This picture was taken in 1950. I don't know where or when so I don't know why it is being loaded on the train and it is still daylight outside.
With the discussion the other day, I have thought of a few questions that perhaps the readers could answer. #130 was the RBBB Train Plant. If there was three or four sections of the RBBB train, which section did it travel on or was there more than this one train plant?
I have never seen any of the Charles Kitto photos that were mentioned so I don't know what they were taken of. Does anyone have a photo of the Train Light Plant in Operation they could share with everyone? Was it loaded on the train first, then started up? Were the lights run down the flatcars on the opposite side of the pullup side? Did this plant get shut down after loading or did it run to provide the coaches with power for a while? I'm asking here in a public forum so others can learn as well as myself!
If you have a photo you would like to share, send it to me tigeract@thecircusworld.com
6 comments:
I can't explain the daylight loadout. Sometimes they would play a feed and water stop on a long jump and do one show to help with the nut and maybe that might explain the daylight.
As to where the light plant was loaded, it would have been on the last section so they would have light to load everyting. They would not need it in the morning.
I don't recall that they ever used it to light the coaches.
I remember the lights hung on a gooseneck type of bracket that was attached to the gunnels and it would have been on the side away from the tractors used to load.
Hope this helps a little.
Bob Kitto
Not being an expert or serious historian I can only speculate on some things concerning this photo. Other things I know for fact. The first being that this particular photo was taken by Jim McRoberts when the show played Yankton, SD on September 3, 1950. It appears in part III of Joe Bradburys RBBB series that was in the March/April 1988 issue of White Tops. Jim also has the wagon listed on flat #115 Second Section-Gas and Big Top Cut along with C-6 Mule, #232 Mack, C-4 Mule, B-10 CAT (D4). I'm presuming Jim made the loading list at the runs when the show pulled into town because that's NOT the order in which its being loaded in the photo.
In the photo (from left to right) we can see that #43 and Jeep under the poles will be loaded on the next flat (out of picture). The flat in the photo will have a Mule, B-7 D4 boom CAT, another D4 crossing CAT, #130 gen/set and MOST PROBABLY Mack #232 box truck behind. Mack #232 was used in loading and at the runs until the B-9 D6 DoNut CAT was purchased later on.
In the year 1950 September 3 fell on a Sunday. There is a distinct possibility that the show played only 1 show (matinee) that day and had an early tear down and load out. According to the route book they only played 24 Sundays total that season.
As I stated earlier, I don't profess to be an "expert" on these matters but this would be my best guess on what's going on in this photo.
Flint
I had a discussion earlier today with a circus friend who reminded me that the RBBB flats had electrical outlets in the gunnels that allowed for the loading lights to be simply plugged in. ( I remember seeing these on the couple RBBB flats at Circus World Museum )
The flats were all wired on the underside similiar to a semi unit today. Thus the Train Light plant and / or generator only had to have enough electrical cable to reach the first flat. That way as the furthest flat away was loaded, it's light was unplugged and put away while still having lights on the train until they were all done being used.
Bob
so.............one train light plant,loaded in daylight,before the other wagons were loaded,means if this were a late load out ,some where they would be without a Gener,I mean ,light plant,loading in the dark,with #1319 mack truck,pulling a dounut trailor with a jeep under the poles for a tent that is still on the next lot,in 1913 with a show falling on a Feburary 30th,making it a leep year date that the route book did not mention for three years.
GOT-IT...thanks for clearing that up......
by the way,this photo looks like they are loading the train on a hill side(you have to look close,its hard to see)but I see Chocks under the trucks of the flat cars to hold them in place,which makes me speculate a steep incline for the flat car gunnels that the hubs had to run across to get where they need to be....
Uhhh Randy- I see by the time of the post that it was waaayy past your usual bedtime on this one! Be careful of that hot sun- it makes the strange thoughts come out. Remember what the voices say.
Flint
have seen a film clip of the tear down in SD it was a afternoon preformance only so could very well explain the day light loading of the train
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