Wow, I can't get enough of the variety of modeling that shows up in the thread every week. Nice.
If you ever get the chance to fan the ole Ripp Bros. circus winterquarters here's some of what you might see. the grounds are used as a museum/graveyard of sort and all sorts of equipment shows up here. Not always showtrain stuff, but general castaways as well.
Here, some RBBB cars are hoping to find a home with some sort of roof. These are 'relatively' newer cars, with use as late as 1974. But this where it all starts to go downhill. With no money for storage and/or restoration, well we've seen it too many times....
As a side note, these cars were surplus WWII army-hospital cars. The Ringlings acquired them in 1947 and for the first year were painted red with silver lettering. There after, varying graphics, but always silver in color.
At one time, this company car most likely brought fabricated parts for wagon chassis and the like to the army of workers once employed here during the winter months. Now, a captive of the grounds, it see good care and provides storage for the volunteers that now work the grounds.
A parade is held annually and many wagons have been refurbished for the event. You can rest assured more restored gems are on the way...
Johnny