The History of Flatcar # 67
This flatcar is a 70 ft. Warren design flat. The car design uses the under belly truss design of the very early Warren Tank Car Co. manufacturing. It was placed on loan to the Circus World Museum from the Royal American Shows on April 27, 1971.
The actual origin of the car is only speculation. Built by the Warren Tank Car Co. sometime between 1920 and 1927, this flatcar was one of many that Royal American Shows bought from the defunct Cetlin and Wilson Shows in 1968 when the show went broke in Savannah, Ga. Royal American’s loan to the Circus World Museum stated these cars had a Ringling background.
On Jan. 15, 1952, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, Inc. daily ledgers now housed at the Circus World Museum Research Library detail the sale of three flatcars numbered 125, 132, & 137 to Cetlin & Wilson Shows. The Billboard reported in the February 2, 1952 issue that Cetlin & Wilson had bought five RBBB flats and they had already been shipped to Petersburg, Va. winter quarters for Cetlin and Wilson. It is also known that Ringling did indeed have 70’ Warrens as a couple exist at the Circus World Museum now.
Upon it’s acquisition for the Circus Train, the car was refurbished and repainted Silver with Red letters and a Black Outline. It was titled Royal American Shows. It made the 1971, 1972, and 1973 runs to Milwaukee.
When the train was resurrected in 1985, this car was repainted and re-lettered. It was now a silver car with Red Letters Shaded in Blue. It was titled Clyde Beatty Circus. This lettering and color scheme remained for the entire use of this car. It went to Milwaukee every year except 1990, 1991, and 2003 when it was not used.
In September of 2003, the Sedlmyer family sold this flatcar to Hoffman Construction Co. in Black River Falls, WI. David Hoffman was responsible for the movement of the car from Museum property to his location.
This flatcar is a 70 ft. Warren design flat. The car design uses the under belly truss design of the very early Warren Tank Car Co. manufacturing. It was placed on loan to the Circus World Museum from the Royal American Shows on April 27, 1971.
The actual origin of the car is only speculation. Built by the Warren Tank Car Co. sometime between 1920 and 1927, this flatcar was one of many that Royal American Shows bought from the defunct Cetlin and Wilson Shows in 1968 when the show went broke in Savannah, Ga. Royal American’s loan to the Circus World Museum stated these cars had a Ringling background.
On Jan. 15, 1952, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, Inc. daily ledgers now housed at the Circus World Museum Research Library detail the sale of three flatcars numbered 125, 132, & 137 to Cetlin & Wilson Shows. The Billboard reported in the February 2, 1952 issue that Cetlin & Wilson had bought five RBBB flats and they had already been shipped to Petersburg, Va. winter quarters for Cetlin and Wilson. It is also known that Ringling did indeed have 70’ Warrens as a couple exist at the Circus World Museum now.
Upon it’s acquisition for the Circus Train, the car was refurbished and repainted Silver with Red letters and a Black Outline. It was titled Royal American Shows. It made the 1971, 1972, and 1973 runs to Milwaukee.
When the train was resurrected in 1985, this car was repainted and re-lettered. It was now a silver car with Red Letters Shaded in Blue. It was titled Clyde Beatty Circus. This lettering and color scheme remained for the entire use of this car. It went to Milwaukee every year except 1990, 1991, and 2003 when it was not used.
In September of 2003, the Sedlmyer family sold this flatcar to Hoffman Construction Co. in Black River Falls, WI. David Hoffman was responsible for the movement of the car from Museum property to his location.
As another side note: Would anyone have a photo of this flatcar from the 1970's with the Royal American Shows lettering they could share with me? Bob Cline - fivetiger@shtc.net
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