Bandwagon Vol 46 No 1 (2002)

44 Pages·46.3 MB·English

by  Circus Historical Society

BACK ISSUES
CIICLOM1
OF BANDWAGON
30L.Hft_qt_c-VD ETC.
1966 -Jan. -Feb.
Vol. 46, No. 1 JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2002 967 -Nov -Dec.
FRED D. PFENING, JR. EDITOR AND PUBLISHER 1968 -All but Jan. -Feb.
1969 -July -Aug Sept -Oct.
Joseph T. Bradbury, Associate Editor Emeritus
970 -All July -Aug Sept -Oct.
Bandwagon, The Journal of the Circus Historical Society, Inc. (USPS 406-390) (ISSN
1971 -All but Mar.-Ap., May -June.
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THE FRONT COVER March -April Bandwagon. COLUMBUS, OH 43221
The two largest circuses in A selected hotel will be within
America combined for a New York walking distance of Cirque du Soleil VV. D. "Jack" Gobble
engagement at Madison Square and the Canadian National P. O. Box 273
Garden. The ' T. Barnum Greatest Exposition. Leggett, Tx 77350-0273
Show on Earth and the Great Currently one United States dollar
London Circus joined with the Adam buys one dollar and fifty-nine cents REINSTATED
orepaugh' Circus, Menagerie and Canadian. Museum of Art 1396
Hippodrome to open March 14, 1887. oronto, "The World Within a City," 401 Bay Shore '
The Courier Company produced is the largest theater town outside of Sarasota, FL 34243
beautiful courier booklet for the New York Cit. The city has North
grand combnaton. The back COVer of America's finest and safest public
2002 Circus Historical
the courier is on the cover I this transit system, with downtown
issue. It is from the Pfening Archives. served by buses, subway and street
cars, known as Red Rockets."
Society Convention
THE BACK COVER
In 1906 Martin J. Downs toured CORRECTIONS
the Cole Bros. United Shows for the The photo on page 34 of the Frank
first time. The Erie Litho Company A. Robbins article in the November -
produced a color courier for the December Bandwagon is the wrong oono Onaro, Canada
cus. It is from the Pfening Archives. John Rooney.
The reference to Winchester,
August 22-25
2002 CHS CONVENTION Maryland in the '11 article is
The 002 Circus Historical Society also in error, it was Westminister,
convention will be held in Toronto, Maryland.
Ontario, Canada August 22-25.
The first new edition in three years NEVV MEMBERS Plan to be a part of
of Cirque du Soleil will be the fea- Joshua Stubbs 4306
tured circus. The Canadian National 5168 Kingsley Dr.
Exposition Ontario Place Indianapolis, IN 46205 our first convention out-
and the summer circus school at
Harbor Front will all be going as Marshall Dean Eckelman 4307 side the United States.
well. The hotel and registration 019 Asbuey Place
information will appear in the Sarasota, FL 34233
BANDWAGON JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2002 PAGE 2
a
BOO@
By Robert S. MacDougall
This segment will begin with the
combining of the Ringling Brothers
Worlds Greatest Shows and the
Barnum & Baileys Greatest Show
On Earth for the season of 1919,
through the Sam Gumpertz years
1932-1937, the John Ringling North
years 1938-1942, the Robert Ringling
years 1943-1946 with the take over
by John Ringling North and James
Haley.
PREFACE
A brief review of events leading to
the combination is as The
surviving Ringling brothers operated and France and for the growing Photo No. 1 Typical example of the
shows separately through the 1918 American army and navy. There was Barnum & Bailey open vestibule
season. Henry died in 1918, preceded plenty of money. The shows were just coaches of the 1910's. Ringling Mus-
by Al (1852-1916); Otto (1875-1911) opening the new season when the eum of the Circus.
and August (1854-1907). Otto and Al United States declared war on
shared management responsibilities Germany. sion to consolidate the two shows
with John and Charlie Otto man- Despite the great difficulties was made.
