The cars were parked near the corner of Lewis and
Katella Avenue in Anaheim, California. The southern approach to
the cars is from Katella Avenue, just west of Lewis (right). The
northern approach is from Cerritos Avenue. There is a shortcut from
Lewis Street to the cars by following the railroad spur west of Lewis,
between Cerritos and Katella. I observed a taxi taking this route
to get to the cars and this must be the route taken by the busses used
for transporting the cast and crew to the arena as well as private cars.
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Looking south of the residential cars, one can see the Katella crossing, and beyond, what appears to be other circus cars, but not residential cars. |
I stepped across the track so I could walk the train on the shady
side. The Southern California weather was in the lower 80s, but
the occupants of the train as well as I preferred the shade.I noticed the red door on the first car, with the small number 51 on it (right). Later I realized that anyone walking through the train would only know this was car 51 from the number on the door...duh! The red truck was from RBBB and had a fifth-wheel type of hitch. |
I'll take what's behind door 51, Johnny. Note the satellite TV dish. |
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Outside Red Unit Logo and Private Car number designation. |
Looking northward. Each car had a step and plastic trash bag attached to the handle, keeping the area clean and neat. |
Looking back south where I had walked along the set. |
The last car on the north end, 45. The white
bus to the left is one of two circus busses that carry performers and crew
back and forth between the train and the arena. Only a few private cars
were parked beside the train, and a circus vehicle or two.
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I stepped around car 45 and on to the west (sun) side
of the two sets of cars. To this point, I has passed residents sitting
on the steps of cars, most every one talking on a cell phone. Many television
dishes were mounted on the door frames of the cars. No sign of security
(the best kind of security) nor any 'No Trespassing' signs. Many residents
nodded or spoke as I passed by. I wondered if I'd recognize any of
them when I attended the circus in Anaheim later in the week.
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This was not a residential car, but perhaps a shop car. I had seen an earlier car with the doors open and shop type equipment and materials inside. [Joseph DeMike, Transportation Manager Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey confirmed that these were generator or generator/porter shop cars] |
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Good local transportation could be carried on the train. |
The cars were parked precisely so you could see through both sets of cars at the vestibules. Perhaps for better ventilation? [Again, Joseph DeMike related that this alignment was, "...so residents of the inside cut can walk directly through the other cut to get out to the road."] |
This was a different type of car and had a passageway through the car for people that was just behind those two sets of double doors. Perhaps it was one of the generator cars alluded to by Mark earlier. |
