#Amtrak Auto-Train

[mrsmoose54]

Florida - Rail Options

Central Florida continues to attract increasing numbers of visitors annually. In 2021 is was reported that there were around 57 million visitors, the majority are US domestic travellers but 2 million are from overseas. Numbers are going up and certainly recovering from the impact of the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic. Would travelling through the Sunshine State by rail be an option for anyone instead…

[amtrak-official]

Round 1, poll 5

Go Funky little guys, Go

[ice-to-orange-blossoms]

Hehe @amtrak-official got your train >:3

[amtrackrails1]

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, many of our daily activities, including travel, are now conducted online. One of the most popular online travel activities is booking train tickets. With the advent of online booking services, passengers can now book train tickets from anywhere, at any time. For More Info visit Our Website: https://medium.com/@amtrackrail/auto-train-reservations-benefits-and-how-to-use-online-ticket-booking-5361e5aff891

[shabbyshoebox]

Why is there only one auto train (D.C. to Florida) in the US. Like I know a reason is some systemic difficulties with the width, but we are literally so car centric it's hard to get around most cities places without one

Amtrak pleaseeeeee

[aryburn-trains]

Conrail and Amtrak

In Pennsylvania Station in Pittsburgh Conrail U36B 2973 is operating in push pull fashion with another unit on the other end on a temporary commuter train during a highway reconstruction project in June 1981. This unit was ordered by Auto Train but purchased by Conrail.

[guerrerense]

Over and Under Wisconsin por Nomad of Mid-America Por Flickr: The Milwaukee Road oriented its Milwaukee-Twin Cities mainline with a general northwesterly heading across Wisconsin until it hit the foreboding town of Tunnel City, where it made a hard left and punched through 1,330(ish) feet of Driftless rock to follow the easy contour of the La Crosse River on the other side down into the Mississippi River Valley. The Tunnel City tunnel--in its 2nd incarnation at this location--was bored in 1874 and subsequently modified and modernized, passed down through the Milwaukee's numerous business transactions to the Soo Line and later Canadian Pacific, where it remains a vital asset on CPKC's international mainline connecting Chicago, the Twin Cities, and Canada. #149, with its autos and intermodal from Chicago's Bensenville Yard to the Vancouver area, is the hottest freight train on the railroad, but its westward progress on this occasion has been hampered by numerous Amtrak meets and conservative dispatching. With evening shadow growing ever longer, the train finally has clear signals advancing its expedited journey and is finally back to making time as the industrious beaver shielding the nose on the historically painted lead locomotive guides 149 out of the tunnel's west portal and bends toward La Crosse.

[the-technicolor-whiscash]

I love trains and I love public transport but as many have said before it is fucking insane how expensive Amtrak is like I was looking to take the auto train from Florida to Virginia and it would have cost me, no joke, $700 for just me and my car. It’s literally cheaper for me to drive over two days and get a hotel room both ways including gas. Yes driving will suck but it will cost me probably half the price if not less to drive than to take the auto train.

[railwayhistorical]

Auto-Train

This is a shot of the original Auto-Train, albeit the short-lived Louisville extension; as we see above, it’s teamed up with Amtrak. The location is somewhere just south of Louisville, Kentucky, along the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.

By the time of this photo, six or seven years in, Auto-Train was under some duress, while Amtrak’s Floridian was struggling as well. During a brief period then, the southbound Floridian would combine itself with the Louisville version of the Auto-Train for the trip to Florida. I believe this occurred beginning November 1st 1976 until September of 1977 when Auto-Train stopped service to Louisville. The Floridian itself was discontinued in October of 1979.

Auto-Train used some interesting locomotives along with the legacy equipment bought from railroads (which were able to drop passenger service in 1971). The power for the upstart road were new GE U36Bs delivered with Blomberg trucks. Not sure if they had steam generators, but I think not: heat was supplied by a generator in a modified heavyweight car in the consist.

Auto-Train as a corporation lasted only ten or eleven years and succumbed to financial difficulties—due to this extension (beyond the original east coast run) and more than one derailment. Amtrak revived the idea in October of 1983, and it’s still popular to this day. I have another post on this interesting train, from the spring of 1976.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken March 26th 1977.

[20th-century-railroading]

Good in Concept by Citizen of the Galaxy Via Flickr: Recently retired Auto-Train equipment from the defunct operation sitting in Sanford FL on 8 April 1982 include Baldwin VO-1000 switcher No. 623 (ex-WP) and full length dome car No. 512 (ex-ATSF). Of course Amtrak took over the operation and the rest is history.

[amtrak-official]

whats the deal with the auto train? why is it so popular? it seems like such an odd service to provide, like why do many people want to bring a car on a train?

The Auto Train is different from the rest of the amtrak service because it came from a private company that went out of business in the 80s, as for why it's popular? My theory is snowbirds

[autotransportguide]

Safest Ways to Transport a Vehicle

When shipping a car, safety is a top priority. Understanding the different transport methods available can help ensure your vehicle arrives at its destination in excellent condition.

Here are some of the safest ways to ship your car:

Enclosed Car Hauler - Maximum Protection

For high-value, classic, or luxury vehicles, enclosed car transport is the safest option. This method involves transporting the vehicle inside a fully enclosed trailer, protecting it from external elements such as weather, debris, and road hazards. Enclosed transport is ideal for safeguarding prized vehicles and ensures that they arrive in pristine condition.

Open Car Hauler - Affordable and Reliable

Open car transport is the most common method for shipping vehicles, offering an affordable and widely available option. Vehicles are loaded onto open-air trailers, which is a practical choice for daily drivers and standard vehicles. While this method is generally safe, cars are exposed to weather and road conditions, so it’s less protective than enclosed transport.

Amtrak Auto Train - A Safe but Limited Option

The Amtrak Auto Train provides a unique and safe solution for those traveling along the East Coast. It allows passengers to travel with their vehicles, offering a secure and practical transport method. However, this option has very limited pickup and delivery locations, making it less suitable for widespread use.

Each method offers varying levels of protection, with enclosed transport being the most secure, while open haulers and the Auto Train provide safe yet more accessible options depending on your needs.

[ice-to-orange-blossoms]

Auto Train livery fucks severely and Amtrak should bring this livery back

Also look at this cute ass Econoline they had!

[transportaplooza]

What are some safe and cost-effective ways to transport a car without using an open trailer?

When transporting your vehicle over long distances, several options are available, each with its own advantages. The Amtrak Auto Train offers a convenient way to travel with your car between Washington, D.C. and Florida, allowing you to avoid the stress of driving. Drive Away Services provide flexibility by hiring a professional driver to transport your vehicle door-to-door, although costs can vary. Driving yourself offers control and the opportunity for a road trip but requires time and energy. Choose the option that best suits your schedule, budget, and preferences.

Learn More: Cheapest Ways to Ship a Car

[aryburn-trains]

CR 2973; Wilmerding, PA; August 1981

The Parkway Limited operated so briefly on the Pittsburgh Line that it is very easy to forget it even existed! Thankfully, photographic evidence helps us keep its memory alive. The commuter service between Pittsburgh and Greensburg began in March of 1981 in response to construction work on the Parkway East. Using U36Bs CR 2971-2974, originally built for the Auto Train, and a slew of Amtrak coaches, these trains proved initially popular, but ridership dropped off quickly. By November of 1981, the Parkway Limited was annulled. On a day in August of 1981, CR 2973 brings the Parkway Limited by CP WING’s westbound signals, about to complete its first trip of the day.

CR 2973. Wilmerding, PA. August 23, 1981.