The World's Last Carnival Show Train: James E. Strates Shows Fair Train
The End Of A Carnival & Railroad Tradition
The Last Carnival Show Train In The World: James E. Strates Shows Fair Train
Greeted by the Erie County Fair All Star Band, the Last Carnival Show Train arrives in Hamburg, New York (Buffalo), August 1, 2024.
Arrival of the LAST carnival show train, Hamburg, New York August 1, 2024.
When the James E. Strates Shows Train moved into Hamburg (Buffalo, New York) on Thursday August 1st, it marked the end of era in America. The world’s only carnival show train was officially retired as the carnival completed its transition to moving its equipment using road trucks. From that point on, Strates Shows continued business as one of North America’s leading outdoor amusement providers using trucks exclusively.
Why is the Strates Shows “Fair Train” so unique? Since 1982, and the end of rail operations by Royal American Shows, Strates Shows was the last remaining railroad traveling carnival. In 2017, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus announced it closure, ending its circus train tradition, making Strates Shows officially the last show train on American rails. Railroad and carnival historians are hard pressed to find another “show train” operating anywhere in the world.
Why did Strates suspend the train program following the 2019 season? At the close of the 2019 route, Strates Shows had every intention of taking the show to the rails during the Summer of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that banned large-scale gatherings, and completely shut down the fair industry, the Show sat idle. As fairs returned in 2021, many were forced to open with capacity limits which effected the economics of using a 45-car train. As a result, Strates completed a transition to using trucks to reach our fairs from Florida to Vermont. Since the pandemic, the contract rate quotes from main line railroads to move a dedicated train went up more than 25% overall. Additionally, trucks are easier, faster, and more flexible than the trains as rail yards and storage sidings are sometimes a great distance from fairgrounds.
When did Strates begin its transition to an over the road show? The seeds of Strates’ shift to trucks were planted decades ago. In January 1994, the Ringling Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus train derailed near Lakeland, Fla. That prompted mainline railroads to require that Strates carry an unattainable insurance policy. In order to decrease rates, the train continued to roll but without passengers. Instead, Strates began to bus workers from fair to fair, while using the passenger equipment as lodging near fair locations. In the 2000s, the Show began using trucks exclusively for thier Florida route. The train was still used for the long trip up and around the Eastern seaboard. Once parked in a central location, equipment would be unloaded and trucked to reach to various fairgrounds.
Why is the Strates Shows “Fair Train” so unique? Since 1982, and the end of rail operations by Royal American Shows, Strates Shows was the last remaining railroad traveling carnival. In 2017, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus announced it closure, ending its circus train tradition, making Strates Shows officially the last show train on American rails. Railroad and carnival historians are hard pressed to find another “show train” operating anywhere in the world.
Why did Strates suspend the train program following the 2019 season? At the close of the 2019 route, Strates Shows had every intention of taking the show to the rails during the Summer of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that banned large-scale gatherings, and completely shut down the fair industry, the Show sat idle. As fairs returned in 2021, many were forced to open with capacity limits which effected the economics of using a 45-car train. As a result, Strates completed a transition to using trucks to reach our fairs from Florida to Vermont. Since the pandemic, the contract rate quotes from main line railroads to move a dedicated train went up more than 25% overall. Additionally, trucks are easier, faster, and more flexible than the trains as rail yards and storage sidings are sometimes a great distance from fairgrounds.
When did Strates begin its transition to an over the road show? The seeds of Strates’ shift to trucks were planted decades ago. In January 1994, the Ringling Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus train derailed near Lakeland, Fla. That prompted mainline railroads to require that Strates carry an unattainable insurance policy. In order to decrease rates, the train continued to roll but without passengers. Instead, Strates began to bus workers from fair to fair, while using the passenger equipment as lodging near fair locations. In the 2000s, the Show began using trucks exclusively for thier Florida route. The train was still used for the long trip up and around the Eastern seaboard. Once parked in a central location, equipment would be unloaded and trucked to reach to various fairgrounds.
Arrival of the LAST carnival show train, Hamburg, New York August 1, 2024.
