Amtrak Auto Train Discussion

An "arwethereyetitis" pandemic has set in.

On my twenty four "voyages", such becomes endemic at about High Noon - oh, and that's on Day 2; never mind Day 3

Should have just gone in reverse, and unloaded so people could drive home faster.....

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WashingtonPark wrote: ↑Wed Jan 11, 2023 9:42 am https://www.whio.com/news/national/dela ... N5EI6DIOA/

The article says the train was detoured off its normal route. What is the detour route? Were the crew qualified for those routes or did the train need extra crew?

Over the Seaboard, or in CSXese (and railfanese), the S-Line.

It would be unreasonable to expect that the crews holding Sanford-Florence and Lorton-Florence to be Rules Qualified on that "foreign road". It would be unreasonable to expect Chessie to have available Rules Qualified crews, so Amtrak had to hold the train @ Denmark until they had a rested crew, normally assigned to 91-92, Silver Star, available.

Or a pilot from the host railroad?

justalurker66 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 9:29 pm Or a pilot from the host railroad?

I'm going with Mr Norman on this one. CSX would not really care about train unless it was effecting their operation. Denmark was chosen for some reason, double track between to control points, signaled siding whatever the case to tie the train down and stand by.

I am more accustomed with reroutes over tracks where there are no qualified Amtrak crews. Places where pilots are used. Tracks where the host railroad normally doesn't have any Amtrak trains to "care" about or not.

Is the S-Line the old Ocala route?

Indeed, Sgt. Smith.

Some ten miles to the South is Wildwood, which is where the SAL divided their trains, such as Meteor and Star, with one section going to Miami, and the other to St. Petersburg (the ACL, incidentially, had some kind of "Doodlebug" powerful enough over that "oh so mountainous terrain " that could handle, one each, New York-Naples Coach and Pullman lines between Lakeland and Naples).

When I rode the Auto Train last I was surprised at how clean the switchers were here. I believe they run through the car washers several times with different strings of cars and it shows.

First I have heard of this proposal, but can't the consultants get the date of Amtrak operated Auto Train correct, or give recognition to the private sector AT that did start service that day?

Fair Use:

1.1. Project Background:
Amtrak’s Auto Train began running service on December 6, 1971 and became immediately popular
and continues to grow today resulting in increased ridership projections. The daily train service for
passengers and their automobiles operates between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida. The Auto
Train is the only motorail service in the United States which provides this premium service.
Passengers ride in coach seats or private sleeping cars rooms while their vehicles are carried in
enclosed automobile-carrying freight cars which can carry up to 320 vehicles.
The existing facility at Lorton, VA “LOR” was opened in July 2000 and due to increases in ridership
is often congested and operating at or above its seating capacity. Additionally, the surrounding
local arterial roadway (Lorton Road) is often congested by passenger vehicles overflowing from the
site entry road causing safety concerns, and complaints from customers, governing agencies, and
the local communities.
The existing facility in Sanford, FL “SFA” was originally constructed in 1971 as a single-story depot
and was renovated in 1995. During the 2004 hurricane season the station suffered extensive
damage which prompted the construction of the current station to the northwest which was
completed in 2010. With the increased ridership since its construction, the new station and
supporting facilities have quickly become outgrown with inadequate space for waiting passengers
and their associated vehicles. Vehicle staging frequently overflows onto the local roads creating
traffic delays and blocked streets for residents and businesses.

Looks like their summary used Wikipedia (or both used the same sources). The private operation should have been acknowledged.

Another ALC-42 spotted in Lorton today. Are these becoming common place on the Auto Train?