Thursday, February 15, 2007

Bertram Mills Circus #5


5 Circus train 1959

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Posted by Buckles at 2/15/2007 05:50:00 AM

3 comments:

Buckles said...

Since the caravans were loaded on the flat cars, did the artists ride in the passenger car?
Were the railroad cars show owned?

15 February, 2007 06:19
Anonymous said...

I think that British Railways owned the trains.

The performers all had their own caravans that went by road, also all the animal house trainers, Mills supplied us all with caravans but we had to supply a vehicle to tow them except for Rudi with the chimps, as the chimps also went by road in a large semi with a compartment for him in the front.
Heads of departments stayed in their specially designed wagons that were built to travel by train.

All the caravans and all the show equipment were painted Red & Green including all performer owned vehicles.


Bernard and Cyril Mills each had a living wagon also the General Manager,
and the office staff lived in what was called the “White line” these wagons were all parked on one side of the tent in a line, and were all painted white with two black stripes and lettered in gold.

Mr. Bernard, Mr. Cyril and Stanley Bird (GM) also had one wagon that was a dining area and their personal chef that was just for the three of them,

Another kitchen wagon and dining area was for the Office staff and usherettes.

All other staff ate in the general cook house.

The horses and any other lead stock were never packed together side by side like cattle, Short horse boxes which three horses stood side by side facing the same way in what was virtually a padded cell so that it was impossible for an animal to fall during travel, A small compartment where a groom could travel was adjoining so he could feed and water the animals on a long journey, (Race horses used to travel in this way)

Mills never had more than six elephants and they traveled in what had been a very large baggage van which had specially heavy springs and had been reinforced as necessary, The horse boxes and elephant wagon were side loaded from the station platform.

15 February, 2007 13:01
Anonymous said...

Richard Reynolds asks - -

Wasn't this the only British rail show ever?

19 February, 2007 22:53

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