The History of Flatcar # 234
This flatcar is a 72 ft. Thrall design flat. It was purchased from the Royal American Shows on January 28, 1987 by the Circus World Museum for $ 2000.00. While on the Royal American Shows it was numbered # 38.
The origin of the car is from the Thrall Car Manufacturing Company. It was built in 1949 for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. It was intended for use by two of the steel seat wagons designed by Art Concello but it was discovered the seat wagons were too heavy for these flats.
After Ringling closed under canvas in 1956, they were put up for sale in 1959. Royal American Shows bought a couple. In 1961, Ringling sold all remaining flatcars to Royal American Shows, so it us unknown for sure whether this was purchased from Ringling in 1959 or 1961.
Royal American Shows used this flat on their train until they stopped train travel. It was offered for sale and six of them were purchased by the Circus World Museum for $ 2000.00 each.
They were not used for the first 5 years. In 1992, the first Thrall flat car was used in the Parade train. It was painted silver with the Bright Red Letters and White Outline with the traditional lettering of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows. The flat car was used in parades through 1999.
As of September 2007, this car was resting outside the Train sheds on a side track located just west of the Circus World Museum.
This flatcar is a 72 ft. Thrall design flat. It was purchased from the Royal American Shows on January 28, 1987 by the Circus World Museum for $ 2000.00. While on the Royal American Shows it was numbered # 38.
The origin of the car is from the Thrall Car Manufacturing Company. It was built in 1949 for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. It was intended for use by two of the steel seat wagons designed by Art Concello but it was discovered the seat wagons were too heavy for these flats.
After Ringling closed under canvas in 1956, they were put up for sale in 1959. Royal American Shows bought a couple. In 1961, Ringling sold all remaining flatcars to Royal American Shows, so it us unknown for sure whether this was purchased from Ringling in 1959 or 1961.
Royal American Shows used this flat on their train until they stopped train travel. It was offered for sale and six of them were purchased by the Circus World Museum for $ 2000.00 each.
They were not used for the first 5 years. In 1992, the first Thrall flat car was used in the Parade train. It was painted silver with the Bright Red Letters and White Outline with the traditional lettering of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows. The flat car was used in parades through 1999.
As of September 2007, this car was resting outside the Train sheds on a side track located just west of the Circus World Museum.
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