August 2024 - The Final Fair Train
After a four-year hiatus, the James E. Strates Shows returned to the rails moving a portion of its carnival to Hamburg (Buffalo, New York) in preparation for the 184th Erie County Fair. Arrival of the world’s only carnival show train took take place on Thursday, August 1, 2024. 2024 was a special year for Strates Shows and the Erie County Fair as the two organizations commemorate a 100-year partnership. This exclusive relationship is a historical milestone in the modern amusement industry and is considered the longest continuous run of any one carnival midway and any one fair in the United States.
For decades, the annual arrival of the “Fair Train” had been a highly anticipated occasion for fairgoers, as the arrival of the colorful freight train filled with amusement rides is a signal that opening day of the Erie County Fair is just days away. The Train Day tradition came to a halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but in 2024 fairgoers and train fanatics alike experienced the return of the celebration which coincided with the momentous 100-year anniversary. Strates Shows rail cars were mechanically overhauled and cosmetically restored for its return, including the application of retro-inspired color scheme and lettering. The James E. Strates Shows was regarded as the operator of the last “show train” in the world.
100-YEAR ANNIVERSARYThe relationship between Strates Shows and the Erie County Fair began on December 16, 1923, when James E. Strates mailed a letter to the Erie County Agricultural Society soliciting the Erie County Fair’s business. The two-page letter was the start of this special 100-year relationship providing high quality family entertainment to fairgoers in Western New York. On August 25, 1924, Southern Tier Shows (now known as James E. Strates Shows) began providing the midway and carnival to the Erie County Fair. Today, Strates Shows remains a family-run business in its fourth generation. Strates Shows brings over 70 rides, games and vendors to the midway each August during the Best 12 Days of Summer in Hamburg, NY.
Researching Strates Shows & The Fair Train
A number of books have been published about Strates Shows & the Strates Shows Fair Train. Resources Include:
The James E Strates Shows: A Pictorial History, by Bob Goldsack, Midway Publications, 2002. ISBN 1-880545-08-X. (Out Of Print)
Circus and Carnival Trains In Color: A Fond Look Back at Their Equipment and Operation, by Robert J. Yanosey. 128 pages. Morning Sun Books, 2021. ISBN 158248765
Those Wonderful, Colorful & Exciting Carnival Trains, Bob Goldsack, Midway Museum Publications, 1991, ISBN 1880545004 (Out Of Print)
The Last Train Standing: History and Modeling of the Strates Carnival Train, Larry Smith, MRH Media LLC, 2023, ISBN 1942932162, 9781942932161
Collecting - 2024 Atlas 1970-1972 era (January 2026 release)
This is the first, commercially available "O" gauge Strates Shows Train. Cars are each named after locations that were part of the 1970-1972 route. These include:
BLUE TRAIN#4 Dunkirk (Chautauqua County Fair)#5 Raleigh (N.C. State Fair) #6 Clearfield (Clearfield County Fair)#7 Nashville (Tennessee State Fair)#11 Savannah#47 Electrical (Baggage Car)
RED TRAIN#1 Stratesville (James E. Strates Private Car)#2 Syracuse (The Great New York State Fair)#3 Hamburg (The Erie County Fair)#8 York (York State Fair)#9 Winston-Salem (Carolina Classic Fair)#12 Elmira (Chemung County Fair) - (Dining/Pie Car)
In 1956, Strates purchased a number of surplus Pullman cars for use during the 1957 season. The majority of the fleet would serve as dormitories for Strates workers from 1957 to 1972.
In 1970, Strates begins operating as two separate units. The “Red & Blue” trains would play separate events and combining into one large show and train to play major events like the Erie County Fair in Buffalo, The New York State Fair in Syracuse and the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. There were 27 cars on the red train and 23 cars on the blue train. Strates Shows would utilize its heavyweight car fleet until 1972.
On June 23, 1972, Hurricane Agnes dumped 19 inches of rain on Wilkes-Barre, PA. While the rides and concessions trailers were located on higher ground, the Strates Shows coaches were stored at Penn Central's Buttonwood Yard closer to the overflowing Susquehanna River. Quickly rising water engulfed the fleet to heights reaching the top bunks. So afterwards, the Show acquired six Pullmans and a dining car from the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad to replace the cars damaged in the flood.
