified Lionel operating cars for circus themes, as well as some old K-Line product, but none of them are scale sized or detailed.

The only time I've seen beautiful O scale circus freight cars was on Ron Zweig's layout (who lives 30 minutes away from me, and it's now going down) that were custom made by Dave Reichart of Delaware. That was over 20 years ago.

Are there others in today's market who do the same in building custom circus freight cars?

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Walthers, when they were still making O Gauge kits into the 90s, had a large line of circus cars including special long flats for wagons.    They also had kits for various circus wagons and equipment.    There were all older style craftsman kits but made up very nicely with just a little effort.     They had figures and such too.

Walthers offered 70' circus flat cars with tin sides and they make up into nice rolling stock. There have been other, all wood kits for the flats, but they are (to me) a big pain to make look good. There was a resin kit manufacturer who offered  70' flat car, but it is long out of production and examples are scarce.
My experience with the old wood kits is that the wood is not very nice and I've learned to replace it with new stock.

On the subject of current RBBB trains, they are mostly container on flats and have, to me, zero appeal.

I've been wasting money and hours picking up the old wagon kits (CircusCraft, e.g.), some in original form, some built up, plus boutique offerings. I now have a pretty representative 10-car train,missing performers cars, needing a large round tuit for them.

Years ago we visited Circus World in Baraboo WI and my better half fell in love with circus wagons, so my circus train is one area where I have gotten a lot of encouragement

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