In a special move handled by CSX Transportation on May 10, a total of four remaining passenger cars and 19 flatcars of circus wagons, vehicles, and other supplies headed for Feld Entertainment’s corporate headquarters near Palmetto for disposition. On Thursday afternoon, the train was passing through Wilson, N.C., on its way south.
The rest of the equipment, including about 30 passenger cars, were set out in Oak Island, N.J., for transport to private owners in the Northeast. Passenger rail operators, museums, and tourist railroads purchased the passenger cars at auction in April.
Meanwhile in Uniondale, N.Y., on Long Island, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Out of this World tour was preparing for its final series of shows ever. Its rail equipment, which remains intact this week, will be emptied and sent off for disposition upon the conclusion of the final performances on Sunday, May 21. Similar to its sister unit, the Blue unit train will make a similar deadhead move to Florida in late May consisting of unclaimed rail equipment.
Sources familiar with the matter tell Trains News Wire the flat cars and other unclaimed equipment used to store circus equipment will likely be scrapped after arriving in Florida. According to the source, the flat cars were nearing the end of their useful life and would likely be scrapped by early summer. The company operates approximately 40 flat cars.
A final routing for the Blue unit deadhead move has not been released.
