Photography from the collection of Thom Horvath |
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Thom Horvath has been photographing the Ringling trains for well over 30 years. Here is but a small fraction of his work. Notes are Thom's unless otherwise stated. On June 6, 1983 after closing out their engagement at New York's Madison Square Garden Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey's Red Unit heads south down the Northeast Corridor to Philadelphia. |
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It is seen here passing through Monmouth Junction (NJ). Two SD40-2s provided the motive power for this move and they were CR 6503 (now NS 3413) and CR 6467 (now NS 3395). The second image shows RBX 39 trailing the two engines. It was a 1948 stainless steel 75 ft baggage car that was initially on the Blue Unit as a shop car. Ringling purchased it in 1979 and was formerly WP 801 Silver Beaver. Photo: Thom Horvath on June 6, 1983 |
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The final image shows some of the flats with their colorful loads and last was a barely visible CR caboose. Photo: Thom Horvath on June 6, 1983 |
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Unloading elephants at the Bredan Byrne Arena in Carlstadt, NJ. Photo: Thom Horvath on November 15, 1983 |
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On this date the Ringling Red Unit was making its way to Philadelphia (PA) after closing its engagement in Binghamton (NY). There would be a stop in Pittston (PA) for a crew change along with a water stop for the animals. CR's 6127, now NS 8360, and an unidentified second diesel was the power consist as it made its was through the Falls (PA) area. Photo: Thom Horvath on May 31, 1993
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In the second image a member of the show stands in the vestibule of RBX 43 watching the landscape pass by and perhaps wondering "Where are we?" Regarding RBX 43 it is a residential coach car that was once RBX 38 in 1987, RBX 36 in 1993 and RBBX 40001 in 1995. That car in front of it is RBX 42. Photo: Thom Horvath on May 31, 1993 |
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Bringing up the rear marker is Ringling Brothers auto rack. Back then this train would have fifty-two cars, measured 4,599 feet and weighed in 3,650 tons. Photo: Thom Horvath on May 31, 1993 |
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On June 10th Ringling Brother's Blue Unit would start its 1,629 mile journey from Wilkes-Barre (PA) to Oklahoma City (OK). The railroads involved with this train's move was L&S, CP, NS and BNSF. In the first image CP 9023 and CP 5573 are seen bringing the 5,044 foot long train into Harrisburg where it would be handed off to NS. Before going around Horseshoe Curve, NS would have a crew change and the animals would be watered in Altoona. Photo: Thom Horvath on June 10, 2002 |
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This second image two shows NS 8397 (ex-CR 6191) and NS 3223 (ex-SOU 3223) rounding Horseshoe Curve, much to the delight of both the spectators in the viewing area and members of the Blue Unit who were snapping photos of those spectators. Photo: Thom Horvath on June 10, 2002 |
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I think back to that day and wish that I had taken more photos of this scene but back then it was time just to take in and enjoy this moment. The Blue Unit's train would finally reached its destination on June 13th. Photo: Thom Horvath on June 10, 2002 |
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With its engagement in Trenton (NJ) completed, NS 047 makes its way through Harrisburg (PA) as it heads west to Omaha, (NE). This trip would use Amtrak, Conrail, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific motive power during the course of its 1,213 mile trip and was scheduled to arrive in Omaha on June 3rd for its opening show. The train would have fifty-nine cars, weigh in at 4,290 tons and was 5,235 feet in length. NS's motive was NS 2753 and NS 2607. Photo: Thom Horvath on June 1, 2009 |
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Former RBBX 40006 is seen passing through Bangor, Pennsylvania on a move by NS H76 on June 10, 2017. It was one of the three cars that was acquired by the Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society. Photo: Thom Horvath on June 10, 2017 |
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Former RBBX 42010 is also seen passing through Bangor, Pennsylvania on a move by NS H76 on June 10, 2017. It was one of the three cars that was acquired by the Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society. Photo: Thom Horvath on June 10, 2017 |
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Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society (ELDCS) used former RBBX 42010 on a excursion on October 21, 2017. It is seen here at East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania waiting for the excursion to head back to Scranton, Pennsylvania. Photo: Thom Horvath on October 21, 2017 |
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Former RBBX 40007 and 42017 in DuBois, Pennsylvania on April 12, 2019 at Dr. Doolittle's Roadside Cafe & Creamery. Photo: Thom Horvath on April 12, 2019 |
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