aged the Barnum Bailey show and encountered, parades were given The Ringling Bros.' World's Great-
Al and Charlie traveled with the every day, also, during the war rail- est Shows left winter quarters in
Ringling Show while routhd oad transportation became acute Baraboo Wisconsin in the spring of
both shows. His duties kept him trav- and the Ringlings were beginning to 1918, never to return. The Barnum
eling about the country extensively wonder if the two huge circus were & Bailey Greatest Show On Earth
in his private railroad cars and made too much. In 1918 there was still an departed winter quarters in Bridge-
a
brief visits to each of the traveling acute shortage help, the port, Connecticut in the spring of
shows during the season. Henry took Government told the surviving 1918. Both shows would return to the
over managing the :. & Bailey brothers that for 1919 they could not Bridgeport site at the end of the 1918
show after Otto's death in 1911. The make but four locomotives available season and continue to use Bridge -
death of Henry in 1918 left John and to them. Since both the Barnum
Charlie as the only surviving broth- Bailey and Ringling shows each oper- Photo No. 2 Examples of recently
ers, combining the two shows seemed ated four sections, this meant that acquired Wagner Palace Cars on
inevitable. Some of the contributing one Or the other a the shows could Ringling Bros. just prior to the com-
factors leading to the combining of operate. The long postponed d bine, c -1910's. Author's Collection.
the shows are the 1916 season was
not a good one for the Ringling
Enterprises The war in Europe was
having its effects even though the
United States had not yet gotten into
the conflict. Inflation was rearing its
ugly head prices for essentials were
rising, and people were saving their
money for even harder times expect-
ed to come. Again 1917 was another
bad circus season but for a different
reason. American factories were busy
turning out war supplies for England
BANDWAGON JANUARY-FEBIZUARY 2002 PAGE 3
whether John was buying cars for
the circus or the railroads he owned.
Existing Company records
reveal that John was indeed a bar-
gain hunter. He purchased complete
cars for as little as a few hundred
dollars to one or two thousand do
lars, he rarely passed up a good
These cars were sold
No. 3 Ringling Bros. No. 3 advertis- es. The Ringling show consisted of 86 Pullman which declared the exact
ing car. This car became the No. 1 Ad cars, comprising 3 advertising cars, condition the cars were in and exact-
Car in 1919 on the Combined Shows. 40 flat cars, 24 stock cars and 19 ly what equipment the cars had in
Circus World Museum collection. coaches. The combined show would them. They were still very sound
use a total of cars, namely 3 cars with lots of useful life left in
port as the combined shows winter advertising cars, 43 flat cars, 27 stock them, but generally considered to be
quarters until relocation to Florida cars and 22 coaces. A variety of dif- fixer -uppers John had the car shops
at the end of the 1927 season. ferent style coaches were present on manned by skilled as part
Quarantine regulations made nec- both shows in 1918. Cars with arched of his railroads he owned. These
essary by the epidemic of Spanish windows and full vestibules were shops were capable arebuilding any
Influenza at one swoop brought the acquired in the mid to late 1910's. type of railroad car including steam
circus season of 1918 to a close in Cars with open vestibules and cars engine rebuilds By the mid
early 1 The show
was sent winter from
Waycross, Georgia and the Barnum
show from Houston, Texas. The
rumor that there might be only one
show belonging to the
to the road next year depend
ing on wartime conditions. and
Charlie being the only surviving with narrow closed vestibules were Photo No. 5 RB & BB No. 1 Ad car.
brothers, the burden of operating two in 1 shows consists. This car was originally a U. S.
winter and two equally Cars purchased in the mid -1910's Government hospital train side door
large circuses the consolidation may have been built by companies patient car. Converted to an ad car by
good business sense. The combining like Wagner, Barney and Smith and The Osgood Bradley Car Company
of the two monster shows would take Pullman. An effort to match individ Worcester, Massachusetts. Circus
place at Bridgeport winter quarters ual cars purchased World Museum collection.
the winter of 1918. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum
The Ringlings were operating the Bailey to mdsting photographs that John owned three or four shortline
two independent shows on a total of were in the circus consists has been railroads.
