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Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Jan 29, 2008 9:57pm
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Last night a new box appeared that was just a few blocks from my office so I thought I would leave a little early to swing by and pick up this box.

So about 7:45 a.m. I was heading to "Here Comes the Train - Hickory Station" and I could hear a train in the distance. I really didn't pay very much attention to it and made my way downtown to park at the old station depot.

As I was gathering my stamp and logbook and reading back over the clues I noticed the train was passing by the station. I raised my head and realized --- this wasn't just any old train! It was the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Train rolling by the "Here Comes The Train" box.

The train stretched forever and was moving very slow and at one point even stopped for a minute. So, I found the box and sat down on a bench to stamp in the logbook while the circus train was slowly moving by. To top it off --- I was the first finder and there was a certificate. Wooo Hoooo! This was great and I was giddy with my wonderful luck --- a circus train, a new letterbox and first finders certificate!! However, I did manage to gather my wits enough to even snap a couple of photos with my cellphone to add to my logbook and return the box to it's hidey hole.

Later, I found out the circus was going to Charlotte for their annual show. But, this was a big dang deal for my little town.

This was a VERY cool letterboxing day.

The Celtic Clan
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181057 by The Celtic Clan
Jan 29, 2008 10:50pm
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My mom used to call those "magical moments".
You can never plan them, they just happened.


Orion***
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181057 by The Celtic Clan
Jan 30, 2008 12:42am
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Quote This was a VERY cool letterboxing day.


Most definitely!!

I've never seen their train. Actually, I didn't think they still had Circus trains. I wonder if you could find out exactly when they were coming through. Well, I'm off to find out.

Thanks for the great story,
janet, Blooming Flowers
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181057 by The Celtic Clan
Jan 30, 2008 1:52am
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That is great story. One of those moments that really define why we enjoy letterboxing so much.

DM
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181057 by The Celtic Clan
Jan 30, 2008 5:21am
Thread (disabled) Board
Wow, that is a cool story !!! You couldn't have timed that if you tried !!

We have an interesting train story ourselves, dealing with one of FREEBIRDS boxes......
need I say more ??? ALWAYS an adventure for a Freebird box. Sometimes a good
adventure.....sometimes the OTHER kind....hahaha... but ALWAYS a wonderful letterboxing time!
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181057 by The Celtic Clan
Jan 30, 2008 5:51am
Thread (disabled) Board
Glad you got to see the train. There are actually 2 circus units that travel the US each year. The red and blue units. One of them is here in Greenville, SC this week. Opening night is tonight.

Being part of the clown alley in this area, we try (and have succeeded several times) to provide a home cooked meal for the Circus clown alley each year. They usually don't get home cooked, so this is a real treat. I have had the opportunity 3 or 4 times to pick them up or take them back to the train. I took them back last night after dinner - I got pictures of them in my van. So now I guess people can say I really do have a clown car (6 adult clowns coming out of a mini van can be just as impressive). The clowns that came out to our dinner were from Hungary, Atlanta, Oregon, California, and Virginia to name a few.

Paula Ü
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181116 by Woody clowns
Jan 30, 2008 5:55am
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That is very cool! Now I know where to go the next time I tell my kids that I am going to run away and join the circus if they don't start picking up around here!
~Mrs. V
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181057 by The Celtic Clan
Jan 30, 2008 6:58am
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TCC:

Thanks for sharing this story with us! T's dad ran a railroad yard when she was a child and her fondest memories are of going out to watch the circus train pull into town every year! Then going over later to watch the big top go up! Of course, they moved indoors pretty soon, but the memories are still alive :>). Good for you!

T-N-T (TRH N T on AQ)
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181116 by Woody clowns
Jan 30, 2008 8:31am
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I took them back last night after dinner - I got pictures of them in my van.


I am very jealous. That is just too cool!

Flour Girl
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181132 by System
Jan 30, 2008 8:38am
Thread (disabled) Board
Do you have pictures from the train


I uploaded the photos to an album. There are two photos. Again, not very good shots -- I was using my cellphone! Browse the albums and look for the Hickory Station one. Click on one of the photos if you actually want to see the name on the cars. (No spoilers for the letterbox :-o)

Unfortunately, the animal cars had already gone by before I came to my senses long enough to take pictures. But, I was surprised that the circus carries large trucks and equipment with them. There was several flatbeds with nothing but vehicles and moving equipment on them. I just didn't realize the things you need to operate a circus!

The animal cars were the same sort of cars as in the pictures but they had windows that were open and I could see bars on the windows. That was the only thing that tipped me to the fact that those were most likely the animal cars. Not the colorful open cars of yesteryear.

Still it was a very neat experience!

The Celtic Clan
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181116 by Woody clowns
Jan 30, 2008 8:41am
Thread (disabled) Board
So now I guess people can say I really do have a clown car


I just can't wait until our paths cross! It takes a special person to bring joy to people through their ability to perform. Each time I read something you post about clowns I find myself smiling!

The Celtic Clan
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181116 by Woody clowns
Jan 30, 2008 8:49am
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There are actually 2 circus units that travel the US each year. The red and blue units.


Just a curious question --- Does the circus post their traveling route or schedule on-line somewhere? How would someone know?

I emailed the owner of the box and they have several "train" boxes. It would be so cool to try to time the finding of a box to a circus train ---- especially if kids were along for the find.

  • sigh * back to the grindstone now. . .

The Celtic Clan
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181163 by The Celtic Clan
Jan 30, 2008 9:08am
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Quote those were most likely the animal cars. Not the colorful open cars of yesteryear.



