Passenger Trains > When Auto Train was changing over to Superliners

Taken on a rainy day at Lorton, Virginia in 1995 as Amtrak was transitioning Auto Train from single-level and heritage equipment to Superliners.

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That is a long train.  What's with all the rotten filthy auto carriers?

The initial cut of auto carriers are ex-CNR cars from the late 1950's. Proto-enclosed autoracks if you will. CNR employed one version on its "Car-Go-Rail" service on the Super Continental pre-VIA. Over 30 years old by this date.

Would've been nice if Amtrak was smart and ordered more Viewliners instead of doing that maneuver on their Eastern Trains, thank you Mr. Downs for relying on Mercer!

I find it absolutely facinating that the Empire Builder/California Zephyr/SW Chief need two locomotives to get ten or so cars through the Rockies, and the same two engines can pull the four dozenish cars of the autotrain across the coastal flats out east.  Granted it doesn't take off like a scalded jackrabbit, but it gets the job done.

'Granted it doesn't take off like a scalded jackrabbit, but it gets the job done.'
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"Scalded Jackrabbit"......sounds like an awesome name for a Private Railcar!

SANSR Wrote:
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> 'Granted it doesn't take off like a scalded
> jackrabbit, but it gets the job done.'
> **************************************************
> **********
>
> "Scalded Jackrabbit"......sounds like an awesome
> name for a Private Railcar!

Ha! I was thinking the same and saw your comment. 

ProAmtrak Wrote:
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> Would've been nice if Amtrak was smart and ordered
> more Viewliners instead of doing that maneuver on
> their Eastern Trains, thank you Mr. Downs for
> relying on Mercer!

What? Not following the point of your statement. 

Moreover, there was largely a push from Congress to re-equip the Auto Train with a Superliner train sets. They also got the unique "Deluxe Sleepers" and reconfigured Superliner Diner 1 into a special "Lounge." 

Well that was the same year The Broadway Limied go axed with the Montrealer, 2 years later the Desert Wind and Pioneer go eliminated, go figure why I said that!