Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Today's Flying Squadron #1 (From Richard Flint)

Sometime ago mention was made of the old “flying squadron,” historically the first section of a large, multi-part circus train and a term used at least as early as 1907. There is a modern day version of the flying squadron still on Ringling but often overlooked by those who focus on the train only. Seen here parked near some of the nicely lettered wagons that do go on the train is part of the plain, unlettered 14-truck fleet (though since last year they do have numbers painted on them). On the left of the lineup are the front ends of the six semi trailers that carry lighting, video, sound, and other material too fragile to sustain rail movement. Next is a low profile semi that carries ponies overland, then two flatbeds that load the large cages housing the tigers, then two more flatbeds that load all kinds of animal department material. Not seen are three more vehicles: a small horse trailer that travels between cities empty but is used to move animals from the train to the building, an elephant trailer that also travels empty but is used in the same way for the baby bulls, and finally a hay trailer. That totals 14 trucks not loaded on the train. This photo is of the Blue show (140th ed) last year in Hampden, VA.
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Posted by Buckles at 8/02/2011 05:49:00 AM

9 comments:

Harry Kingston said...

Richard,
Lots of information that I did not know Ringling did this.
Thank you for sharing it.
Harry in Texas

02 August, 2011 08:10
tanglefoot said...

Two trailers that go overland "Empty". What a waste. Some way in the operation of the animal departments the "cart got before the horse" I not that the grooms that ride the train are not there for setting up the animal tents. I suppose the tractors that pull those empty trailers are some fifty grand duellies with all the appointments.tanglefoot. We used to jump off the train, get on the "gilley" go to lot, set up tents and back on "gilley' to stock cars, unload and march to the building all before noon. Every animal walked except cats. If an injured or sink animal couldn't walk a local trailer was rented.no sweat. tanglefoot

02 August, 2011 08:57
Frank Ferrante said...

The Sells-Floto concessions unit used to have a bobtail that traveled over the road back in the late 60's & 70's, I'm not sure if this is still the case. ~frank

02 August, 2011 09:32
Dick Flint said...

I have encountered times when a local semi is rented to transport an elephant to the train so they may not always move an empty semi overland. I remember thinking what the local owner might have thought of his job that day!
Dick Flint
Baltimore

02 August, 2011 10:03
Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing Richard, this is some really interesting information.
-Chris, NY

02 August, 2011 13:46
Eric said...

Back in 1941, Ringling had to use a fleet of semi-trucks to move some of the cumbersome Norman Bel Geddes-designed pylons, lighting effects, etc. which were supposed to give the midway a modern look, but which couldn't be loaded onto the train. These trucks were referred to as the "5th Section."

02 August, 2011 17:58
Anonymous said...

I happened to see the Blue Unit train on its way out of San Diego this year.
The tigers were at the very end of the train.
I didn't realize either how much went over the road, I knew some concession stuff and independent animal acts (ie with there own transprotation) did.
M<ark Horton

02 August, 2011 22:38
Dick Flint said...

For Mark Horton—What you likely saw on the train were the empty shifting cages used to move the tigers from their large enclosure onto the arena floor for presentation in the ring. The tigers always move overland since they can be bettered attended should the need arise and, too, do not have to await the train unloading in order to be properly set up in the next town. No concession items have moved overland in years. However, a delivery every week or two arrives by semi-trailer from Feld’s Jessup, MD, concession supply warehouse. Two railroad cars function as the on-the-road concession warehouse and a single-body truck makes daily trips between the train and the arena (and that truck is loaded on the train for each move to the next town).
Dick Flint
Baltimore

03 August, 2011 09:38
GaryHill said...

Glad to heard grooms dont have to tend to the tigers in the old double decker car. Tigers below and bus and trucks on top. I still have knots on top of my head from water stops in that car..very low ceiling..

03 August, 2011 22:23

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