Years ago, when the circus came to town (Portland, OR) they arrived at Union Station on the west side of the Willamette River. Then hooked up the elephants to the old fashioned type of animal cars. They would then make a procession across the Broadway Bridge to the Coliseum, pitch tents for the animals on the asphalt, driving the humongous stakes through the pavement. Sadly, I never managed to see the parade, except on the TV news. I don't know if they still do it this way but intend to check it out after reading this post. It's one of those things, along with never seeing Elvis live, that I really wish I'd seen at some point in my past. Funhog
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181153 by J Walkers
Jan 30, 2008 9:40am
Thread (disabled) Board
I took them back last night after dinner - I got pictures of them in my van.


I am very jealous. That is just too cool!

Flour Girl


When I was taking their pictures, I told them it was for a friend who has a fear of clowns. *winking at 't'
And, of course, they left their red noses in the clown alley - set up back stage at the circus.

Paula Ü
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181163 by The Celtic Clan
Jan 30, 2008 9:44am
Thread (disabled) Board
Does the circus post their traveling route or schedule on-line somewhere? How would someone know?


I google searched RBBB and found this page for schedules - just click on your state. And if you can figure out where they are coming from, you may be able to catch them in another town in route.

http://www.ringling.com/schedule

And I also found out there is actually 3 units in the US - red, blue and gold. The gold unit is a single ring circus whereas red & blue are 3 ring.

Paula Ü
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181183 by Woody clowns
Jan 30, 2008 9:54am
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BTW, the circus still does the "animal walk" when they arrive in town. The train tracks are not close to the arena in most cases, and since the animals travel by rail, they have to be walked down to the arena where they are housed for the week. In Greenville, I would say it is a good mile or more, but I don't know how close they get the animal cars, just where the clowns and acrobats live.

It is interesting to see the performers standing on the train steps adjusting their satellite dish to get reception. Mondays are travel days - with Tuesday being the last of the leg or their "Day off". Then, the circus is set up for performances Wednesday through Saturday or Sunday ... then off to the next city.

Paula Ü
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181186 by Woody clowns
Jan 30, 2008 9:58am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote BTW, the circus still does the "animal walk" when they arrive in town. The train tracks are not close to the arena in most cases, and since the animals travel by rail, they have to be walked down to the arena where they are housed for the week.


And the last thing in line at that parade......






The Street Sweepers!

Don
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181116 by Woody clowns
Jan 30, 2008 10:16am
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I took them back last night after dinner - I got pictures of them in my van. So now I guess people can say I really do have a clown car (6 adult clowns coming out of a mini van


WHAT?!! Why do you do these things and NOT TELL ANYONE you are going to do it?!!! I soooo would have driven to Greenville, SC to see this!! Especially if you could have gotten them to all stamp into a box! -- Like maybe my "Big Green Machine" box in my van.

Of course, last night I was at class so I couldn't have made it-- next time plan it when I can come!!
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181186 by Woody clowns
Jan 30, 2008 11:06am
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I remember watching the "animal walk" with my kindergarten class in.....1977. My teacher was in LOVE with Gunther Gebel-Williams who worked with the big cats. :) I LOVED elephants. So this was a cool little field trip we did that I still remember..gulp...30...years later.

Angela
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181057 by The Celtic Clan
Jan 30, 2008 12:05pm
Thread (disabled) Board
one of my kids was born in the right year that the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus gave everyone that year that wrote to them a free ticket to use one time in their life to go see the circus for free...........is was either 88,90 or 93............it is up in their keepsake box.

i too would love to see the train. i checked out the site and it is considered the town without a zip code and is in route 11 months out of the year. and even more cool to see them march into town.

when my kids were younger a "free" circus came into town by truck. we were there when they arrived and watched and helped the elephants put up the circus it was so cool. and then saw them perform. they stayed a few days, however, we were not able to go back and watch them take it back down. we had something else going on. the kids and my mom just loved it........oh, yeah and so did i.

condo
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181241 by condo
Jan 30, 2008 2:24pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote we were not able to go back and watch them take it back down.


Usually Ringling Bros is held indoors where we live. And in my opinion they are the best!

However, if you ever have the chance to see a tent come down, do it. It is amazing! One time my hubby and I went to a different circus and intentionally took our time leaving the tent. We didn't realize that we were the last ones out until we heard a whistle blow as our feet hit the pavement outside. We turned around to watch as immediately elephants and handlers that were standing at the ready entered the tent from every direction and started knocking down and removing poles. It was like a well rehearsed ballet! Within 10 minutes that tent was down and being folded. I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it. And it is the only part of the circus experience that I remember 10 years later!

Wild Rose (of PBandJ)
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181241 by condo
Jan 30, 2008 2:31pm
Thread (disabled) Board
All babies can get one free ticket - no expiration date. Just check out this page of the website:

http://www.ringling.com/offers/baby.aspx

Paula Ü
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181186 by Woody clowns
Jan 30, 2008 6:32pm
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You all really need to read Water for Elephants! It was highly recommended over on the reading board and I'm almost done with it. Wonderful! It's all about circus life in the Great Depression.

Amyrica
Re: Cool Letterbox Story
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #181057 by The Celtic Clan
Feb 17, 2008 10:21am
Thread (disabled) Board
I now this is an older post, but I had to chime in (After reading the original post on Boxers 'n Briefs). Several months ago (OK, December) I drove to Dayton from Richmond to pick up my nephews x-mas gift. On the way back in to town, there is a rail trestle over National Road/40.

I have seen several interesting things happen here. Once, a train stopped and one of the conductors hopped off and ran into the McDonald's. Must have been dinner time.

On this particualr occasion, I saw the Ringling Brother's train. Heading South. So it must have been on its way to rendezvous with you. It made me remember that old childhood dream of running away with the circus. And yes, It was an impressively long and nice-looking train, with lots of passenger cars, freight cars....and of course, but not like regular old trains, livestock cars. What a way to travel!