The Circus Train

Throughout the Fall of 2010 and the Spring of 2011 I caught up with the Ringling Brothers Circus train across the Midwestern United States to work on a photo essay about life on the train. Thanks to my editors on the National Desk at The New York Times I was able to get access to work on the one project that I've wanted to tackle since I first picked up a camera sophomore year of high school. The project ran in the Times on May 30th, 2011.

Though usually pulled by diesel engines, the Union Pacific railroad and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus collaborated to allow UP's Challenger No. 3985 steam locomotive to pull Ringling's "blue unit" circus train from Speer, Wy. into Denver, Col. on September 28, 2010. The collaboration allowed officials to boast that the world's largest operating steam locomotive had pulled the longest privately owned train in the world. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)


Priscilla Iverson grabs a drink of water for her daughter Lila Simone as her son Matthew Felipe's morning piano lesson takes place in the cramped kitchen compartment during a stop in Indianapolis, Ind. Thursday, December 2, 2010. Along with raising two children on the road Iverson performs onstage alongside her husband Ringmaster Jonathan Lee Iverson. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Railroad enthusiasts often track the route of Ringling's two circus trains (the Red and Blue units) on internet forums and turn out trackside to photograph and videotape the nearly mile-long trains pass by. Here the Blue Unit rolls into Denver, Co. Tuesday, September 28, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Circus performers walk down the Union Pacific right of way toward the front of the circus train for a trackside PR stop in Denver, Co. kicking off two weeks of performances in the mile high city, Tuesday September 28, 2010.(Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Boss clown Sandor Eke, 34, of Budapest, Hungary is seen in his compartment onboard the blue unit during a stop in Chicago, Ill., Thursday November 11, 2010. Eke, who has been clowning with Ringling since 1996, grew up in a circus family who performed in Hungary, Sweden and France. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Performers and employees from all over the world call the 65-car circus train home. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)


An elephant peeks out from a stock car during unloading near the Capitol Power Plant on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, March 22, 2011. Ringling's use of exotic animals in their shows has drawn the ire of animal rights organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in the form of protests and lawsuits. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Ringling animal trainers corral the blue unit's elephants after unloading them near the Capitol Power Plant on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, March 22, 2011. Ringling's use of animals in their shows has prompted protests and lawsuits from animal rights organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Union Pacific's Challenger No. 3985 steams into Greely, Co. with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey blue unit circus train in tow Tuesday, September 28, 2010. Circus tycoon P.T. Barnum first took to the rails with his self proclaimed "greatest show on earth" in 1872. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



The blue unit's clown troupe waits in a freight yard near O'Hare International Airport to catch a bus for rehearsal before opening night in Chicago, Ill. Thursday November 11, 2010. Performers and employees live on the circus train year-round as the show crisscrosses the United States for two year stints. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Ringling clown Alex Barney smokes a cigarette before a rehearsal with other clowns in Chicago, Ill. The twenty year-old Bridgeport, Conn. native is the first in his family of circus performers to work for Ringling. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Blue unit Head Chef Michael K. Vaughn prepares a breakfast of steak and eggs in the circus train's pie car Friday morning, September 29, 2010 in Denver, Co. A staff of chefs prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner on demand at a subsidized cost for performers and circus employees that live on the train. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times) 



A table setting in the newly renovated pie car gives a nod to the circus' railroad heritage. Old photos and posters of previous Ringling trains can be found on the walls throughout the pie car. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Ringling electrician Darius Ayers spray paints a passenger car's wheel set, Thursday November 11, 2010 in his hometown of Chicago, Ill.  Because the train is constantly moving from town to town, repairs take place on the road during show stops. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



A portrait of blue unit Assistant Trainmaster Joe Colossa of New Briton, Conn. Colossa travels the country with his two daughters, Lilly and Emily, raising them on the road. "Riding on the train is incredible," remarked Colossa. "It's the best part of the show. You're home." (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Ringling dancer Daniele Gianbaolo of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil adjusts her costume as she makes her way to the front of the circus train for a trackside PR stop in Denver, Co., Tuesday September 28, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)


**Photos copyright Luke Sharrett and The New York Times**

Posted by Luke S at 12:10 AM