Only one car from this era was saved into preservation. At the 1972 New York State Fair, Mr. Strates donates the family’s 1929 Pullman “Palm Lane,” formally James E. Strates #2 Syracuse to the Central New York Chapter of the National Railway Historic Society in Syracuse. For 40 years the car was on display at The Great New York State Fair. In 2012 the car was removed from the Fairgrounds and is currently part of the Illinois Railroad Museum’s collection in Union, Ill.
Collecting - 2025 Micro Trains Lines 1962-1965 era
In 2025, I worked with Mirco Trains Line to bring the iconic Strates Train to "N-scale." Collaborating closely with the talented Micro-Train designers and drawing from hundreds of archival images, Micro-Trains meticulously recreated the "Duke Ash Era" paint scheme and decorations, capturing the vibrant look of the Strates Shows train from 1962 to 1965.
The 2025 release included three, individually numbered flat cars and nine "wagons" representing paint schemes created by Duke Ash. Although these "wagons" are actually containers, they make for a colorful addition to any model railroad.
In 2025, I worked with Mirco Trains Line to bring the iconic Strates Train to N-scale. Collaborating closely with the talented Micro-Train designers and drawing from hundreds of archival images, Micro-Trains meticulously recreated the "Duke Ash Era" paint scheme and decorations, capturing the vibrant look of the Strates Shows train from 1962 to 1965.
This initial release totals five cars; was available in either a 2 or 3 pack set:3-Pack ($89.95) Includes: #2 Syracuse, #3 Raleigh & #6 Clearfield.2-Pack ($59.95) Includes: #5 Hamburg & #12 Diner Between 1961 and 1970, renowned carnival and circus artist William Verne “Duke” Ash revolutionized the branding of the James E. Strates Shows. His vivid creations, including elaborately painted show wagons, train cars, banners, show fronts, logos, and advertisements, became iconic symbols of the era. By the time of his passing in 1990, Ash was celebrated as “one of the last of a small, creative fraternity” within the carnival industry. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1915, Ash had an early connection to entertainment through his mother, who performed in Canadian vaudeville. He began painting show scenery while also performing as a "straight man" in a comedy act. Ash married fellow performer Doreen McDonald Ash, who passed away in 1970, and together they toured carnival circuits across Canada with their two children. In 1961, Ash became a permanent U.S. resident, joining the Strates Shows in Orlando, Florida. During the season, Ash traveled in a mobile home he transformed from a 1950s Ford Railway Express delivery truck. True to his artistic spirit, he adorned the vehicle with vibrant jungle scenes featuring Emerald Tree Boa Constrictors and Royal Bengal Tigers in his signature “hot-colored” style. "There was nobody like Duke Ash," recalled Benjamin Braunstein, longtime spokesman for Strates Shows. "He was a marvelous worker and a marvelous friend. His murals were extraordinary. While most modern shows relied on commercial sign painters, Ash stood out as one of the last true carnival artists, blending artistic craftsmanship with old-fashioned lettering." Ash passed away on April 10, 1990 at age 75 in Clearwater, Florida.
This initial release totals five cars; was available in either a 2 or 3 pack set:3-Pack ($89.95) Includes: #2 Syracuse, #3 Raleigh & #6 Clearfield.2-Pack ($59.95) Includes: #5 Hamburg & #12 Diner Between 1961 and 1970, renowned carnival and circus artist William Verne “Duke” Ash revolutionized the branding of the James E. Strates Shows. His vivid creations, including elaborately painted show wagons, train cars, banners, show fronts, logos, and advertisements, became iconic symbols of the era. By the time of his passing in 1990, Ash was celebrated as “one of the last of a small, creative fraternity” within the carnival industry. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1915, Ash had an early connection to entertainment through his mother, who performed in Canadian vaudeville. He began painting show scenery while also performing as a "straight man" in a comedy act. Ash married fellow performer Doreen McDonald Ash, who passed away in 1970, and together they toured carnival circuits across Canada with their two children. In 1961, Ash became a permanent U.S. resident, joining the Strates Shows in Orlando, Florida. During the season, Ash traveled in a mobile home he transformed from a 1950s Ford Railway Express delivery truck. True to his artistic spirit, he adorned the vehicle with vibrant jungle scenes featuring Emerald Tree Boa Constrictors and Royal Bengal Tigers in his signature “hot-colored” style. "There was nobody like Duke Ash," recalled Benjamin Braunstein, longtime spokesman for Strates Shows. "He was a marvelous worker and a marvelous friend. His murals were extraordinary. While most modern shows relied on commercial sign painters, Ash stood out as one of the last true carnival artists, blending artistic craftsmanship with old-fashioned lettering." Ash passed away on April 10, 1990 at age 75 in Clearwater, Florida.
