The "Living In A Miniature World" Story

Elephants help erect the circus tent.

It was an ordinary day.  Watching the elephants help erect the circus tent while a worker hammers in the stakes to keep it in place.  Another crew of workers is setting up the electrical lines from the huge generator truck to most of the tents and light posts around the circus grounds.  And …. it's all in miniature!  My childhood friend Jerry has finally finished his circus in HO scale which is 3.5 mm equals a foot.  He began his train yard shortly after moving to State College, PA in 1999 and just about every time Carol and I pay a visit to he and his wife, Just Sue, he has something new to show me.  We talked about his new display and then he gave me some of the history of circus life as it relates to his HO train layout.  

Jerry's circus train with Pennsylvania Railroad engines on top.

It was in 1956 that the last tent circus was hauled by train.  His circus that he has built from scratch is meant to be one such circus.  His circus train is displayed in a cabinet nearby and shows a variety of cars that used to be used in the circus train from the car that carries the large animals to the car that carries the tent and poles.  

An overall view of the tent circus in HO scale.

The engines that were used for the circus train were either steam, diesel or electric powered and were not owned by the circus, but by the railroad company that was in that part of the country.  In the case of a circus in our local area of Lancaster, Pennsylvania or even State College, Railroad engines from the Pennsylvania Railroad would pull the train.  

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus arrives
by rail in State College in 2008 for a performance at
the Bryce Jordan Center. 

The only circus still traveling by train today is the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus; all others travel by truck.  Ringling Bros. sets up in arenas or other large venues.  A truck circus usually sets up in tents in large fields or parking lots.  Jerry's circus, known as the Herr Bros. Circus, since his last name is Herr, can be set up as either a truck circus or a train circus.  

A Roustabout can be seen using a sledge
hammer to pound a stake into the ground.

Displayed on his layout at present is a truck circus featuring a main tent for the three rings, a smaller tent for sideshows, another canvas covered area for sheltering the animals, a tent where the performers and workers eat and a variety of other structures.  Also included are the generator truck, performer's bus, crew sleeper, a truck that hauls tent canvas, one that hauls tent poles, a truck for elephants, one for the other animals such as the tigers and lions, and other equipment for helping prepare the grounds.  If this were a train circus, these vehicles would be carried on the train.  Jerry's circus train is removed from it's display case when a train circus comes to his miniature town.  Pretty realistic!  

A truck with electrical generator can be seen in the center
with a worker on the right securing a tent line.  In the
background is the neighborhood where Jerry grew up.

In 2008 Carol and I made a visit to State College and went with Jerry and Just Sue to the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State Universirty to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.  Just loved the day and all the acts.  During the time before the circus began they allowed people onto the main floor to interact with the circus performers and I had a great time.  

The refrigeration truck and the trailer used to house
the Rouseabouts in the circus.

The people who travel with the circus live a nomadic type of life from the performers to the animal handlers to the workers who are known as roustabouts.  There are many of them spread throughout Jerry's layout.  My photographs today will give you a taste of what Jerry's layout looks like, but photos don't show you all the intricate detail that he has recreated or what it is might be like to live in a miniature world in HO scale.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - remember to click on photos to enlarge them.

Circus cars and equipment can be seen on the photo at the top and the one below.

The main circus tent that would have the three performing rings in it.

The bus that would be used for the performers.

Trucks used to haul the tent poles, stakes and the canvas tent.

Movie poster showing Elvis Presley as a Roustabout.