172 railroad cars. The inconclusive in most cases. To compli- An article appearing in the Santa
Bailey show train consisted of i cate the 1 identification of Fe Magazine was reproduced
cars, including 3 advertising cars, 41 such cars is the lack docu- through the curtesy of Oklahoma
flat cars, 24 stock cars and 18 coach - mentation and records Although Today Jerry Sullivan. The article
many of information exist, the gives some insight to John Ringling,
Photo 4 The Combined dealings of John with the the circus man and his railroads. An
No. 3 Ad Car, c-1922. Circus World Pullman Company are complicated. i.nteresting quote from the magazine
Museum collection. It is to further study is
interest to in this article.
"The Ringling Railroad carried the
oustabouts rougnecks and tons of
equipment necessary to develop
new as far as the end of the
1
tracks. There they were
to ft-6*A wagons. As developments
were in railway transport ation,
eastern lines began th abandon their
coaches. (This will
explained later in this artce) John
Ringling purchased many of these
from Hartford & New Haven
Railroad (SIC. New York, New Haven
Hartford Railroad) and sent them
BANDWAGON JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2002 PAGE 4
that provided sleeping car services to
railroads. The Pullman Company
purchased the Wagner Palace Car
Company which provided sleeping
car services located in Buffalo, New
York in 1899, and also absorbed the
sleeping car operations of the New
ork New Haven & Hartford (NY,
NH & H) railroad. This purchase
came about principally of
the restriction the use of wooden
cars in the tunnels leading to Grand
Central Station in New York City.
These acquisitions a source
Photo No. 6 A string of RB & BB 4th from fair it good. Cars having open of cars for the circus from the early
section coaches, 1919. Note: Arch vestibules, narrow semi closed 1900's to the early 1920's. The former
dow, full vestibule type car, second vestibules, full vestibules and steel New or New Haven & Hartford
from the end. Circus World Museum reinforced underframes would make parlor cars rebuilt by Pullman in
collection. up the total of 22 cars selected for the 918 the U. S. Government
1919 season. Medical Department and were refer-
to Oklaoma. These New York The Pullman Company records eed to as "Unit Cars." The circus
Limited coaches, and richly show that John Ringling and the tially acquired some a these cars in
pholstered were used to transport Ringling Brothers had dealings with late 922.
the rousthbouts and roughnecks. the Pullman om
Quarters along the work line for sec- pany starting in 1895,
tion hands and commissary were purchasing cars and
dathd cars from Brothers' having cars repaired
Circus special train equipment." the company. The
"Ringling was negotiating for a town coaches were con-
site to build around the railhead at stantly being upgrad
the end of the track. In April 1914, a ed and replaced
land made from to age,
B. Turner became the terminal point heavy use, derail-
for the railroad and the new town ments and fires. A
there was named Ringling, Okla- limited number of
homa." The railroad was known as photographs from
the Oklahoma, New Mexico & Pacific 1919-1932 survive,
Railroad Company, "The Ringling also a limithd
Line." of actual documents
The 1919 Combined Shows used 22 describe transactions between the Photo No. 8 RB & BB coach 74,
coaches, a selection of the best cars and the Pullman Com- open, narrow vestibule type car, being
from / shows that left 15 coaches pany. pushed by an elephant in Bridgeport,
at the Bridgeport winter quarters. The Pullman Company operated Connecticut winter quarters. This car
The condition of the coaches varied the largest fleet of cars and was replaced in 1923 and remained as
became the largest manufacturer of surplus. Frank Updegrove photo.
Photo No. 7 RB & BB coach 73. passenger cars in North America.
arch window, open vestibule type car Pullman absorbed several manufac- The replacement cars added to the
1919. Tibbals Collection. turers as well as competing firms two shows during the 1910s had steel
underframes and full vestibules.
Pullman records show four steel
vestibule cars were purchased in
March of 1914 and another six
lar cars in 1916 These cars were
refitted and made ready for use on
both shows in the Bridgeport and
Baraboo winter quEuters car shops.
No actual records have been discov-
ered that disclose which cars were
repaced.