James E. Strates Shows Train Historical Timeline
1923 - Greek immigrant James E. Strates and partners Nick Bozinis and W.L. Platt form the Southern Tier Shows, named after a region in upstate New York. In its first season, the show consisted of a three-abreast merry-go-round by Allan Herschell, a Ferris wheel by Eli Bridge, an athletic show, 15 concessions, three side shows and five hard-rubber-tire trucks. It took 24 hours to move the show 22 miles from Bath, N.Y. to its first stop in Wayland, N.Y. Strates would eventually buyout his partners to become sole owner.
1934 - Strates hits the rails! Strates purchased the show's first five flat railroad cars, along with 17 trucks to carry his equipment. From this season on, Mr. Strates would purchase additional cars annually from the Warren Tank Car Company until his train totaled 40 cars in length. Moving to rail transportation allowed Strates Shows to expand from its traditional route to begin playing southern fair dates.
1935 - Mr. Strates purchased his private family car and named it Elizabeth, after his oldest daughter. The car was originally built for President Machado of Cuba and then sold to multi-millionaire oil man Harry Sinclair. After Mr. Sinclair's death, Mr. Strates purchased it from his estate. It contained five staterooms, an observation room, butler's pantry, bathroom with shower and ample storage space.
1955 - James E. Strates purchase tract of land in Taft, Florida for Winter Quarters. Strates eventually builds a mile of track onsite to support rail operations.
1956 - Strates purchases the King Bros’ Circus animals and adds a traveling menagerie to the Show. Two stock cars were added to the Train to accommodate three elephants (Mona, Alice & Marge), a hippopotamus named “George”, a polar bear, two lions, hyena, leopard, and black bear. A petting zoo with farm animals was also added.
1961 - E. James Strates commissions famed show painter Duke Ash to completely redesign train into a kaleidoscope of color. Each wagon was painted in a unique, brightly colored scheme.
1972 - June 23rd: Hurricane Agnes dumped 19 inches of rain on Wilkes-Barre, PA. While the rides and concessions trailers were located on higher ground playing a still date, the Strates Shows coaches were stored at Penn Central's Buttonwood Yard closer to the overflowing Susquehanna River. Quickly rising water engulfed the fleet to heights reaching the top bunks. The Show acquired six Pullmans and a dining car from the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad to replace cars damaged in the flood.
1972 - At the 1972 New York State Fair, Mr. Strates donates the family’s 1929 Pullman “Palm Lane,” formally James E. Strates #2 Syracuse to the Central New York Chapter of the National Railway Historic Society in Syracuse. This car was damaged during Hurricane Agnes. For 40 years the car was on display at The Great New York State Fair. In 2012 the car was removed from the Fairgrounds and is currently part of the Illinois Railroad Museum’s collection in Union, Ill.
1972 - Strates Shows purchases Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Business Car #21 for use as E. James Strates’ personal railcar. JES #21 would be used exclusively by Mr. Strates until the end of coach use in 2013.
1989 - A caboose of B&O railroad heritage is purchased from the Chessie System and added to Fair Train consist.
1992 - Train is painted maroon with a white top and gold lettering.
1997 - The James E. Strates Shows added the “Top Spin” to its famous mile long midway. The multimillion-dollar machine sent riders into a swing pattern of overhead loops and end over end spins creating G-forces up to 4.0. Normally relegated to amusement parks due to its size and weight, Strates Shows were able to transport the ride because it traveled by railroad.
2004 - Train features an aqua blue, white and orange paint scheme.
