Original Autotrain 1977 on RF&P at Lorton, Virginia

Before it became an Amtrak operation, the orginal Autotrain was a unique private company that pioneered transport of passengers and their automobiles from outside Washington, DC to Sanford, Florida. The train was not only the longest passenger train in the world, but one of the greatest collection of dome cars ever assembled in revenue service. Also seen is the Amtrak Silver Star at Lorton with the orginal SDP40F Amtrak power and Heritage Cars

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Autotrain
• Auto
• Train
• Autozug
• im
• America
• 1977
• RF&P

[cnlGNERnh]

Thanks for comments!

[ACLTony]

Lamenting.....but I sure miss those Heritage Budd cars. They were very comfortable and spacious and rode better than the "Amcans".

[cnlGNERnh]

@ACLTony True, but I think the new single level equipment order, with new diners and sleepers, will result in a real improvement to the Florida trains soon. I suspect the Viewliner Diners will become a big hit.

[shadykay51]

I worked as an Onboard Hostess for 2 1/2 years, beginning in January, 1973. I think the cars we had then were much better than the ones used by Amtrak when I rode the train in 1998. Great memories.

[cnlGNERnh]

@shadykay51 Wonderful to hear from someone who worked there! Your right about the cars being better back then. Well at least 2 improvements from Amtrak are the new terminal at Lorton and there being showers in the delux bedrooms. Interesting that there are many autotrain services in Europe and we still only have this one route....

[autotraindome]

As the Auto-Trains BIGGEST Fan I cant tell you the memories that came to me when I saw your clip. Thanks for the incrediable memories!

Todd Brown

[cnlGNERnh]

@autotraindome Thanks for the comments. There are Autotrain photos on

railroadpicturearchives from this time period.

[MrCzechers]

Every so often you can find cool, original Auto-Train items on EBay. The hostess dolls are always good sellers, along with the coloring book.

[susankohistany]

I live there and that track hardly has any trains go by now

[CSXAC6000CWFAN]

I have an HO scale car of one o th auto cars!

[dpohunter]

I'm lucky to have ridden Auto-Train in 1974 (one-way NB) unlucky to have not had a camera with me. Rode in lower section of a half-dome coach. Staff was great. I stayed awake all night (and wanted to!) Not great luck with our car: loss of lights and A/C, stuck brakeshoe filled car with smoke and caused unsched. stop near Savannah. But I LOVED it anyway! Still have the on-board magazine.

[TheSRNut]

Nice video, but I haven't seen many trains playing music!