For the first time in over 10 years, the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus train ran over the Rio Grande between Denver and Salt Lake City. It last ran this way in 2005, before being routed over the Overland. However, the retirement of the elephants from the show last year apparently alleviated concerns over running through the Moffat Tunnel. As a result, we have this picture here! The Circus Train knocks down a clear signal at the east end of Leyden.
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One of my favorite engines (since anything with a Spartan cab) is the SD70M. Specifically, the SD70M with the slightly-flared radiators. A pair of them, along with an ES44AC, lead the Circus Train west at Leyden.
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It was an extremely rainy day on this particular Monday in June. Various areas along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains saw multiple inches of rain within an hour or two. Such weather did not deter the Circus Train! For the first time since 2005, the train ran west over the Moffat.
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You'll may notice several similar shots of the Circus Train that I added to my website from this rainy day. I did this because, do to other commitments, I was unable to chase the train any farther west. With this being my only opportunity to grab some shots, I took advantage. While the train will hopefully run on the Moffat again, this was the first time it did so in 11 years.
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The circus life is not an easy life. Performers are on the road for roughly 45 weeks out of the year! They quite literally live on the circus train in these coaches, most of which are of Union Pacific heritage. Performers are off from mid-November through the first week of January. Then, it is back on the rails for the year.
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As the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus travel around the country, the circus must bring everything that it needs with it! Trapeze, lights, sound, vehicles, etc. That is accomplished via a string of 89-foot flat cars at the tail end of the train. These cars are connected by ramps at either end. It allows the crew to unload the equipment by driving everything off. Must be quite a process to actually witness.
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