2007 - Coaches were painted blue with white roofs and a white stripe along the windows; flat cars were painted blue with white lettering.
2011 - Show purchases four, stainless steel cars to replace aging coach fleet. The cars were originally manufactured by the Budd Corporation for use on the New York Central Railroad’s Empire State Express.
2018 - Fair Train Arrives In Hamburg, New York
2023 - To celebrate the Strates Shows Centennial, the New York State Fair Circus Model Display features a large model of the Duke Ash era train. Image: James "Jimmy" Strates during visit to Syracuse.
2024 - Strates Shows works with CSX Transportation and the Buffalo Southern Railroad to celebrate 100 years with the Erie County Fair with the final “Fair Train” movement in railroad and carnival history.
This timeline chronicles the Fair Train from its humble beginning in 1934 to the final show train movement in railroad history during the summer of 2024:
1923 - Greek immigrant James E. Strates and partners Nick Bozinis and W.L. Platt form the Southern Tier Shows, named after a region in upstate New York. In its first season, the show consisted of a three-abreast merry-go-round by Allan Herschell, a Ferris wheel by Eli Bridge, an athletic show, 15 concessions, three side shows and five hard-rubber-tire trucks. It took 24 hours to move the show 22 miles from Bath, N.Y. to its first stop in Wayland, N.Y. Strates would eventually buyout his partners to become sole owner.
1932 - At the end of the 1932 season, the decision was made to change the name of the Southern Tier Shows to The James E. Strates Shows.
1934 - Strates hits the rails! Strates purchased the show's first five flat railroad cars, along with 17 trucks to carry his equipment. From this season on, Mr. Strates would purchase additional cars annually from the Warren Tank Car Company until his train totaled 40 cars in length. Moving to rail transportation allowed Strates Shows to expand from its traditional route to begin playing southern fair dates.
1935 - Mr. Strates purchased his private family car and named it Elizabeth, after his oldest daughter. The car was originally built for President Machado of Cuba and then sold to multi-millionaire oil man Harry Sinclair. After Mr. Sinclair's death, Mr. Strates purchased it from his estate. It contained five staterooms, an observation room, butler's pantry, bathroom with shower and ample storage space.
1938 - By the beginning of this season, the Strates Shows caravan was comprised of 25 railroad cars and 61 trucks and wagons that were valued at $250,000.
1945 - December 22nd: FIRE!! On a tobacco field in Mullins, SC, fire engulfed the barn where the entire Strates Shows was stored for the winter. The only usable piece of equipment remaining was the train.
1946 - Only 3-1/2 short months after the disastrous fire, the James E. Strates Shows was rebuilt, with the help of the City and the citizens of Mullins, South Carolina and show agents scouring the country from coast to coast buying rides, trucks, lumber, generating units, and anything else they needed. Strates was able to rebuild and maintain his fair commitments that year.
1948 - Show acquired truss-rod heavyweight passenger cars from Ringling Brothers Circus.
1953 - The James E. Strates Shows is named the fourth largest carnival midway in the nation. There were about 300 employees traveling with the show at this time.
1955 - James E. Strates Shows relocated its Winter Quarters from a fairground in Deland, Florida where it had wintered for two years, to a 40-acre lot in Taft, on the south border of Orlando, Florida, where it remains today. To accommodate the Fair Train, over a mile of railroad siding was laid and is still in use today.
1956 - Strates purchases the King Bros’ Circus animals and adds a traveling menagerie to the Show. Two stock cars were added to the Train to accommodate three elephants (Mona, Alice & Marge), a hippopotamus named “George”, a polar bear, two lions, hyena, leopard, and black bear. A petting zoo with farm animals was also added. Ten coaches, formally used on the New York Central Railroad, were purchased from The Pullman Company.
1957 - The tradition of naming coaches after fairs/cities was started.
1959 - Train consisted of 23 living coaches/Pullmans, 48 flat cars, 2 animal stock cars and a box car.
