Renderings shown for representation.

Founded in 1923, the James E. Strates Shows is America's only railroad carnival, travelling the United States during a seven-month season and transporting personnel and equipment with rail cars and trucks. In 1959, Strates Show founder, James E. Strates, suddenly passed away immediately propelling his 29-year-old son, E. James "Jim" Strates, into the spotlight to manage and modernize the Show. Part of his modernization program was the hiring of circus and carnival artist Duke Ash to completely transform the Strates'™ signature 50-car train - and thus began the "Duke Ash Era" paint scheme, used between 1961 and 1970.