For over 100 years, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus toured the country entertaining audiences in towns large and small. And they did it by rail. Performers, support staff, animals, vehicles, and all the equipment traveled on a train over a mile long.

Nicole and Rom Portwood are among the select few that are fortunate and forever grateful for the experience that had living with the Greatest Show On Earth. Nicole joined the circus in 1989 as a clown, having graduated from Ringling’s prestigious Clown College. Rom was a media coordinator for Ringling managing promotions for circus stars like animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams and events like Ringling’s famous animal walk.

On Wednesday, April 10, Nicole and Rom will relate their excperience with Ringling Brothers, from life on the circus train to planning an animal walk through the Lincoln Tunnell. Their stories are fascinating for both rail-fans and circus-fans alike.

Some 40 years later, Nicole is still a professional clown. Her stage name is Maggie, and many of her performances are at train-related venues like the Railroad Hobby Show, the Steaming Tender, Chester On Track, and Kids ON TRACK at Springfield Union Station.