Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Train Originally B&O 7103 KINGFISHER, built by Budd in 1954 as a 16-duplex-roomette/4-double-bedroom Slumbercoach sleeper, built as a Plan 9536 car in Lot 9658, placed in service 26 May 26, 1954. It was one of three Slumbercoaches Ringling eventually purchased. To Ringling in 1969 and served the circus to the end in 2017. To Ringling in 1969. By 1975 it was RB-141 on the Blue Unit Train. By 1977 it was RB-140 on the Blue Unit Train. By 1979 it was still RB-140. This car served the circus all the way to the end in 2017. As such, it was with Ringling for 48 years, making it the longest-serving car Ringling ever had - until 2020 when it was finally tied by RBBX 60010. To BNSF at auction in 2017. Image: John McCluskey on May 10, 2017 at Elmhurst, NY - the very last movement of the Blue Unit. |
 |
||
Thirty-nine years with the circus, and still counting. Image: G. Gerard on January 21, 2008 at Waycross, GA. |
 |
||
| Image: December 17, 1995 at Tampa, FL. |  |
||
The car looked very different early in its Ringling career. Here can be seen windows that later disappeared, and many other pieces of metal that were removed and/or replaced over the course of its 48 years of circus service. Image: RB-140 lettered RBBB 140 from the collection of Jerry M. Laboda, apparently after losing its white paint. |
 |
||
| Image: As RB-140 in November 1976 by Melvin Bernero. |  |
||
Image: RB-141 photographed September 13, 1975 in New Orleans by Michael Palmieri. |
 |
||