Henry Ringling's death Octhber
11, 918 in John M. Kelley,
the Ringling attorney preparing
BANDWAGON JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2002 PAGE 5
document listing the circus property
of the Ringling Bros. show, the
Barnum & Bailey show and the
defunct Forepaugh-Sells show and
surplus at Bridgeport. The trains and
equipment used for the 1918 is list-
ed, as is a list of coaches not in use
during the 1919 season.
The 1919 train had 3 advance cars
and 92 cars back. The coaches listed
by section were: 1st section had two
coaches; 2nd section had one lunch
car and six coaches; 3rd section had
one coach; 4th section had one pri-
vate car, one lunch car and sleeper,
one combination storage and sleeper, NUM & BAILEY COMBINED Photo No. 9 View of open vestibule
one stateroom car and eight coaches. SHOWS was painted above the win- coach of the Combined Shows, taken
Coaches listed on John M. Kelley's dows and the car number below the inside Bridgeport, Connecticut winter
inventory list each show by their windows, near the vestibules. The quarters. Author's collection.
numbers as follows: Barnum &
coaches of the 1920's had R. B. and B.
Bailey -51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58*, B. in the center of the car, in place of written by an African -American who
59*, 60*, 61, 62*, 63*, 64*, 65, 66, 67, the car name. This practice was used served as a porter on both cars have
68 cars not in use 6* and 50*.
through 1929 or 1930. revealed that he was present on the
Ringling Brothers -75*, 76*, 77*, 78, cars when John paid brief visits to
79, 80*, 82*, 83*, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, Some Private Cars the show. John traveled between his
89, 90, 91, 92* and 30*. The asterisk John Ringling routed both of the apartment in New York City,
(*) denotes wood cars not used in circuses but also had extensive busi- Chicago, White Sulphur Springs,
1919. ness dealings in oil, ranching and Montana and Sarasota, Florida while
The Ringling brothers purchased railroading. He owned land in routing the show throughout the
cars from Pullman for both the Montana and also a railroad named country. John Ringling had the
Barnum & Bailey show and the the White Sulphur Springs & Pullman Company construct another
Ringling Bros. show. Many of these Yellowstone Park Railroad. He used private car. The second car would be
cars were former Wagner Palace two different private cars during the an all steel car. It was named Jomar
Cars that were available through 1910's named the Wisconsin which a combination of letters of his first
Pullman and were the full vestibule he purchased from Pullman. name and that of his wife, Mable
and arch window type cars. Most of Pullman Journal entry N-3, p. 61 "for with 'r' for Ringling, The new private
the cars were ten, twelve and four- John Ringling, (1) private car, com- car was delivered in 1917. Mr. and
teen open section sleeping cars, pletion 3/16/1905, Lot #C-10. Cash Mrs. Charles Ringling occupied pri-
which were relatively easy to convert Journal N-6, p. 470 "John Ringling, vate car #84, formerly John's private
to circus use. Photographs taken in construction of car Wisconsin, car Sarasota and was surpluses in
Baraboo and Bridgeport winter quar- $11,325.23 6/3/1905 and the Sara- 1918 when John took delivery on his
ters verify this type of car being used sota is believed to have been new car Jomar. A reciprocal agree-
on both shows. This type of car was acquired by John in November 1912 ment with the railroads allowed him,
mostly on the Ringling show with a as used Wagner Palace Sleeping Car as a railroad owner, to move his pri-
few going to the Barnum & Bailey named Mariposa, it is further vate cars throughout the country's
show. There were open vestibule and believed that the car was rebuilt into rail systems.
narrow closed vestibule cars used in the private car at the car shops locat-
the 1919 combine. ed on the St. Louis & Hannibal The 1919 Coaches
The coach numbering in place on Railway, owned by John Ringling in Photographs taken in Baraboo
the Ringling show was used in 1919 Missouri. Surviving photographs winter quarters of the Ringling Bros.
and it is assumed that any Barnum
show his private car Wisconsin in the
& Bailey cars used were assigned consist of the circus train. It is doubt- Photo No. 10 RB & BB arch window.
Ringling sequence numbers. The ful that John remained on the show full vestibule type coaches 87 and 88.
