Dovecote
OBS Chief
My wife and I just completed a round trip journey on the Auto Train. This was my first trip on this train since 1978 when it was operated privately by the Auto-Train Corporation. We departed on November 12 from Lorton and returned on November 26 from Sanford. On each trip we were fortunate to receive what I believe was the low bucket rate of $93 per person for the rail fare, $169 for the oversized size vehicle charge, and $124 for the roomette.
On the departing trip we had an uneventful one and half hour drive from Harpers Ferry to Lorton. We arrived at the entrance gate, assigned a vehicle number, drove to the vehicle dropoff area, and then proceeded to the station. Inside the station we received our coach car and seat assignments and selected a time for the evening meal. The waiting room was comfortable and enjoyed watching news on the television until boarding the train. We boarded the train and proceeded to coach car 5310. The car was fairly full but all of the single passengers were able to sit by themselves. There were even some couples that were able to relocate to empty seats and sit solo for the duration of the trip. It was later announced that the train received 345 passengers and 197 vehicles.
Prior to our departure, a trip to the lounge car revealed there was complimentary fruit and party snacks for the taking. Our dinner meal was well above board and we enjoyed the complimentary wine that came with the meal. The coach car had some noisy passengers that made the trip a little less enjoyable. Fortunately at around 10:00 PM there was an announcement that quiet hours would commence until 6:00 AM. Passengers were asked to turn off their cell phones and be respectful during the quiet hours. Most were compliant to this request.
During the night the train stopped on three lengthy occasions. It was later announced the next day that one of the engines failed and a replacement engine was added in Florence. At breakfast we were forewarned that the train would be late. The infamous mystery “stew” would be provided to us for lunch. Actually it was a conglomeration of rice, potatoes, beef, carrots, beans, and gravy. The train arrived in Sanford around 1:30 PM around four hours late. Upon arriving, the auto carriers were soon separated from the train and moved to the vehicle loading area. The Auto Train informational booklet that was issued to us when we checked in at Lorton indicated the unloading process could take up to two hours. Fortunately for us we received our vehicle about 45 minutes later. We were greeted to Friday afternoon traffic in Orlando and proceeded to our second home in South Georgia arriving around 7:00 PM.
On our return trip we left our home in South Georgia early Thanksgiving morning and hoped traffic would be tolerable on I-10 and I-75. We were fortunate to have only a moderate traffic flow for the duration and arrived in Sanford four and half hours later. The check-in process was repeated although due to a light crowd there was no choice of a dinner assignment. Everyone would be served at 6:00 PM. The waiting room in Sanford was a far cry from the facility in Lorton. The main waiting room was cramped and definitely in need of an overhaul. There was an overflow waiting room adjacent to the main room in an erected tent structure. It was musty and dreary. The good news is a new facility is on agenda and there were visible signs of construction underway for a new building.
We boarded the train around 2:30 PM and proceeded to sleeper car 5244 roomette 6. At around 3:00 PM we departed to the sleeper lounge car for complimentary wine, cheese, and party snacks. This concluded about an hour later and we returned to our room. Later our welcome announcement revealed that the train passenger list totaled 97 passengers (52 in sleepers and 45 in coach) and 48 vehicles. The train consist included 6 sleeping cars and 4 coach cars. The coach car adjacent to our sleeper was completely empty.
Our dinner meal was again well above board. To celebrate Thanksgiving my meal selection was the turkey dinner. The dining car for sleeping passengers was a cut above the coach dining car. The meal was served on china with white tablecloth linens. Glassware was provided for our wine (a choice of red or white) and other beverages.
The train seemed to operate on time during the night. There was even an earlier than usual morning announcement that we would arrive early and breakfast hours would be abbreviated. As it turned out our arrival in Lorton station was at 7:00 AM. Unfortunately the staff at the station does not begin work until 8:00 AM so we had to remain in the train until at least that time. We departed from our car after the special need passengers were first escorted off. At around 8:15 AM we were in the station waiting for our vehicle. The vehicle was unloaded around 8:45 AM and then proceeded to our home in Harpers Ferry. The Auto Train is a great alternative to driving down to Florida and I would highly recommend taking it.
