Tuesday, May 2, 2023

2023 Road Trip: Amrak Auto Train (5/1-2/2023)

Monday, May 1, 2023 (continued)
We opted to 1-877-SKIPI95, and take the Amtrak Auto Train from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL, thus will not drive through North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia. 
Auto check-in was between 12:30-15:00, and an
employee videotaped the outside of the vehicles
Employee drivers loaded the autos into the auto rack rail cars
Oh! A regular Amtrak train sped past
On the left are the sleep coaches...
and on the right are the auto rack rail cars
The Lorton Auto Train Station (separate from the
passenger train station) (2000, by Hanny Hassan) with
decorative palm fronds to evoke the southern destination
Sun sculpture (2000, by Patrick Sheridan)
Our roomette, with two seats
facing each other
Dinner was included, and we had the signature flat iron steak
(with baked potato and green beans)
We had a dinner choice of two seatings, one at 18:00 and the other at 20:00. Tables are for four persons and we were paired with a couple who had one of the three motorcycles carried by this Auto Train.
For dessert we had a slice of a very rich
chocolate toffee mousse cake
Later our attendant, Brian, set up
our bunk bed berths
Hmm?
Pillow chocolates

Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Some of us had the included breakfast in the lounge
Others opted for the dining car, but without the
linen tablecloths we had at dinner
You could use your foot to open the
doors between the passenger cars
We went around a curve in Jacksonville, FL
The Auto Train did not follow the tracks of the usual Amtrak train routes, but ones shared with freight trains. After dinner we had an unscheduled 55-minute stop, said to be because the CSX system detected a problem with our train that had to be fixed...
I believe this is the St Johns River,
which we crossed twice between Palatka and Sanford
Sanford Auto Train Station (2009-2010,
by d+A design + Architecture)
Dining Car
Drivers lined-up to wait for the auto rack rail cars,
in order to unload; it took one hour to get our car
Fortunately, a food truck was present to
provide us a lunch: an avocado club wrap
Next: Florida Southern College.

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