1919 coaches were numbered in the for extended periods of time. A book c-1922. Pfening Archives
70s, 80s and 90s. It is unknown
which car numbers were used in the
four sections of the train. Available
photographs reveal that names were - -
'1191111111.1l
not applied on the cars, although ISM UM all sra a 16 1141.114011WIENVINEW
both shows had used names on the N.
i; "-e-77771)Plrlsiarge'rriraur- "rtirTit.
coaches prior to the combine. The
title RINGLING BROS. and BAR -
BANDWAGON JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2002 PAGE 6
observed that there were a total a
cars in four sections as o
ow: 1st section 22 cars, 16 flats, 3
stocs 3 c1aches--50 1 incud
ing 23 cages; 2nd section 22 flat cars
carrying wagons no stock cars or
coaches accompanied this section;
section 24 cars 4 flats 11 stocks,
7 oaches--9 1 4th section 25
cars, 13 stocks and 12 coaches. His
notes reveal to us the colors of the
wagons and sleepers being red and
the flats and stocks were yellow and
He saw one the three advance
cars which was painted yellow with
dark green.
Photo No. 12 RB & BB coaches 79; 3rd section 80 only one The 920 panoramic photograph
1922. Circus World Museum oac; 4th section 81 82 83 84 taken in Cleveland, Ohio of the
car, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89 90 entire lot setup with the lake in the
Cars identified as cars background. The photograph gives us
train show a string of arch window, from 1918 are 91 90 89, 88, 87 look at the assortment coaches
full vestibule coaches on a track next 85 all are arch wndow, full that are parked on the shaped
o the car sops A team of horses cars. The new private car that track that ran through the middle of
and a wagon are unloading laundry Charlie using in 1918 is also the ot. Coaches that can be denti-
from the cars. Some are dis- in the 99 onsist. A couple of fied by numbers are 92, 80 93 and
tinguishable as and Is Other cars in the nd section are cars seen are open vestbule, nar-
coaches in the same photograph 8 the lunch Car that was built new ow closed vestibule and full
might - i and 88. These same cars in 912 for the workinmen, also the vestibule cws. Other photos taken at
appear in a 1920 photograph a the combination storage and an unknown location show what are
combined sows. A rare view taken mentioned earlier may have been car believed to be the 4th section coach-
inside the car shops at the 81 presumed to have had a Delco es, these photographs were found in
Bridgeport winter quarters in 1909 light plant which provided electrical the Circus World Museum photo co
shows some of the coaches and power for the 4th section. lection in is Wisconsin.
advertising cars. It is possible that The Billboard issue of May 0th We are fortunate to have Issac
one a these cars was used in the 1919 reported a sleeping car fire. On Marcks' notes for 1921. The show
919 combined sows. Other photo May 5th sleeping car #90 caught fire, arrived in Pttsfied, Massachusetts
graps reveal the presence a arch very early Sunday morning in the on Sunday July rd, the July 4th
window, full vestibule cars on yards at Second Henderson Holiday on a Monday. As the
Barnum Bailey in the mid to late streets, Jersey City. The car would trains from Brdgport,
910's. have undoubtedly become a total onnecticut, which was played on
The limited photographs a this wreck but for the prompt arrival of the the st section had 22 cars,
period verify only some a the cars the fire fighting pparatus. What at 16 flats, 3 stocks, 3 coaches --51 wag-
that were on the 1919 sow. A possi- one time looked like a serious confla- ons, including 4 cages, 1 auo,
ble consist a the 1919 coaches is as gration was averted. Fortunately tractor; 2nd section 23 cars, 10
ollows: 1st section 72 and 73; 2nd every one escaped without injury. It flats, stocs 7 c1aces--27 wagons,
section 74 75 76 77 78 lunch car is assumed that the car was repaired 3 autos 2 tractors; 3rd section had 23
and stayed in service. cars, 17 flats, 5 stocks 1 coach--
Photo No. 13 Photo taken May 28- The consist of the 1920 train was 51wagons 1 auto; 4t section had 24
30, 1923 Cleveland, Ohio. Coach 94, taken from notes made by Issac cars, 12 stocks and 12 coaches. There
in foreground is a new rebuilt by Marcks when the show played his were a total of cars back and
Osgood Bradley in 1923. Author's home town of Pttsfied, Mass- advance cars The shows color
achusetts on July 6th 1920. He scheme was wagons and sleepers are
red with stock cars and flat
cars yellow with green ends.
