amtrak autotrain, train photography by jeff & josh lubchansky

ALL PHOTOS © JEFF LUBCHANSKY EXCEPT AS NOTED

REPRODUCTION BY ADVANCE PERMISSION ONLY

AMTRAKS AUTOTRAIN, A GREAT TRIP ESPECIALLY FOR RAILFANS AND TRAIN SPOTTERS. EVEN THE STATIONS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PASSENGER AND FREIGHT TRAFFIC THAT CAN BE OBSERVED AND PHOTOGRAPHED SAFELY.

835 AMTRAK ENGINES 835 & 836 POWER THE NORTHBOUND TRAIN ON JULY 23, 1999. THESE ARE FRESHLY PAINTED IN THEIR 3RD PAINT SCHEME SINCE 1995. ALSO NOTICE A NEW STYLE FRONT NUMBERBOARD. SANFORD FL JULY 23, 1999.

836 COMMING FROM THE WASH AND ALMOST THRU THE SWITCH. ONCE PAST, IT WILL REVERSE TO HOOK UP TO THE REST OF THE TRAIN. BY THE TIME WE REACHED GEORGIA, WE WERE 3 HOURS LATE. AUGUST 25, 2000, SANFORD, FL.

839 LEAD UNIT FOR TRAIN 52 NORTHBOUND WITH 843 TRAILING. THIS IS THE TRACK GOING INTO THE ENGINE SHOP FOR FUELING AND INSPECTION. DEC 30, 2000. SANFORD, FL.

839 SOUTHBOUND AUTOTRAIN PASSING BY TIM'S RIVERSHORE CAFE IN DUMFRIES, VA. THE TRAIN IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OUT OF LORTON, VA. THIS WAS SHOT FROM THE PARKING LOT OF THE CAFE. THE FOOD IS GREAT. JULY 14, 2001.

843 LEAD UNIT ON TRAIN 53 JUST ARRIVED AND CUT-OFF TO GO TO THE ENGINE HOUSE FOR SERVICE AND INSPECTION. THIS UNIT WILL TRAIL ON TRAIN 52 NORTHBOUND. SANFORD, FL. DEC 30, 2000.

506 WITH THE USUAL SWITCHERS ON THE FRITZ, AMTRAK HAS ASSIGNED P32-8 506 TO SWITCHING DUTY AT SANFORD AND 514 WILL SHORTLY BE SWITCHING IN JACKSONVILLE PERMANANTLY REPLACING CF-7 #590. DEC 24, 2001.

555 AMTRAK 555 SSB1200. SANFORD FLORIDA, JULY 23, 1999. THIS IS USED TO ASSEMBLE THE SUNSET LIMITED AND TO ASSEMBLE AND DISASSEMBLE THE AUTOTRAIN. EX ATSF 1222 REBUILT FROM SW9U 2422.

556 PULLING THE AUTORACKS OFF OF THE MAINLINE EAST ON THE AUTOTRAIN SPUR. THE COVERS OVER THE RADIATOR INDICATE HOW COLD IT WAS. IT WAS IN THE 40'S WHEN I GOT THERE. SANFORD, FL. DEC 30, 2000. EX ATSFD REBUILT FROM SW9U 2423.

558 SSB1200 HEADING SOUTH TO RETRIEVE THE AUTO CARRIERS. LORTON, VA - DEC 31, 2000. EX ATSF 1225 REBUILT FROM SW9U 2425 & 1425.

563 LORTON, VA. AUG 25, 2000. EX SF SSB1200. BEING SO CLOSE TO IVY CITY, YOU USUALLY SEE DIFFERENT SWITCHERS AT LORTON. EX ATSF 1232 REBUILT FROM SW9U 2432..

567 JUST NORTH OF THE AUTORAMPS WAITING FOR A SWITCH ALIGNMENT TO RETRIEVE MORE AUTORACKS FROM THE SIDING. LORTON. VA, DEC 28, 2001.EX ATSF REBUILT FROM SW1200U 2441 & 1421.

9013 THE AUTORACK. IF I HAD TO GUESS, THESE CARS MUST HAVE DEADHEADED SOUTH. SANFORD, FL, AUG 25, 2000.

9092 BI-LEVEL AUTORACK FOR SUV'S AND VANS. ALL THREE ARE VISIBLE IN THIS PHOTO INCLUDING THE EOT DETECTOR. SANFORD, FL. DEC 30, 2000.