1960 - Wagons were painted bright red with white lettering. Flat cars and the stock cars received bright orange paint with blue numbers. Coaches featured white paint with blue lettering. 1961 - E. James Strates commissions famed show painter Duke Ash to completely redesign train into a kaleidoscope of color. Each wagon was painted in a unique, brightly colored scheme. 1967 - Modern 85' flats cars began to replace Warren and Mt. Vernon flats cars; modernization was completed in 1971. As of 1972 there were (38) 85' piggy-back flats and one Warren flat used as the loading car. 1968 - E. James Strates donated two menagerie stock cars to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin to use for its “Great Circus Train.” These cars would be used until the late 1990s and are currently in storage in Baraboo. 1970 - Strates begins operating as two separate units named “Red & Blue.” Two trains crossed the Eastern Seaboard, coming together at larger fairs. There were 27 cars on the red train and 23 cars on the blue train. 1972 - June 23rd: Hurricane Agnes dumped 19 inches of rain on Wilkes-Barre, PA. While the rides and concessions trailers were located on higher ground playing a still date, the Strates Shows coaches were stored at Penn Central's Buttonwood Yard closer to the overflowing Susquehanna River. Quickly rising water engulfed the fleet to heights reaching the top bunks. The Show acquired six Pullmans and a dining car from the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad to replace cars damaged in the flood. 1972 - At the 1972 New York State Fair, Mr. Strates donates the family’s 1929 Pullman “Palm Lane,” formally James E. Strates #2 Syracuse to the Central New York Chapter of the National Railway Historic Society in Syracuse. This car was damaged during Hurricane Agnes. For 40 years the car was on display at The Great New York State Fair. In 2012 the car was removed from the Fairgrounds and is currently part of the Illinois Railroad Museum’s collection in Union, Ill. 1972 - Strates Shows purchases Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Business Car #21 for use as E. James Strates’ personal railcar. JES #21 would be used exclusively by Mr. Strates until the end of coach use in 2013.
1979 -Train consisted of 37 flat cars, two loading car and eight passenger cars. 1980 - Passenger cars receive a new orange, turquoise and white paint scheme. 1982 - Royal American Shows ends railroad operations; Strates Shows and Ringling Brothers are the last remaining “Show Trains” in operation. Strates is the only carnival railroad show. 1983 - Show acquired ten cars, including five of the original Auto-Train bi-level automobile carriers, an original Auto-Train caboose, and four piggyback flats. The plan was to convert the auto carriers into sleeping quarters, but that never materialized, and the cars were scrapped. 1987 - Seven coaches and a baggage car were acquired from the defunct Royal American Shows and replaced cars acquired from Erie-Lackawanna in 1972. The baggage car was refitted to be used as a generator car. 1988 - Train consisted of 42 flat cars, six living cars, one generator car and Mr Strates’ private car #21. 1989 - A caboose of B&O railroad heritage is purchased from the Chessie System and added to Fair Train consist. 1992 - Train is painted maroon with a white top and gold lettering. 1997 - In 1997, the James E. Strates Shows added the “Top Spin” to its famous mile long midway. The multimillion-dollar machine sent riders into a swing pattern of overhead loops and end over end spins creating G-forces up to 4.0. Normally relegated to amusement parks due to its size and weight, Strates Shows were able to transport the ride because it traveled by railroad. 1994 - Following a Ringling Bros. & Branum & Bailey Circus train accident in Lakeland, Florida, and a subsequent increase in insurance premiums required by mainline railroads, Strates begins to upgrade trailers for over the road use. Carnival workers would be transported by bus from location to location and use train only for lodging. 1999 - Due to a dissolution of many rail lines in the northeast as a result of the CSX and Norfolk Southern takeover of Conrail, the Fair Train arrives in Hamburg 2 weeks year to avoid delays. 2000 - In an interview with Amusement Business, Jim Strates stated that the Show had a five-year plan in place to convert more of its equipment for use with over the trucks while still maintaining the train. “Our intention is to continue to use the train to our advantage while not being 100% dependent on railroads.” 2001 - Over 100 Strates employees still used railroad coaches for living accommodations. 2007 - Coaches were painted blue with white roofs and a white stripe along the windows; flat cars were painted blue with white lettering. 