Several photographs tak-
en in in the Circus
World Museum and
ollections provide excellent
examples a arch window,
full vestibule cars. Cars
shown are through 91, all
fourth section arch window,
BANDWAGON JANUARY-FEBIWARY 2002 PAGE 7
full vestibule cars. Other views show Photo No. 14 RB & BB in Cleveland Sells coaches that were transferred
performers posing beside these cars 1923. Author's collection. to the Barnum Show after
for snap shots, some are dressed in Forepaugh-Sells was shelved at the
Halloween costumes. Again Issac scheme of the show equipment and end of the 1911 season. Correspon-
Marcks gives a full account of the train was the same as it was the year dence between John and Charlie ver-
shows' train when Pittsfield, before. ifies this. These Barnum & Bailey
Massachusetts was played on June Based on extensive research of cir- cars were all open vestibules and
10th 1922. There were 3 coaches on cus archives for official documents, used in the 1st and 2nd sections.
the 1st section; 7 coaches on the 2nd reading of Billboard microfilm and Some Ringling open and narrow
section; 1 coach on the 3rd section studying numerous available photo- vestibule cars were also used. The 1st
and 13 coaches on the 4th section. graphs, a logical reconstruction of and 2nd sections carried the majority
The show had a total of 95 cars back the coaches can be put together. The of the workingmen in the combined
with 3 cars in advance. The color following is the author's synopsis of ten cars, one of the Ringling cars con-
the combined shows coaches for the tained a lunchroom and kitchen in
Photo No. 15 The U. S. government 1919-1922 period. The Barnum & one end that served the workingmen
hospital cars. The bottom photo shows Bailey coaches that were selected for in the 2nd section. The 3rd and 4th
a string of these cars. Circus World use were the very best of their cars sections carried mostly performers
Museum collection. plus at least three of the Forepaugh- and staff. They also carried side show
performers and band plus some ush-
ers and ticket sellers. All of the
newer Ringling arch window, full
vestibule cars were used in the 4th
section. One of the 3rd section cars as
well as a few in the 4th section were
Barnum & Bailey coaches of a simi-
lar type. The very best of the remain-
ing cars made up the balance of the
,_ 4th section.
am
MMII The Government Hospital Cars
171 1111 117 ..,1Ir1r11111.01 The entertainment industry press
had a field day with the news that
116. f4r-,14
- ti the Ringling show had purchased
ffs c-ue. P. Ma 3275, GA 349. weee convened to nett sheotked r' t A,w9 al Dept. D'oepac Carr in Decent>, Iv eeolstion of these ewe surplus cars from the U. S. Govern-
"before and phoeograplur. See floor pion below. Smithsonian Attila:ion I.4",,Aph, P9922 9 P24656 ment. Speculation and rumors about
the show's intentions for the cars,
a,14. plus the quantity of cars purchased,
was expressed in Billboard. Some
taLtr3
0t141a0o1 ..1111 examples of stories by the weekly
publications follow. The September
16, 1922 issue of was headlined
Billboard by "Ringling Buy
Government Cars" reads in part,
"during the first world war the U. S.
Government had built a number of
fine steel cars (thirty-six it is
believed) for hospital purposes, but
which, it is understood, were never
used." A wire sent from the
Billboard's office in Cincinnati,
BANDWAGON JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2002 PAGE 8
Ohio on September 7, 1922 to
Charles Ringling, care of RB & BB
Shows, Fresno, California read
"Understand you bought 36
Government hospital cars, if true
would appreciate details by wire." It
was signed A. C. Hartman, Billboard
editor. The Ringling Bros. reply from
Bakersfield, California on September
9, 1922 addressed to A. C. Hartman,
editor the Billboard, Cincinnati,
Ohio read "Your wire, seventh, we
purchased form the Government the the subject. His wealth of knowledge Photo No. 17 AB & BB train held at
steel Pullman cars." signed Ringling about the Government cars has the Canadian border for Probation
Bros. It further stated, "To what use answered questions involving the Inspection. Pfening Archives.
