I just finished scanning and cropping another photo album again last night. This is Ringling / Barnum from 1940 to 1956. This photo is an 8 x 10 glossy. I want to say that I have seen this photo before. The only markings in this album say circa 1948. No mention of location or photographer.Does anyone have anymore information on it? It's a great photo.
3 comments:
Bob;
The photo is in "The Circus Moves By Rail", page 6, by Tom Parkinson and Chappie Fox. The location is Virginia. The credit is author's collection. It looks like a Chappie Fox picture to me.
Jerry Cash
Thanks Jerry. I felt like it was familiar but I couldn't remember where.
Bob
I've had some terrific converstaions today with Fred Dahlinger and Richard Reynolds concerning this photo. Allow me to fill in some of the details that were established as fact today.
The steam Locomotive is a 2-6-6-4 articulated type. Belonging to Norfolk and Western, it is designated as a class "A" engine. There were 43 of these built in Roanoke, VA from 1936 to 1944 being numbered from 1200 to 1242. This particular engine is 1202.
Careful consideration shows 11 flats, then four stock cars ( all horse cars ) then a dark passenger car. The dark sleeper indicates it is Rd and this narrows the field down to 1944, 1945, 1946 or 1947. Based on the route of RBBB, they were no where near Norfolk and Western territory in 1944 and 1947. Thus the photo is from 1945 or 1946.
The RBBB train moved in three sections in 1945 and 1946 with George Smith as the General manager both years. The fact that the train is moving in daylight and that there are no cages or pole wagons showing indicates this is the third section. Photos in 1946 by Chappie Fox taken in Wisconsin show the third section with four horse cars behind the flats.
Taking 1945 as a possibility, N&W moved the show on Thursday October 18th from Bristol, TN. to Roanoke, VA and on Sat. Oct. 20th to Lynchburg, VA.
Using 1946 as a possibility, N&W moved the show on Sunday October 27th from Bristol, TN. to Roanoke, VA and again on Tuesday October 29th to Lynchburg.
That my friends is how we as students of the circus learn from the great teachers of this great form of family entertainment. My deepest Thanks to such great friends as Richard Reynolds III and Fred Dahlinger Jr. for such great insight in one photo.
Bob
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