has anyone heard for sure if Strates will use the train this year.
It seems they move more over the road the last few years even before covid

I have not seen anything yet on FB or heard anything, but usually the train heads out after the Florida dates and a few weeks before Meadowlands. So I guess we will know then if they plan to use it or not, I really hope they do, I would hate to see the end of the era since so much has already changed in both the carnival business and the world. Nice to have some stability and traditions.

With fuel so high now again it might become very cost effective to use the train (depending on contracts with railroads) to get a lot of equipment up north and to use it on longer jumps.

the fact that the big wheel and some other rides that would normally travel by train are already set up in Georgia make you wonder if they will use the train this year or ever again. I thought sure with fuel costs as high as they are the train would head north, and maybe it still will. But in the past many of these rides would have been on it before it ever left Florida. I did read somewhere a while back that many of their newer rides are too wide to fit on the train and must travel by road.

time will tell

the fact that the big wheel and some other rides that would normally travel by train are already set up in Georgia make you wonder if they will use the train this year or ever again. I thought sure with fuel costs as high as they are the train would head north, and maybe it still will. But in the past many of these rides would have been on it before it ever left Florida. I did read somewhere a while back that many of their newer rides are too wide to fit on the train and must travel by road.

time will tell

Yeah saw that in Georgia and made me wonder even more, if it is over then its a sad day for the business. Also, if it is so, then the Top Spin will never return to the road in this country, not the one he has, center load is 150,000 pounds alone.

it looks like some flats are for sale in Florida, and some have already been sold at Ozark Mountain Railcar auctions

https://ozarkmountainrai....php?map=y&search=FL 

that coupled with the fact that the carnival train did not go north yet this year would make one wonder if the train will ever carry the show again. I sure hope so, but only time will tell

there is a passenger car also listed for sale that looks like it could also be a past show car, you guys would know if it was or not.

Did Strates change the color of the flats to blue? I remember orange and then white. The tie-down tracks look right.

I don't think any of the coaches looked like Strates'

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The 2 blue flats are Strates. The #21 business car is also Strates.