these cars will be put the Messr's cars RB & BB purchased from the
(sic) Ringling failed to state." This led Government starting in 1922. To Department Transportation Sum-
to further speculation about what quote one of Hugh's letters in part, mary dated 30 January 1919, in ref-
Ringling plans to do with the cars. "On 29 November 1918 the Pullman erence to the hospital Unit cars,
The October 7, 1922 issue of Company offered to sell 20 parlor states "No. 1 to No. 10 inclusive at
Billboard headlined by "Discarding cars of floor plan 3275 (36 seat cars) Port of Embarkation, Newport News,
All Wood Sleepers" read "Ringling all 20 cars were at the Pullman shops Virginia. No. 11 to No. 20 inclusive at
Bros. will replace them with recently at Buffalo, New York on 2 December Port of Embarkation, Hoboken, New
purchased Government hospital 1918. A letter to Mr. Hanson Jersey. On 30 January 1920 twenty
cars." Another communication read (Pullman Company representative Unit cars were located as follows:
in part "A letter of inquiry was sent for hospital cars) from Mr. Pflager numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 at Norfolk,
to Charles Ringling, who replied (Mechanical Superintendent of Virginia; 11, 12, 14, 16, 20 at
from Dallas, Texas under date of Pullman Car Lines Company) identi- Brooklyn, New York; #6 at Chicago,
September 29, 1922 as follows: "Your fied 20 cars as being available. A 3 Illinois; 7, 18, 19 at San Francisco,
letter of September 16th, with refer- December 1918 letter from Mr. California; 13 at San Antonio, Texas;
ence to steel frame Government cars Pflager to Surgeon General of the #s 15, 17 at Hoboken, New Jersey.
which we purchased recently, has Army stated that (a.) work on ten Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
been received. Will say that we are cars was underway at the Buffalo Bailey Combined Shows acquired 18
discarding the all wood sleepers for shops. (b.) because of post-war of the Government hospital Unit
sleeping cars with steel underarm, demands for parlor cars had risen cars. It is possible the 19th and 20th
platforms, reinforcements, etc., The the Pullman Company desired to
Government cars recently purchased substitute ten parlor cars of Plan Photo No. 18 Car No. 73 R. B. & B.
meet these requirements." Thanking 3265 (34 seat cars). (c.) Plan 3265 B. It was acquired in 1926 and was the
you for your inquiry I am Charles cars were 18" shorter than Plan 3275 first of three ex -diners that replaced
Ringling. cars, but this was not significant for older arch window cars on the first and
hospital car use. (d.) Acting for the third sections. This car became No. 70
The U. S. Government Unit Surgeon General, Mr. Hanson had Connecticut and was switched in 1931,
Cars approved the substitution, and work it was replace by a Unit car and num-
A major upgrading of the combined was underway at the Chicago shops bered 73. John Cutler photo, Circus
shows coaches was started in late on the substituted cars. A Medical World Museum collection.
1922. The Pullman Company remod-
eled New York, New Haven &
Hartford parlor cars for the U. S.
Government medical department in
1918. They became surplus
Government assets in 1922. These so
called 'Unit' cars played an impor-
tant roll in the RB & BB coach
upgrade.
The author has gained consider-
able knowledge about the Army
Medical Department's hospital
trains and cars through years of cor-
respondence with Major General
(Ret.) Hugh F. Foster, Jr. He is an iitt* 4 Nik IF
expert on military medical trans- Ale 401111116
portation and is writing a book on
BANDWAGON JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2002 PAGE 9
/
early 11 Euid were cars,
later re -buildings added the steel
reinforced undergear. The cars then
had steel that looked like
wood siding applied. The same book
refers to the private car #84 for
Charles Ringling named Caledodia,
stated to be 85' long was rebuilt fi-orn
19 RB & BB car 83 St. various In 1918, the ten one of the Unit cars and was 71'-6'
Louis. This car was an Officer's state- cars from the 1916 train were dvd ong. The work on these cars was per-
room car on one of the U. S. ed between four separate trains of ormed by the Osgood Bradley Car
Government hospital trains. It was seven cars each, additional cars were Company Worcester, Massachusetts
remodeled by Osgood Bradley in added at this time. These four hosp in 1923.
