Combined passenger & cargo

[Cardinal51]

How unique is this in the US ? Passengers & cargo combined, at least I assume those Amtrak cars at the end are cargo cars , are they ?

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PS: Seems not just uploading png files is blocked but also hotlinking that file type is blocked.

[EngineerJohn]

It's not exactly traditional cargo but unique nonetheless. That's the Amtrak auto train where you can pay to have your personal car loaded on those car carriers before the train departs. The train will only load and unload in Virginia and Florida. Makes it real nice to be able to take a train somewhere and still have your personal car to get around after.

But of course this comes with a much larger ticket price.

Handlers load your car into sections of the car carriers while the passenger cars themselves sit in a separate area nearby for boarding, once everything is ready the entire train is coupled together making for an approximately 4500ft passenger train.

[Cardinal51]

Thank you very much John. It also explains why the Amtrak did not stop at Ashland, never seen that before.

Indeed it was a long train:
2 Engines
14 Passenger Cars
19 Auto Cars

But I assume that is way short of 4500ft

Is there a place to lookup all the Autotrain Routes ?

[NorfolkNE]

The only existing Auto Train route is Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL.

[Cardinal51]

Thanks, just looked it up on street view:

Lorton, VA: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7088708 ... 312!8i6656

Sanford, FL: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8079992 ... 312!8i6656

Seems like a great way to make a road trip combined with train trip. One way with the car and the other way with the Amtrak

[AmericanSteam]

$143 2 persons and small car, coach
$455 2 persons and small car, roomette
some $89. specials for coach passengers.

[Cardinal51]

That is a bargain. Are you sure the car is included in the first 2 quotes ?

Of course I would pick a chair and not a roomette. Did that on the Cardinal, loved it !