Amtrak’s Auto Train, 2006-present

Fred Klein, 2015

The Auto Train is a long, mixed train that carries passengers in Superliner passenger cars and their autos in 89’ auto carriers from Lorton VA (near Washington DC) to Sanford FL (near Orlando and Disneyworld). The train was re-equipped with new auto carriers in 2006, and the whole train was repainted in the phase VI (also known as IVb) paint scheme featuring the current Amtrak “wave” logo. It is a long train, often exceeding ¾ mile with about 38 cars or more. The car limit is 50 cars. The train is too long to make intermediate passenger stops, which are not really needed anyway. The terminals in Virginia and Florida are built to load the cars in groups before the auto carriers are assembled into a train, and loading ramps efficiently load autos from end doors. Today it is one of Amtrak’s most popular trains and is the highest grossing of any of its trains.

 

The original auto-train run by the auto-train corporation was a popular way for families to get themselves and their autos from Lorton to Sanford for a Disneyworld vacation.  The bankruptcy of the original auto-train in 1981 was due to costs from several accidents and an unprofitable expansion to Louisville KY, not because the Virginia trains themselves were unprofitable. Amtrak took over the service in 1983 initially using passenger and auto carrier cars from the original auto-train supplemented with other heritage cars, and later used the newly purchased superliner passenger cars. Amtrak acquired auto-train corporation’s 75’ 2-level auto racks, plus the 89’ 3-level auto racks auto-train bought in 1976. These 1976 89’ cars are similar to modern cars the railroads use to transport new cars, but with smoother and more regular side panels. In 2006, Amtrak began phasing out the 75’ 2-level and 89’ 3-level auto racks and replacing them with newer 89’ 2-level auto racks that are better able to accommodate modern SUVs and family vans. The new autoracks are made by Johnstown America Corporation in Canada, and have solid side panels. The newer 2-level auto carriers appear similar to the older 89’ carriers, but they are painted in Amtrak’s phase VI scheme. Today, 18 passenger cars including the crew car (limited by the amount of head end power) and 33 auto carriers are often used.

 

Before the mid 1990s, the auto train would have standard height passenger equipment plus the original full-length Santa Fe dome cars used on the original auto-train. In 1995, the auto train upgraded the passenger cars from heritage cars to superliners. After the mid 2000s, the 75’ auto racks would be gone and phase IV and V paint would predominate. The 2006 train has phase VI painted superliners and the new 2-level autoracks.

 

The consist I modeled is a typical summertime train taken from the Wikipedia article, which conforms to photos and a youtube video. The whole 2006 train is easy to model because all superliner cars, locomotives and auto carriers are available factory painted from Kato. Con cor makes some of the superliner cars, but currently not in the modern phase VI paint scheme. Con cor also has made “Amtrak” auto carriers in the modern “wave” paint scheme, but the body style is the Trailer Train type (which has large and perforated side panels) for commercial factory autos and is not correct for the auto train, which has smaller, solid side panels. The limitations to modeling the autotrain is how big is your layout and how many cars you can afford.

 

The auto train on July 16, 2011.

 

The auto train in May 2013 in Ashland Virginia. Note the three diner/lounge cars for coach passengers behind the locomotives.

 

The auto train in May 2013 in Ashland Virginia. This is the same train as above.

 

The autotrain in 2007.

 

 

Power with two coach diners

The power is two or sometimes three genesis P42 diesel locomotives made by EMD, typical of most non-electrified Amtrak trains, with the phase VI paint scheme and Amtrak wave logo. The entire train is made from factory painted Kato models. You can model the autotrain with prototypical models decorated at the Kato factory.

 

Coach section

 

More coaches and a sleeper

The second coach has a baggage compartment. The fourth car is a sleeper, recognized by the square lower-level window, which I believe is for the family room.

 

Sleeper section

Two more sleepers, a diner and a sightseer lounge for sleeping car passengers.

 

More sleepers and a sleeper for the crew

The crew sleeper at the end could be one of the older transition cars. All models are prototypical Kato models.

 

Auto carriers

After the passenger car section, the autotrain has up to 33 2-level auto carriers. My model train has 20 carriers, which is more than enough for most layouts. The paint is the phase VI scheme with the Amtrak wave logo. The prototype carriers are made by Johnstown America Corporation in Canada, and have solid side panels. The models are prototypical Kato models.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

Amtrak, An American story, National railroad passenger corporation (Amtrak), 2011, 142 pages.

Amtrak By the numbers: a comprehensive passenger car and motive power roster -1971-2011, Simon, Elbert and David Warner, White river productions, 2011, 256 pages. This is an excellent book with Hundreds of car, locomotive and train photos can be found using google searches.

Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_Train

 

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