Circus train arrives in Suffolk

Staff

Published Monday, February 21, 2005

Suffolk News-Herald

Sometime between 6 a.m. and noon Tuesday morning, Suffolk residents will get a quick chance to check out the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus train; it heads through downtown Suffolk, unfortunately not stopping on the way past.

But that's O.K.; they can get a much closer look at a much smaller, slower circus train at the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum today and next weekend.

For the third consecutive year, Daniel Bathe will bring the train that his father Oscar put together by hand over a period of several decades.

The collection consists of approximately 60 handcrafted passenger, animal, and flatbed train cars. There's a small locomotive, complete with sound effects.

"He always had an interest in circuses and trains," Daniel said of his dad, who operated the Pokey Smokey train in Portsmouth City Park.

"My dad was way ahead of his time, and he and my mom would love to know that people still love to look at the trains."

Topping off the exhibit is a small display of the clowning artifacts of the late Dr. L.C. Holland, a former dentist around the area. Holland was a freelance clown, occasionally performing with Ringling Brothers and other circuses. He also appeared in the film, "The Greatest Show on Earth."

The exhibit is full of older circus programs, back when they cost 15 cents, clown shoes, makeup, and other things. For more information, call 923-4750.

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