2011 - Show purchases four, stainless steel cars to replace aging coach fleet. The cars were originally manufactured by the Budd Corporation for use on the New York Central Railroad’s Empire State Express. 2013 - Final year for use of coaches; train becomes a freight only consist of flatcars. 2014 - To commemorate the fair’s 90-year partnership with the James E. Strates Shows, a celebration was held on August 1, 2014 at the former Erie Railroad Depot in the Village of Hamburg. More than 2000 people welcomed back North America’s only remaining railroad carnival as two Buffalo Southern Alco locomotives crashed through a ceremonial banner. 83-year-old E. James Strates, president and CEO of the Strates Shows, was on the front of the engine as it entered Hamburg. 2017 - Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus announced it was closing after more than 100 years in operation; Strates Shows becomes the last show/carnival to travel by rail. 2019 - July 31: Over 4,000 people gather along the railroad tracks from Buffalo to Hamburg as the Strates Shows “Fair Train” pulls into the Village Of Hamburg to begin set up for the 180th Erie County Fair 2019 - November: As the season came to a close, Strates Shows parked its “fair train” on its private railroad siding at Winter Quarters in Taft, Florida in anticipation for the 2020 operating season. Due to the pandemic and post-pandemic related issues, the rail transportation program remains suspended with the goal of returning to the rails in the future (2023). 2021 - After almost a year off the road due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, Strates Shows begins playing dates in Florida. Due to limited capacity, the Show used over the road trucks to transport equipment rather than its famous Fair Train. 2024 - Strates Shows works with CSX Transportation to celebrate 100 years with the Erie County Fair with the final “Fair Train” movement in railroad and carnival history. The exclusive relationship between the Erie County Fair and the Strates Shows dating back to 1924 is considered a historical milestone in the modern amusement industry. It’s the longest continuous run of any carnival midway in the United States. 2024 - JES #21, the private car of Mr. E. James Strates & Family, has been sold to Alan Maples, owner of the Everett Railroad, a short line freight and excursion railroad in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
1960 - Wagons were painted bright red with white lettering. Flat cars and the stock cars received bright orange paint with blue numbers. Coaches featured white paint with blue lettering. 1961 - E. James Strates commissions famed show painter Duke Ash to completely redesign train into a kaleidoscope of color. Each wagon was painted in a unique, brightly colored scheme. 1967 - Modern 85' flats cars began to replace Warren and Mt. Vernon flats cars; modernization was completed in 1971. As of 1972 there were (38) 85' piggy-back flats and one Warren flat used as the loading car. 1968 - E. James Strates donated two menagerie stock cars to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin to use for its “Great Circus Train.” These cars would be used until the late 1990s and are currently in storage in Baraboo. 1970 - Strates begins operating as two separate units named “Red & Blue.” Two trains crossed the Eastern Seaboard, coming together at larger fairs. There were 27 cars on the red train and 23 cars on the blue train. 1972 - June 23rd: Hurricane Agnes dumped 19 inches of rain on Wilkes-Barre, PA. While the rides and concessions trailers were located on higher ground playing a still date, the Strates Shows coaches were stored at Penn Central's Buttonwood Yard closer to the overflowing Susquehanna River. Quickly rising water engulfed the fleet to heights reaching the top bunks. The Show acquired six Pullmans and a dining car from the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad to replace cars damaged in the flood. 1972 - At the 1972 New York State Fair, Mr. Strates donates the family’s 1929 Pullman “Palm Lane,” formally James E. Strates #2 Syracuse to the Central New York Chapter of the National Railway Historic Society in Syracuse. This car was damaged during Hurricane Agnes. For 40 years the car was on display at The Great New York State Fair. In 2012 the car was removed from the Fairgrounds and is currently part of the Illinois Railroad Museum’s collection in Union, Ill. 1972 - Strates Shows purchases Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Business Car #21 for use as E. James Strates’ personal railcar. JES #21 would be used exclusively by Mr. Strates until the end of coach use in 2013.