Until next time,
Dovecote
On the departing trip we had an uneventful one and half hour drive from Harpers Ferry to Lorton. We arrived at the entrance gate, assigned a vehicle number, drove to the vehicle dropoff area, and then proceeded to the station. Inside the station we received our coach car and seat assignments and selected a time for the evening meal. The waiting room was comfortable and enjoyed watching news on the television until boarding the train. We boarded the train and proceeded to coach car 5310. The car was fairly full but all of the single passengers were able to sit by themselves. There were even some couples that were able to relocate to empty seats and sit solo for the duration of the trip. It was later announced that the train received 345 passengers and 197 vehicles.
Prior to our departure, a trip to the lounge car revealed there was complimentary fruit and party snacks for the taking. Our dinner meal was well above board and we enjoyed the complimentary wine that came with the meal. The coach car had some noisy passengers that made the trip a little less enjoyable. Fortunately at around 10:00 PM there was an announcement that quiet hours would commence until 6:00 AM. Passengers were asked to turn off their cell phones and be respectful during the quiet hours. Most were compliant to this request.
During the night the train stopped on three lengthy occasions. It was later announced the next day that one of the engines failed and a replacement engine was added in Florence. At breakfast we were forewarned that the train would be late. The infamous mystery “stew” would be provided to us for lunch. Actually it was a conglomeration of rice, potatoes, beef, carrots, beans, and gravy. The train arrived in Sanford around 1:30 PM around four hours late. Upon arriving, the auto carriers were soon separated from the train and moved to the vehicle loading area. The Auto Train informational booklet that was issued to us when we checked in at Lorton indicated the unloading process could take up to two hours. Fortunately for us we received our vehicle about 45 minutes later. We were greeted to Friday afternoon traffic in Orlando and proceeded to our second home in South Georgia arriving around 7:00 PM.
On our return trip we left our home in South Georgia early Thanksgiving morning and hoped traffic would be tolerable on I-10 and I-75. We were fortunate to have only a moderate traffic flow for the duration and arrived in Sanford four and half hours later. The check-in process was repeated although due to a light crowd there was no choice of a dinner assignment. Everyone would be served at 6:00 PM. The waiting room in Sanford was a far cry from the facility in Lorton. The main waiting room was cramped and definitely in need of an overhaul. There was an overflow waiting room adjacent to the main room in an erected tent structure. It was musty and dreary. The good news is a new facility is on agenda and there were visible signs of construction underway for a new building.
We boarded the train around 2:30 PM and proceeded to sleeper car 5244 roomette 6. At around 3:00 PM we departed to the sleeper lounge car for complimentary wine, cheese, and party snacks. This concluded about an hour later and we returned to our room. Later our welcome announcement revealed that the train passenger list totaled 97 passengers (52 in sleepers and 45 in coach) and 48 vehicles. The train consist included 6 sleeping cars and 4 coach cars. The coach car adjacent to our sleeper was completely empty.
Our dinner meal was again well above board. To celebrate Thanksgiving my meal selection was the turkey dinner. The dining car for sleeping passengers was a cut above the coach dining car. The meal was served on china with white tablecloth linens. Glassware was provided for our wine (a choice of red or white) and other beverages.
The train seemed to operate on time during the night. There was even an earlier than usual morning announcement that we would arrive early and breakfast hours would be abbreviated. As it turned out our arrival in Lorton station was at 7:00 AM. Unfortunately the staff at the station does not begin work until 8:00 AM so we had to remain in the train until at least that time. We departed from our car after the special need passengers were first escorted off. At around 8:15 AM we were in the station waiting for our vehicle. The vehicle was unloaded around 8:45 AM and then proceeded to our home in Harpers Ferry. The Auto Train is a great alternative to driving down to Florida and I would highly recommend taking it.
Until next time,
Dovecote
