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| (1204829) | |
Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by chuchubob on Sat Feb 16 08:44:34 2013 train 53, Lorton, VA; Thursday    Jacksonville; Friday   Sanford  
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Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by RockParkMan on Sat Feb 16 10:30:41 2013, in response to Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by chuchubob on Sat Feb 16 08:44:34 2013. Cool auto racks with high speed trucks and graduated release brakes. America needs thousands more of these. |
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Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by Alan Follett on Sat Feb 16 13:24:53 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by RockParkMan on Sat Feb 16 10:30:41 2013. I wonder if there are other markets in which the Auto Train concept would be commercially viable. The other obvious possibility, Midwest-Florida service, was a flop when the old AutoTrain Corporation tried it, though the fact that the northern terminus was Louisville didn't help. (The idea was that Louisville would act as a central collection point for traffic from Chicago and Cleveland and Detroit and other Midwest markets, but as one of my Chicago acquaintances remarked at the time, "Hey, if I have to drive halfway to Florida, I might as well just drive all the way.") Still, given Amtrak's demonstrated ability to fill the Virginia-Florida trains, it might be worth another try, perhaps with a better-located Midwest terminal.Auto Train seems particularly suited to snowbird markets, where people travel a long distance for a long stay, and want to have their car with them rather than pay for a long-term rental at the destination. So, another possibility would be service from some Midwestern point to somewhere in Arizona. And I believe there's considerable snowbird traffic from eastern Canada; an Auto Train terminal somewhere in northern New York or New England might attract more of this than Lorton can. (Montreal to Lorton is another one of those perceived "halfway to Florida" situations.) Alan Follett Hercules, CA |
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| (1204866) | |
Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by chud1 on Sat Feb 16 13:57:32 2013, in response to Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by chuchubob on Sat Feb 16 08:44:34 2013. ALL ABOARD!chud1 |
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Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by Nilet on Sat Feb 16 15:39:55 2013, in response to Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by chuchubob on Sat Feb 16 08:44:34 2013. NICE pics! And I envy you in Florida.The Auto Train was my first overnight train trip but that was before I started taking photos and I can't ride it again on account of, ya know, not having a car. I don't suppose you have any interior pics? The cars don't still have red/earth tone interiors like the last bunch of pics I saw, right? Do they still have the lounges made from converted diners? |
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| (1204891) | |
Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by NIMBYkiller on Sat Feb 16 16:21:05 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by Alan Follett on Sat Feb 16 13:24:53 2013. It's tough, I really would've thought Louisville would've worked, but perhaps Indy is better? And yes, there appears to be a significant draw from eastern Canada to Florida (judged by the dozens and dozens of RVs with canadian tags I saw northbound after spring break). Perhaps a New York City area terminal would work best for that. You'd also get more of the Boston market than Lorton would (again, halfway to Florida). |
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Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by Grand concourse on Sat Feb 16 16:44:11 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by RockParkMan on Sat Feb 16 10:30:41 2013. Yeah, I wouldn't mind if they were built in the center of i95 and such. Have the trains stop at the border of each state and let the person drive the rest of the way. |
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| (1204893) | |
Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by Grand concourse on Sat Feb 16 16:45:15 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by Grand concourse on Sat Feb 16 16:44:11 2013. I don't mean i95 specifically, but some interstate highways in general* |
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| (1204921) | |
Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by jabrams on Sat Feb 16 18:33:36 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by Nilet on Sat Feb 16 15:39:55 2013. I came down on the autotrain recently. There are new seats in the coach cars. Only some of the lounge cars were modified with glass on the outsides of the roof, and the bar placed downstairs, leaving more sitting room upstairs. The VCR and TV's were replaced with a DVD player and LCD TV's. In the last three years two electrical outlets were added to each coach seat and in the louge car. WiFi is available in the waiting rooms, but not available on the train (unless you are in the car adjacent to the waiting room) while you wait for the train to leave. Board at 2:30 PM, train starts being assembled at 3:15 or so, and leaves between 3:45 and 4 PM.Travel time changed from 4 PM to 8:30 AM, to 4 PM to 9:30 AM (makes better arrival on-time percentages). 10 page pamplet with maps changed to a two page foldout. |
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Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by CJ on Sat Feb 16 18:50:41 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by Nilet on Sat Feb 16 15:39:55 2013. You should be envy of me as well since I live like 30 minutes away from the station in Sanford. :) I need to make a trip over to Sanford soon to see Auto Train. |
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| (1204927) | |
Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by Nilet on Sat Feb 16 18:58:03 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by CJ on Sat Feb 16 18:50:41 2013. Meh, if you live in Florida then you have to put up with Florida summers. I'll withhold my envy so I don't have to ask you for it back in July. |
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Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by Ian Lennon on Sat Feb 16 19:15:18 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by Nilet on Sat Feb 16 18:58:03 2013. It's not so bad. You actually get used to it. |
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| (1204936) | |
Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by Alan Follett on Sat Feb 16 19:57:27 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by NIMBYkiller on Sat Feb 16 16:21:05 2013. To say nothing of more of the metro-NYC and Connecticut market. Can Auto Train equipment clear the tunnels through Baltimore and Washington? If not, are alternate routes (for example, via Harrisburg and the Shenandoah Valley) practicable?Alan Follett |
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| (1204937) | |
Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by Alan Follett on Sat Feb 16 20:01:15 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by Ian Lennon on Sat Feb 16 19:15:18 2013. And excellent for lizard-watching. I added five new species to my lizard life list in two hours at the Orlando station.Alan Follett Hercules, CA |
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| (1204942) | |
Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by hhp664 on Sat Feb 16 21:04:33 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by Alan Follett on Sat Feb 16 20:01:15 2013. ummmm graduated release????? no i don't think so. how bout direct release. |
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| (1204966) | |
Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by Buddsilverliner269 on Sat Feb 16 22:46:23 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by Alan Follett on Sat Feb 16 20:01:15 2013. The auto train is set for direct release like a freight train not graduated release like other passenger trains. Although I'm not qualified on auto train(Amtrak Philly engineer here) I can safely say that train is a freight train. In years past, any Amtrak train that had the roadrailers and expresstrak cars, the train was set up for direct release. Nice pics Bob :) |
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Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by NIMBYkiller on Sat Feb 16 23:54:43 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by Alan Follett on Sat Feb 16 19:57:27 2013. I've seen autoracks running the NEC through Delaware, so if the current auto train ones can't make it, I'm sure they can acquire some that can |
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Re: Auto Train PHOTOS |
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Posted by chuchubob on Mon Feb 18 19:25:53 2013, in response to Re: Auto Train PHOTOS, posted by jabrams on Sat Feb 16 18:33:36 2013. Our train left the terminal at 3:30 but waited until 4 for CSX to let it on their railroad. We made many stops for freight congestion and a CSX signal problem and arrived in Sanford at 11:05. |
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