Saturday, October 15, 2011

Flatcar # 244

The History of Flatcar # 244

This flatcar is 70’ long and was originally made by the Warren Tank car Company in 1929. It was on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus until their train travel ended in 1956. The # 244 was a RBBB number that was last used on this flatcar. Royal American Shows then bought it in late 1961 along with all other remaining Ringling flatcars. The Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. then purchased it for the Circus World Museum in 1966.
This car was used in the Parade trains to Milwaukee from 1968 to 1973 and then when the parade was resurrected again from 1985 through 1997. It was painted a Silver body with Red Letters and a Black outline being titled Royal American Shows on both sides.
In 1998 it was painted in the Silver Body with Red Letters and White Outline in the traditional Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows lettering on both sides. The car was again used in the 1999 train to Milwaukee but not after that.
This car resides in the W.W. Deppe Wagon Pavilion with part of the 1954 Ringling train exhibit.

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