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When did Amtrak take over the Auto Train facilities in Lorton, VA and Sanford, FL and the original cars from the previous private company owner?
notelvis Member # 3071
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The original Auto-Train ceased operations in April 1981. Their bankruptcy was caused, in part, by their failed attempt to add a second route between Sanford and Louisville, KY. The Louisville train operated from just 1974 to 1977 and was down to only one trip a week by the end. I have relatives in the Louisville area and remember the excitement when Auto-Train first began service there.
I may be wrong, but I believe that the Louisville expansion failed because the northern terminus was a little too far from the Chicago area and the length of the ride was maybe 6 hours longer than the typical auto-train demographic was willing to spend on a train.
Amtrak acquired the Lorton and Sanford terminals and began operating Auto-Train service tri-weekly in October 1983. Amtrak's version of the Auto-Train gained popularity and began daily operation a year later in October 1984.
One other note.......for a brief period around 1976 or so Amtrak and the original Auto-Train attempted to cut their operational expenses by combining Amtrak's 'Floridian' with the Louisville Auto-Train between Louisville and Sanford. Amtrak moved from Union Station in downtown Louisville out to Auto-Train's terminal on the far southern edge of town. Louisville Union Station was a stub-end affair which Amtrak had to back into.....they were eager to leave. After the Louisville Auto-Train ended, Amtrak continued to use Louisville's Auto-Train station until the 'Floridian' itself was discontinued two years later in October 1979.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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A point I would like to add to Mr. Presley's concise and informative report is that the only equipment Amtrak acquired from Auto Train were the Auto Carriers. They did not acquire any locomotives or passenger cars from the Estate.
1702 Member # 4508
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There is a very thorough article on wikipedia about Amtrak's Auto Train and the Auto Train Corporation.
Thanks for posting the link 1702! If I had checked Wikipedia it would have saved me flipping through two dozen old Trains Magazines to make certain I had the right date for the end of the original Auto-Train!
I sent you a private message through the railforum a couple of weeks ago. Just curious whether it has reached you yet.
George Harris Member # 2077
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The major failing IMHO is that the east coast Autotrain covered its distance in a better than reasoable driving time for the distance and the Midwest Autotrain did not.
The timekeeping of the Louisville line was relatively poor, also. This was in the low point of L&N track conditions, and for the Chicago to Louisville portion of the Floridian the slow way via the ex Monon. In addition, south of Montgomery AL the SCL ex-ACL line was a non-signaled and fairly lightly built line that was also in a state of deterioration. The combination was of doubtful benefit in that it slowed both trains that were already slow simply to save a set of train crews.
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