Circus Roncalli celebrates 50th anniversary with new electric locomotive

Circus Roncalli is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a special jubilee tour. To mark the occasion, the circus received a custom electric locomotive, named ‘Zippo’, from the Bavarian logistics company Rail Bavaria. The locomotive will transport the circus troupe using green eco-electricity.

Founder Bernhard Paul continues to maintain the circus’s tradition of rail transport rather than using trucks. The specialized train can reach lengths of up to 1,100 meters and consists of approximately 80 restored historical wagons. Carrying roughly 1,800 tons of cargo, the train transports all necessary equipment, including props, costumes, the blue-and-white chapiteau, the ‘Café des Artistes’, and accommodations for approximately 100 artists and staff members.

In addition to the locomotive, Märklin presented Paul with a model version of the ‘Zippo’ locomotive. Following a ceremonial tour around the Cologne Cathedral, the circus has begun its jubilee tour, with upcoming performances scheduled in Vienna, Innsbruck, and Linz, Austria.