The Last Great Circus Train - Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey 2017

Equipment Roster of the 1979 MONTE-CARLO EXPRESS

*	*	THE MONTE-CARLO EXPRESS TRAIN
		The 15-car Monte-Carlo Express ran only in the 1979 season. It carried the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival Spectacular (Festival International du Cirque de Monte Carlo Spectacular), a one-ring European-style show that played smaller venues in the eastern US. The train was painted silver with a pair of circular 'Cirque' legends on both sides. Small yellow car numbers appeared on the car ends. Seven of the cars needed to form the new train were acquired from Auto-Train in nearby Sanford, FL. The only time 'MC-' preceeded the car numbers was when they were written down or in print. 'Monte Carlo' was hyphenated in the proper name of the train, the "Monte-Carlo Express" (see image of the Syracuse, NY engagement synopsis, below), otherwise it was called the 'Monte Carlo train', through rarely, if ever, the 'Gold Unit train'. Still, in the decades since, fans have taken to referring to it as the Gold Unit train. This list is a work-in-progress -- and probably always will be. Any additions or corrections, please email.
MCC#	*	1979 RINGLING MONTE-CARLO EXPRESS FLAT CAR NOTES
MC-220		Flat Car 220 was originally North American Car Corp NIFX 8283, built by Whitehead & Kales in 1967 as a TTX-type 89' flat car. To Ringling in 1978 for use on the Monte Carlo train as MC-220. To RBBX 86902 in 1995. To Florida Railroad Museum in the mid-1990s as FRRM 86902 and converted to an open air excursion car in 2002.
MC-221		Flat Car 221 was originally North American Car Corp NIFX 8284, built by Whitehead & Kales in 1967 as a TTX-type 89' flat car. To Ringling in 1978 for use on the Monte Carlo train as MC-221. By 1984 it was RBX 24 on the Red Unit train. By 1987 it was RBX-23 on the Red Unit train. To RBBX 86903 in 1995.
MC-222		Flat Car 222 was originally North American Car Corp NIFX 8287, built by Whitehead & Kales in 1967 as a TTX-type 89' flat car. To Ringling in 1978 for use on the Monte Carlo train as MC-222. To RBBX 86904 in 1995.
MC-223		Cat Car 223 was originally North American Car Corp NIFX 4025, a TTX-type bi-level 89' flat car. To Ringling in 1978 for use on the Monte Carlo train as MC-223. Carried the big cats. Later became RBX-19. Scrapped 1990(?)
*	*	1979 RINGLING MONTE-CARLO EXPRESS WAGON NOTES
*		The flats carried 8 unnumbered wagons (seven of them former 20' freight containers with wheels added), a rocket cannon, 2 new Clark CT50 tugs, a 40' GMC 6000 passenger bus painted yellow, a Chevy K5 Blazer (former American Freedom Train?), a van, and an all-new Pie Car Jr. Two wagons were for concessions, five were for the Animal Dept, wardrobe, rigging and rubber mats. The eighth wagon held Elvin Bale's Wheel of Death. A semi tractor-trailer accompanied the show to haul the huge backdrop. A concessions van also followed the show. The show had 9 big cat cages.
MCC#	*	1979 RINGLING MONTE-CARLO EXPRESS CAR NOTES
230		Stock Car 230 was originally Union Pacific baggage car 6320, built by ACF in 1961. To Penn Central in 1971. To James (Jim) Blum as 6320. To Ringling MC-230 in 1978. To RBX 93. Scrapped after a mishap in 1994. The car never received an RBBX number.
231		Baggage Car 231 was originally Western Pacific baggage car 801 SILVER BEAVER, built by Budd in 1948 as a baggage car. To Auto-Train 135, later 1135 and used as a power car. To Ringling as MC-231 and configured as a storage/baggage car for the Monte-Carlo Express Train in 1979. By 1982 it was RBX 38. By 1984 it was RBX 39. by 1987 it was RBX 35. Later RBX 73. Later RBX 69. The car never received an RBBX number. To private owner. To VIA Rail (Canada) and temporarily assigned number 628. To Illinois Railway Museum as MRLX 1167 in 2015.
240	Photo Needed	Residential Coach Car 240 was originally C&O 2618 CITY OF ALDERSON, built by PS in 1950 as a 10-6 sleeper. To ACL VOLUSIA COUNTY in 1950. To SCL 6657 VOLUSIA COUNTY. To Hamburg Industries 6657. To Amtrak 2803 VOLUSIA COUNTY in 1973. To Auto-Train 251 in 1976. To Ringling in 1978 to become MC-240 for the Monte Carlo Train in 1979. By 1986 it was RBX 73. To RBBX 42204 in 1995.
241	Photo Needed	Residential Coach Car 241 was originally NYC 12-bedroom sleeper 10501 PORT BYRON, built by Pullman in 1949. The car came to Ringling in 1969 along with several other NYC cars: ASHTABULA COUNTY, ELKHART COUNTY, La PORTE COUNTY, 10508 PORT OF NEW YORK, 10500, and 10633 HICKORY CREEK among them. By 1978, #241 was #148 on the Ringling Blue Train. Scrapped 1993.
242	Photo Needed	Residential Coach Car 242 was originally Louisville & Nashville 3468 WHISPERING PINE built by Pullman in 1953 as a 6-4-6 sleeper. To Auto-Train 612 in 1974 and used as a dorm. Retired in 1978 and sold to Ringling to become MC-242 on their Monte Carlo Train of 1979. To RBBX 42106. Scrapped in 1998.
