All Aboard!

The Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus is one of the most well-known circuses in the world. They were the premier circus troupe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It’s no wonder they were coined “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The Ringling Brothers’ production was so large that they had their own train cars to transport their crew, animals, and supplies.

This early 1900s photograph shows the Barnum & Bailey crew in front of one of their specially made train cars. When this train car pulled into town, residents knew that a good time was in store. Their train cars were just as elaborate as their big-top tents, with handpainted murals and elaborate signage along the sides. Their traveling train was, after all, a moving advertisement. Might as well make it eye-catching!