1979 -Train consisted of 37 flat cars, two loading car and eight passenger cars. 1980 - Passenger cars receive a new orange, turquoise and white paint scheme. 1982 - Royal American Shows ends railroad operations; Strates Shows and Ringling Brothers are the last remaining “Show Trains” in operation. Strates is the only carnival railroad show. 1983 - Show acquired ten cars, including five of the original Auto-Train bi-level automobile carriers, an original Auto-Train caboose, and four piggyback flats. The plan was to convert the auto carriers into sleeping quarters, but that never materialized, and the cars were scrapped. 1987 - Seven coaches and a baggage car were acquired from the defunct Royal American Shows and replaced cars acquired from Erie-Lackawanna in 1972. The baggage car was refitted to be used as a generator car. 1988 - Train consisted of 42 flat cars, six living cars, one generator car and Mr Strates’ private car #21. 1989 - A caboose of B&O railroad heritage is purchased from the Chessie System and added to Fair Train consist. 1992 - Train is painted maroon with a white top and gold lettering. 1997 - In 1997, the James E. Strates Shows added the “Top Spin” to its famous mile long midway. The multimillion-dollar machine sent riders into a swing pattern of overhead loops and end over end spins creating G-forces up to 4.0. Normally relegated to amusement parks due to its size and weight, Strates Shows were able to transport the ride because it traveled by railroad. 1994 - Following a Ringling Bros. & Branum & Bailey Circus train accident in Lakeland, Florida, and a subsequent increase in insurance premiums required by mainline railroads, Strates begins to upgrade trailers for over the road use. Carnival workers would be transported by bus from location to location and use train only for lodging. 1999 - Due to a dissolution of many rail lines in the northeast as a result of the CSX and Norfolk Southern takeover of Conrail, the Fair Train arrives in Hamburg 2 weeks year to avoid delays. 2000 - In an interview with Amusement Business, Jim Strates stated that the Show had a five-year plan in place to convert more of its equipment for use with over the trucks while still maintaining the train. “Our intention is to continue to use the train to our advantage while not being 100% dependent on railroads.” 2001 - Over 100 Strates employees still used railroad coaches for living accommodations. 2007 - Coaches were painted blue with white roofs and a white stripe along the windows; flat cars were painted blue with white lettering. 2011 - Show purchases four, stainless steel cars to replace aging coach fleet. The cars were originally manufactured by the Budd Corporation for use on the New York Central Railroad’s Empire State Express. 2013 - Final year for use of coaches; train becomes a freight only consist of flatcars. 2014 - To commemorate the fair’s 90-year partnership with the James E. Strates Shows, a celebration was held on August 1, 2014 at the former Erie Railroad Depot in the Village of Hamburg. More than 2000 people welcomed back North America’s only remaining railroad carnival as two Buffalo Southern Alco locomotives crashed through a ceremonial banner. 83-year-old E. James Strates, president and CEO of the Strates Shows, was on the front of the engine as it entered Hamburg. 2017 - Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus announced it was closing after more than 100 years in operation; Strates Shows becomes the last show/carnival to travel by rail. 2019 - July 31: Over 4,000 people gather along the railroad tracks from Buffalo to Hamburg as the Strates Shows “Fair Train” pulls into the Village Of Hamburg to begin set up for the 180th Erie County Fair 2019 - November: As the season came to a close, Strates Shows parked its “fair train” on its private railroad siding at Winter Quarters in Taft, Florida in anticipation for the 2020 operating season. Due to the pandemic and post-pandemic related issues, the rail transportation program remains suspended with the goal of returning to the rails in the future (2023). 2021 - After almost a year off the road due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, Strates Shows begins playing dates in Florida. Due to limited capacity, the Show used over the road trucks to transport equipment rather than its famous Fair Train. 2024 - Strates Shows works with CSX Transportation to celebrate 100 years with the Erie County Fair with the final “Fair Train” movement in railroad and carnival history. The exclusive relationship between the Erie County Fair and the Strates Shows dating back to 1924 is considered a historical milestone in the modern amusement industry. It’s the longest continuous run of any carnival midway in the United States. 2024 - JES #21, the private car of Mr. E. James Strates & Family, has been sold to Alan Maples, owner of the Everett Railroad, a short line freight and excursion railroad in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
1960s era poster advertising Strates Shows' "50 All Steel Railroad Cars"
About Martin Biniasz
Biniasz is Marketing Director for the James E. Strates Shows