243	Photo Needed	Residential Coach Car 243 was originally New Haven 536 MONUMENT BEACH, built 1954 in by as a sleeper. Sold in September 1969 to LIRR as Class P80E dayroom parlor 2075 SAGTIKOS. Retired in 1975. To Ringling in 1976 via Tuman Demolition, initially as sleeper MC-243 for the Monte Carlo Train in 1979. From 1980 to 1985 it was RBX 50. For 1986 it was RBX 49. From 1987 it was RBX 48. In 1991 & 1992 it was RBX 46. To private owner Omni Midwest as CTVX 461 in 1993.
244	Photo Needed	Power Car/Pie Car 244 was originally Southern 3312, a 48-seat dining car built by Budd in 1949. To Ringling in 1978 to become #244 on their Monte Carlo Train of 1979. The car also held the generator for the train's electrical power. To Seminole Gulf Railway in 1989.
245	Photo Needed	Residential Coach Car 245 was originally RF&P 408 KING WILLIAM, built by PS in 1949. To Auto-Train 632 in 1976. Retired in 1978 and sold to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to become #245 on the Monte Carlo Train of 1979. To Seminole Gulf Railway in 1989 as GASPARILLA.
246		Residential Coach Car 246 was originally L&N 3453 GREEN PINE, built by PS in 1953. To Auto-Train 610 in 1974 and used as a dorm. Retired in 1978 and sold to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to become #246 on the Monte Carlo Train (Gold Unit) of 1979. Later RBBX 42105. To Vengroff Williams in 2003.
247	Photo Needed	Residential Coach Car 247 was originally L&N 3464 SHORT LEAF PINE, built by PS in 1953. To Auto-Train 611 in 1974 and used as a dorm. Retired in 1978 and sold to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to become #247 on the Monte Carlo Train of 1979. Now at the historic railroad depot in Venice, FL (or soon will be).
248	Photo Needed	Residential Coach Car 248 was originally RF&P 409 KING & QUEEN, built by PS in 1949. To Auto-Train 633 in 1976. Retired in 1978 and sold to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to become #248 on their Monte Carlo Train of 1979. To RBX 177. To RBBX 42107 in 1995. To Golden Age Railway Equipment in 1999. Scrapped.
MC-157		Observation Car HICKORY CREEK was supposedly used on the tail of the Monte Carlo train, at least for a time. Please email if you know more. Hickory Creek was originally NYC 5 Bedroom Buffet-Lounge-Observation 10570, built by PS in 1948. To NYC 10633. To Ringling and initially used on the Blue Train.
*	*	In all, there were 15 railcars, 16 if Hickory Creek was used.
*	*	RINGLING 1979 - 1980 MONTE CARLO CIRCUS NOTES
		US Show Dates: Feb 20-25, 1979 World Premier at Providence, RI Feb 27-28, 1979 Syracuse, NY March 2-4, 1979 Niagara Falls, NY March 7-11, 1979 Grand Rapids, MI March 13-14, 1979 Waterloo, IA March 16-18, 1979 Columbia, MO March 20-21, 1979 Owensboro, KY March 23-25, 1979 Carbondale, IL March 27-28, 1979 Toledo, OH March 30-April 1, 1979 Notre Dame, IN April 10-22, 1979 Chicago, IL April 3-4, 1979 Dubuque, IA April 6-8, 1979 Ames, IA April 24-29, 1979 Cleveland, OH May 1-6, 1979 Detroit, MI May 8-9, 1979 Saginaw, MI May 11-13, 1979 Dayton, OH May 15-16, 1979 Springfield, MO May 18-20, 1979 St. Louis, MO May 22-23, 1979 Jackson, TN May 25-27, 1979 Johnson City, TN May 29-30, 1979 Roanoke, VA June 1-2, 1979 Greensboro, NC June 4-6, 1979 Richmond, VA June 8-10, 1979 Greenville, SC June 12-13, 1979 Savannah, GA June 15-16, 1979 Macon, GA June 19-20, 1979 Columbus, GA June 22-24, 1979 Montgomery, AL June 27-29, 1979 Hollywood, FL July 1- Nov 11, 1979 Haines City, FL at Circus World theme park January 5, 1980 opening date in Perth, Australia After the US rail tour ended, the show dropped anchor at Ringling's Circus World theme park near Orlando, Florida for daily performances through the fall. Then the unit was contracted to perform in Australia (January 5 to mid-April 1980) and Japan (16 weeks starting May 16, 1980) before disbanding in the fall of 1980.
*	*	Acknowledgments
*	*	Research resources include: Feld Entertainment, Ray Flores, Joe DeMike, Michael Palmieri, Jerry LaBoda, Denny Childers, Michael Palmieri, David L. Briggs author of Private Passenger Car Annual Vol 1 1980, Rhett Coates, Tom Carter. Mr Flores served as the first Trainmaster on the 1979 Monte Carlo Train, as he did on the 1975-1976 American Freedom Train, where he was known as "Papa Ray" Flores. Little known fact: Mr. Flores was also on the beach at Normandy on D-Day. Many thanks to all who have contributed to keeping track of the histories of the equipment of the last circus train! May all your days be circus days.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Red Unit & Blue Unit Trains