Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Alexandra (Newport) Dock & Railway Company autotrailer, carriage no.3 with longitudinal bench seating, on an 8 wheel bogey. Unrestored body only (no underframe).

This is an Amercian style end verandas railway coach, built in 1898 for Barnum & Bailey Circus as a sleeper, No.50-57. In 1908 it was sold to Alexandra (Newport) Dock & Railway Company. In 1909 it was converted to an autotrailer, coach No.3. In 1922 it was absorbed by GWR, and in 1923 renumbered 64 and painted in GWR colours. It was taken out of service in 1926 and later the body was sold and converted into a chalet at Totnes.

The Barnum & Bailey Circus exhibited disabled people and people from around the world as ‘freaks’ or ‘curiosities’. The circus’ UK tour featured an imitation of a cakewalk, a dance originated by enslaved Black people but with associations with minstrel shows.