This photo was run earlier as part of the 1954 series taken at the Bradenton, FL depot. But where is the caboose? |
Sunday, December 02, 2007
From Richard Reynolds
Posted by Buckles at 12/02/2007 06:19:00 AM
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This photo was run earlier as part of the 1954 series taken at the Bradenton, FL depot. But where is the caboose? |
Posted by Buckles at 12/02/2007 06:19:00 AM
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4 comments:
Richard Reynolds adds an amusing note- - -
The Sparks Circus animal trainer Franz Woska fell off the train and into the Manatee River when it was crossing this bridge in May 1931. That winter (1930-31) Sparks had wintered with RBBB in Sarasota. When the canvas section of RBBB left for Brooklyn in the spring of ’31, they simply hooked the Sparks cars behind it. The Sparks part was headed for its opening in Chester, PA.
Somehow Woska took a tumble into the Manatee as the train was passing over this bridge (perhaps a few too many farewell toasts?). He was found in the middle of the channel clinging to a log. His injuries were said to have been painful but not serious.
That was the final tour of Sparks. That grand old title was shelved after 1931 but reappeared in 1946 with a new show put together by James Edgar. He was close to Aubrey Ringling and with her assistance got permission to use the Sparks title in 1946 (motorized) and 1947 (rail show). That was the only time RBBB ever let anyone use one of the old titles from the American Circus Corp.
Can anyone verify, are you sure this train is not backing up, look at the RR employee hanging on the back of the passenger car in a position which looks as if he is directing the backing movement of a train. This could explain the passenger car as was stated about lack of a caboose but yet the need of a the RR's own car to handle a backup move. Ralph in Baraboo
Almost looks like the train
and the passenger car are on different tracks??
klsdad
I don't know about two tracks but a train crewman is hanging off the stairs on the right side and another crewman is in the platform on the left. Perhaps they were spotting the car to add it to the circus train.
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