Passenger Trains > #53 Auto Train Waiting to Depart Lorton

Stopped to take a quick photo of the #53 Auto Train preparing to depart Lorton Station this afternoon while waiting for the auto carriers to be connected to the back of the train. Lead engine is #815. Sorry, forgot to look at the second one's number.

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Nice. The train left at 3,34 about 26 minutes early.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/20 16:57 by Lackawanna484.

Always nice to see the Auto Train!  I haven't laid eyes on it personally since I was in the service out east.

Andy

I  know  it  would  not  work  but  we  would  really  use  this  Midwest to Florida~~ Too many  train  sets and  mountains!!

Second unit ws 837.  Train 53 had 14 superliners and 20 car carriers on the Ashland camera at 5.46 pm.  It usually takes between 90 and 120 minutes from departure to Ashland

To anyone on site: The last time we took #53 (January) we pulled forward fully onto the spur, then backed down onto the car carriers for the coupling..  All previous trips the house switcher pushed them forward for the coupling. Backing seems like a time-saver; has it been continued? Another improvement: for our several most recent trips they have been coupling two carriers behind the dormitory prior to boarding; that way they do not have to pull the HEP to make the joint when they add the rest. Also a recent change at Sanford is that the train is fully coupled up before leaving the station; that way, when 52 gets the railroad, away they go without stopping halfway out for the carriers to be added on.  It blocks the street crossing for a long time, but hey, that's not our problem!
 

Great information, thanks!

Lots of experimenting, that's for sure. The neighbors in Sanford used to get very unhappy when Persimmon street was blocked. Maybe there's an alternative now?

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