Vt. State Fair, September 1952

World of Mirth train being unloaded down the "runs". OK- so there is nothing that says "World of Mirth Shows!
It's a representation!!

There are Cole Brother"s flats, Pinder (Germany) trucks, a P.T.Barnum Shows trailer, a Reithoffer lighting truck, Royal American Shows cars, the "Wisconsin" - a restored Dining Car owned by the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin and a couple of flat cars restored by the Circus World Museum and used annually in the Great Circus Train that travels from Baraboo to Milwaukee. Each of the flats are painted for a different traveling railroad show of the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States of America.

The Midway train being switched in the Rutland yard.


World of Mirth train in the Rutland waiting to be off loaded. The train actually was unloaded south of the main yard onto Park St. and then the tractors and dozers pulled all the wagons and equipment across Park St. into the Fairgrounds. The kids who went to the Park St. Elementary School got an extra week's vacation each year as the school was across the street from the Fairgrounds.

Midway at the Rutland Fairgrounds.

The dining car "Wisconsin" is behind the Ferris Wheel and Sea Dragon rides. A generator truck is behind the Sea Dragon supplying the necessary electricity to power all the lights, sights and rides of the Midway.

Also in the picture - the Thunder Bolt and a kiddie version of the Octopus on the left. In the center are food concessions. On the right are game concessions - I never won much on these! In the bottom right is a permanent concession operated by the Lion's Club (I think) each year.

So the "New Rutland" is not doing so well. Still cannot get the steamers to negotiate the curve coming in to Rutland. I just got #401 RS-1 equipped with LokSound! It is amazingly realistic sound. However it shorts out on every turnout so all in all things are not so good on the Rutland.

I need to check the electrical pick-ups on the #401. It ran fine before I got the sound so I'm thinking there might be something there. I could also power all the tracks in each turnout but I'm not sure if that will make a difference. If anyone who reads this can offer suggestions or solutions I would be most thankful. Now on to some fun. I put together a diorama today of the Vt. State Fair held in Rutland each fall. It is a scene from the midway. I just took a picture of the diorama and added some photos from Layout #3 that I took of the midway unloading for the fair. The World of Mirth midway came to Rutland for many years. So here are my representations of the train, unloading and the Midway! Enjoy!