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.
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Auto check-in was between 12:30-15:00, and an
employee videotaped the outside of the vehicles |
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| Employee drivers loaded the autos into the auto rack rail cars |
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| Oh! A regular Amtrak train sped past |
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| On the left are the sleep coaches... |
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| and on the right are the auto rack rail cars |
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The Lorton Auto Train Station (separate from the
passenger train station) (2000, by Hanny Hassan) with
decorative palm fronds to evoke the southern destination |
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| Sun sculpture (2000, by Patrick Sheridan) |
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Our roomette, with two seats
facing each other |
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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.
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For dessert we had a slice of a very rich
chocolate toffee mousse cake |
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Later our attendant, Brian, set up
our bunk bed berths |
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| Hmm? |
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| Pillow chocolates |
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
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| Some of us had the included breakfast in the lounge |
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Others opted for the dining car, but without the
linen tablecloths we had at dinner |
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You could use your foot to open the
doors between the passenger cars |
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| 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...
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I believe this is the St Johns River,
which we crossed twice between Palatka and Sanford |
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Sanford Auto Train Station (2009-2010,
by d+A design + Architecture) |
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| Dining Car |
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Drivers lined-up to wait for the auto rack rail cars,
in order to unload; it took one hour to get our car |
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Fortunately, a food truck was present to
provide us a lunch: an avocado club wrap |
Next: Florida Southern College.
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