The Caledonia and the MacGregor
Railroad Cars of the Ringlings and the names of the cars and which of the Charles Ringling Family members used them
In a Sarasota Historical Resources Library exhibit about the Railroads in Sarasota in 2002 was displayed the silver sugar and creamer set originally from the Ringling Railroad Car. In the exhibit is information about John Ringling’s railroad car JOMAR. JOMAR is from the names (Jo) John and (Ma) Mable (R)Ringling.
Charles Ringling, John's brother, who went on tour with the Circus each season, also had a railroad car and there was discussion about the name. When they were children Charles son Robert, and daughter Hester, and wife Edith traveled in their private railroad car with the circus each summer. This would be approximately during the 1890's and the first decade of the 1900's.
There are two car names that are remembered the Caledonia and the MacGregor.
Notes on train information from Bob MacDougall of Englewood, Florida about Circus Railroad Cars:
Ringling Bros. had a Railroad car in 1892 called Caledonia.
Later Charlie (Ringling) had two different cars both called Caledonia (84) number kept.
After Charlie was gone from 1926 on, James Haley used the second Caledonia. Later Robert Ringling had a Railroad car called Evanston and later Edith (DD) had a car called Caledonia.
Everyone says they’ve heard about the MacGregor but no one says for sure who or when.
Notes from Alice Lancaster:
I remember in the 1940's when DD was using her private car called the MacGregor. She was traveling in it with the Show when it came to Memphis where Larl was stationed at Second Army Headquarters. Larl lived at home because he was in the band and they were allowed this privilege. However DD slept at our house and gave Larl a bunch of passes for his band buddies.
Ringling Collection Page under construction.
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February 2010 last update