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.