Auto-train and older cars

[32phil]

I have friend who has taken his 32 4dr , hemi powered/5spd and his Model A Vicky, banger / S10 5spd. on the auto train many times I don't recall any horror stories.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Entirely different can of worms...any sort of car parker employee can shift a 5 speed but would certainly be baffled by 3 on the tree and probably by three on the floor. And the cars described probably have modern type ignition/starter switching, too, rather than this thing unlocks the steering, this thing turns on the ignition, this thing waaay over here then does the starter...

[G.M.]

I came back to Florida several years ago with my 39 P/U. No problems,food was good with plenty of leg room in the seats. I have a dozen friends that use the train every year. One came back last week and said it was a full load with as many cars that it could carry. 30 train cars for the automobles with 10 cars in each. 3/4s of a mile long with 2 locomotives pulling it at full load capacity. I believe he said it was fully booked through March. G.M.

[Vic Piano]

Richard,

Ok, I just checked with Amtrak Auto Train and what they told me is not good news. You cannot drive your vehicle, or accompany the Amtrak driver, onto the train. There are no exceptions. They told me that "if I didn't think that their drivers could operate my car, I would be better off shipping it".

This puts a kink in my plans as I was contemplating taking our ’39 LZ on the Auto Train but, considering the fact that the car is over 70 years old, has a steering lock, starter button, manual transmission, no power steering or brakes and would most likely be put in the hands of a twenty-something year old that in all probability has never seen, let alone driven a car like ours. I think I'll opt to drive the entire trip.

If you want to check with Amtrak, you can google Amtrak Auto Train and/or call 877-754-7495 and ask to speak with the Support Desk.

[jimTN]

I doubt if the employees are youngsters, they would be more like crusty old RR union men.

[Henry/Kokomo]

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I spent a little over 4 years in Amtrak's employ. I would not take my '46 Tudor anywhere that Amtrak employees operated the vehicle.....ever.

[Clem Clement]

I live about 20 minutes from Lorton, so if I can help at the VA end, holler
Clem

[Shadetree]

Many years ago I read somewhere that hauling cars on trains flattened wheel bearings. Any truth to it?

Shadetree

[JM 35 Sedan]

Shadetree, I bet that was a rumor started by the trucking industry

[41ford1]

The sedan delivery is loaded on and we are waiting to pull out. The crew in Lorton took care loading. They seemed to know bait about the old ones.

[ford38v8]

About the personal choices on amtrak, if you choose the private room, you get a combination toilet /shower without even a vent, and they raise hell if you go out to use the public shower that at least has some elbow room.

And don't expect the old familiar clickety clack of the rails. Tracks are welded and ground smooth now by an absolute monster of a machine. This thing does it all from ripping up old track, trenching and laying new gravel, new concrete ties, new rail. Just keeps rolling along with inspectors walking along next to it. Somewhere on the internet there must be a video of this?

There's a growing hobby along remote rivers that run next to Amtrak... They moon the train! I mean they ALL moon the train! Listen to the conductor that describes points of interest, he'll tell you when to get your cameras ready!

[jim1932]

I think we may under estimate the volume these guys handle. My guess is they have loaded almost evey type of car once a week. Especially going to Florida. Maybe not every driver, but I bet one of them will know how to drive an old ford.

[Lawrie]

I shipped my 33 from NZ to Australia,
I put a detailed instruction sheet on the windsheild and also taped to the door on how to start and drive it ,
Went to pick it up at the shipping co ,and they were still on and the employee there said it sure made it easy to get it from the container to the shed.Just a thought.
Lawrie

[Mart]

Originally Posted by 41ford1

The sedan delivery is loaded on and we are waiting to pull out. The crew in Lorton took care loading. They seemed to know bait about the old ones.

Obscure slang used.

To know bait - does that mean know a lot or know nothing??

Mart.

[Rem]

Fast fingers, Mart? "a bit"?

Sounds like an adventure - they ripped up half the railways over here in the '60s, although you can probbaly drive the length of the country in less than a day.

[ford38v8]

Rem.......... over here woiuld be? It helps if you edit your viewer profile to include your location!

[32phil]

The concern for wheel bearing damage during shipment of autos by train came from the early days(1900-1915?). The damage was called "Brinelling" This happened when the wheel was stationary( tied down ) and the car slowly rocked back & forth from the movement of the train, forcing the grease out and then bare metal to metal contact. The eventual improvement in wheel bearing grease eliminated the problem.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Rem.......... over here woiuld be? It helps if you edit your viewer profile to include your location!

Rem lists two addresses; Oxford, England and Morris Plains, NJ.

So, 'over here' probably means England and I have driven the length of that country in less than one day....well almost...from just north of the Scotland/England border to an area southwest of Warminster. We were moving along quite swiftly in the fast lane of those Motorways . I remember this well since I was driving.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by 41ford1

The sedan delivery is loaded on and we are waiting to pull out. The crew in Lorton took care loading. They seemed to know bait about the old ones.

Chuck, If you see this message give me a call or send me a pm on when you will be ariving in Ocala and where you are staying. Cheers!!

[Mart]

Rem's here in the UK. He's a mate of mine.

Mart.