1923. Pfening Archives tal trains did not include any of the The six cars that were rebuilt by
Unit cars mentioned prevously. Each Osgood Bradley for Ringling-
cars were acquired by the Arnerican train was made up of the following Barnum were the new private car
Red Cross but no proof a this has cars: Car o. 1 kitcen, dnng, pe Caledonia #84 for Charles Ringling;
surfaced to The 20 Unit cars the ona; Car o. and No. were two the two new advertising cars No. 1
Government surpluses in 1922 were section patient cars; Car o. 4 was a and No. 2; #81 a combination car, as a
all built by the Pullman Company sidedoor patient car; Car o. 5 was a sleeper and generator car; #83 a
between June 1900 and August 1907. patient car; Car o. 6 was stateroom car moded from the
They were remodeled for the storage/patentoffice car and Car Officers car out of hospital Train 3
Government by Pullman in 1918. o. 7 an Officers stateroom car. We #94 rebuilt into a sleeper for
They had hardly been in service believe that the No. state- show personnel.
three years when they became sur- room car, Train 3 became RB & BB's The January 20 1923 issue of
plus. The cars were barely twenty #83 stateroom car. Two of the o. Billboard carried a story of Ringling-
years old when Rngling-Barnum patient cars, one from Train Barnum's Bridgeport winter quar-
purchased tem, quite young consd 3 and the other from Trai'n 4. Both te/rs activity that in part, "The
ering the useful life of a passenger cars were 72'-6" long and having side converting twenty-six steel
car could reach to fifty years. The loading doors on both These Pullman cars into sleepers suitable
show was fortunate to acquire such two cars became RB&BB's new for circus purposes is in itself no
111 cars to upgrade their . advertising cars o. No. 2. small task. Even though it is without
car fleet. Ringling Bros. and doubt the largest undertaking ever
Three additional cars, which were Bailey chose the near -by car building given the mechanical department of
1'
not Unit cars brought the total of The Osgood Bradley Car the circus, it is apparently being
cars acquired from the Government Company located in orcester, accomplished without great effort.
to 21. To clarify these additional cars Massachusetts, was given the Without seeing one of these cars
we rely on General Foster's task a re-buildng six cars for the undergoing this constniction it is dif-
orrespondence A ten car hospital 923 season. The cars were re -built ficult to realize the amount of work
train was built in 1916 to support using four separate shop orders as required to make it a comfortable
General Pershing and his troops as ollows: O -720 (1) compartment sanitary home for the inab
they Pancho Villa around car (2) combination passenger tants a this great circus city during
Mexico. It was stationed along the baggage cars; (1) it's traveling season. Nearly fifty
border and the primary use was vate car No. 84 -name, Caledodia; CO - mecanics, exclusive of painters and
evacuating sick soldiers from 7306 (1) combination passenger and electricians, are in the car shops.
encampments along the border to baggage car as Advertising Car o. When completed these cars will sur-
O -7307 (1) compartment car. pass anything ever used for circus
Photo No. 20 The RB & BB hospital 1 Parkinson and C. P. Foxs book equipment by their sturdy construc-
car 'Florence Nightingale' created by The Circus Moves By Rail describes tion, dignified appearance and home-
Sam Gumpertz in 1936. This car was the new advertising cars as all steel like omforts." The previous B
rebuilt into a sleeper and named cars built by Pullman. The cars were board, dated January 13, 1923, had a
Sarasota. Pfening Archives. ornally built by Pulhnan in the RB BB sale advertisement that
We have for
sale a number of
cus sleepers just out
of service in good
ondton. Cars may
bBe rdsegenepatorSti,
Connecticut winter
quarters and prices
furnished on applica-
BANDWAGON JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2002 PAGE 10