Now that our Florida trip had ended, it was time to drive to Sanford (near Orlando) to catch the Amtrack Auto Train, that carries their passengers and their cars to Lorton, Virginia.
As we walked from the station to our assigned railroad car, we saw our attendant from our trip last week that brought us from Virginia to Florida, who immediately recognized us!
Arriving in our roomette, we waited for all our vehicles to be loaded onto the auto carriers, then we waited for those carriers to connect to our passenger cars to create the longest passenger train in the world.
At 3/4 of a mile long, its comprised of 18 passenger cars, 33 auto carriers, and two engines…in order to carry 650 passengers and up to 330 automobiles.
Daily this happens back and forth between Sanford, Florida and Lorton, Virginia.
Meeting other passengers at dinner and breakfast in the dining car they told us stories of how they are snowbirds with the help of the Amtrack Auto Train.
With homes in both the north and the south of the East Coast, they travel between the two homes with their automobiles on this train.
They’ve been doing this for years.
After crossing the James River (in the header photo), I returned to the dining car to sit and enjoy more of the view of all the scenery.
ASHLAND, VIRGINIA
FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA
The road parallel to the train track is Lafayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg, Virginia, thus named to honor the Frenchman who helped us win the American Revolution.
Crossing the Rappahanock River with Fredericksburg in the background…
One of the many creeks feeding into the Potomac River…
The Occoquan feeding into the Potomac River…almost home!
LORTON, VIRGINIA
Soon we arrived at the Lorton Station, where a new set of cars were lined up that would soon board this train…
While my husband took our baggage into the station, I stayed outside to watch the process of unloading the our vehicles…
Those are the special auto carriers…you can see a hubcab!
The long, long autocarrier separating…
…so now we have a two rows of auto carriers to expedite unloading vehicles.
…and then a third row forms….
…and way down there a fourth row is starting…
…but wait! There’s my car! Time to go home!
