Auto-Train Corporation
Auto-Train Corporation (AAR reporting marks AUT) was a privately-owned railroad which used its own rolling stock, and traveled on rails leased from major railroads along the route of its trains. Auto-Train Corporation trains initially operated on Seaboard Coast Line and Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac tracks.
A concept of Auto-Train Corporation founder Eugene K. Garfield, the novel approach allowed families to relax en route and save the expense and unfamiliarity of a rental car on arrival. The Auto-Train consists included passenger cars, autoracks, and a caboose.
Auto-Train Corporation's new service began operations on December 6, 1971. The service was a big hit with travelers. Before long, the ambitious entrepreneurs of Auto-Train were looking to expand into other markets. However, only the Lorton-Sanford service proved successful.
High crew costs, several spectacular accidents, and an unprofitable expansion put Garfield's company into bankruptcy. Auto-Train Corporation was forced to end its services in late April, 1981.
Operating for almost 10 years, Auto-Train had developed a popular following, particularly among older travelers as it ferried passengers and their cars between Virginia and Florida. No one else offered a service quite like that of Auto-Train Corporation until after a gap of almost two years, service was revived by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak, a federally-chartered corporation which operates most intercity passenger trains in the United States as the slightly-renamed Auto Train.
Today, Amtrak's Auto Train carries about 200,000 passengers and generates around $50 million in revenue annually. It is considered Amtrak's best-paying train in terms of income in comparison with operating expenses.
See also
External links
- the official Amtrak website
- Bill's Railroad Empire - the original Auto-Train page n-scale modeling
- George Elwood's Fallen Flags site, original Auto-Train pageslots of locomotive and rolling stock photos
- from a 1971 Auto-Train Corp. brochure, including information on the 2nd short-lived Auto-Train route (Louisville-Sanford service)
- a Yahoo group for Auto Train Enthusiasts
- Diesel Shop rail photo site photo of Auto-Train diesel-electric locomotive when almost new
- photos and data, Amtrak autoracks
- Orlando Sentinel newspaper article about Auto-Train Corp and Amtrak's Auto Train replacement