9115 TRI-LEVEL AUTORACK. SANFORD, FL. DEC 30, 2000.

EXPERIMENTAL AUTO CARRIER
ONE OF FOUR PROTOTYPES TO BE TESTED BY AMTRAK. THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE IN PART TO BE LIGHT WEIGHT AND FIT 5 CARS PER ROW. SANFORD FLORIDA, DEC 27, 2001.

34041 THIS ODDBALL UNIT ON THE AUTOTRAIN WAS A SUNSET LIMITED CAR. THE NATIVE AMERICAN INTERIOR WAS A NICE SITE. SANFORD, FL. JAN 1, 2000. I BELIEVE IT A PULLMAN.

34122 SUPERLINER II COACH. SO IT'S NOT THE BEACH! SANFORD FL. JAN 1, 2000.

34129 LOVE THOSE PALM TREES. APRIL 19, 2000.

38051 SUPERLINER II DINER FOR COACH. DON'T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EAT STEAK ON A STYROFOAM PLATE WITH METAL UTENSILS. SANFORD FL. JAN 1, 2000.

39000 AMTRAK 39000 TRANSITION SLEEPER. THIS WAS ON THE WRONG END FACING SOUTH. SOME OF THE CARS WERE OUT OF ORIGINAL ORDER AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AT LORTON. JULY 15, 1999.

RAMP THESE ARE THE NEW RAMPS FOR THE CAR CARRIERS. AS OF THIS DATE, THE LORTON, VA. STATION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. JAN 2, 2000.

RAMP THIS IS WHAT THE PLACE LOOKS LIKE BY THE TIME I GET MY CAR. LORTON VA, DEC 28, 2001.

RAMP SANFORD FL FACING THE STATION. THIS WAS THE DAY OF THE BLIZZARD BUT THE TRAIN EVENTUALLY ARRIVED ONLY 1 HOUR LATE. IT WAS IN THE 40'S AT SANFORD FLORIDA. DECEMBER 30, 2000.

SANFORD WE ALWAYS SEEM TO BE ONE OF THE LAST TO GET OUR CAR? APRIL 19, 2000.

SANFORD GO OVER THE AUTOTRAIN TRACKS AND MAKE THE FIRST RIGHT TURN PAST THE COMMISSARY AND YOU WILL SEE THE OLD SEABOARD STATION WHICH USUALLY HAS SOME PARKED CSX TRAINS AND YOU CAN ALSO CATCH THE MIDDAY SILVER SERVICE TRAINS. SANFORD, FL, AUG 18, 2000

SANFORD 4:15PM AUGUST 18, 2000. IF YOU MAKE THE RIGHT TURN AND THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE, MAKE A U-TURN, FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO 4 EAST THEN 95 NORTH.

LORTON THE NEW STATION. LORTON, VA. DECEMBER 31, 2000.

LOOKING BACK
DON'T DO THIS FROM A MOVING TRAIN!! THE PASSING COAL & SAND TRAINS TOSS OFF ALOT OF DEBRIS. THE TRAIN HAD STOPPED DUE TO SIGNAL PROBLEMS AND WAITED FOR PERMISSION TO RE-ENTER THE MAIN THRU A RED SIGNAL. I ASKED AND GOT PERMISSION TO TAKE THE PHOTO. SOMEWHERE IN VIRGINIA, AUG 26, 2000.

ALL PHOTOS © JEFF LUBCHANSKY EXCEPT AS NOTED

REPRODUCTION BY ADVANCE PERMISSION ONLY

AMTRAKS AUTOTRAIN, A GREAT TRIP ESPECIALLY FOR RAILFANS AND TRAIN SPOTTERS. EVEN THE STATIONS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PASSENGER AND FREIGHT TRAFFIC THAT CAN BE OBSERVED AND PHOTOGRAPHED SAFELY.
835	AMTRAK ENGINES 835 & 836 POWER THE NORTHBOUND TRAIN ON JULY 23, 1999. THESE ARE FRESHLY PAINTED IN THEIR 3RD PAINT SCHEME SINCE 1995. ALSO NOTICE A NEW STYLE FRONT NUMBERBOARD. SANFORD FL JULY 23, 1999.
836	COMMING FROM THE WASH AND ALMOST THRU THE SWITCH. ONCE PAST, IT WILL REVERSE TO HOOK UP TO THE REST OF THE TRAIN. BY THE TIME WE REACHED GEORGIA, WE WERE 3 HOURS LATE. AUGUST 25, 2000, SANFORD, FL.
839	LEAD UNIT FOR TRAIN 52 NORTHBOUND WITH 843 TRAILING. THIS IS THE TRACK GOING INTO THE ENGINE SHOP FOR FUELING AND INSPECTION. DEC 30, 2000. SANFORD, FL.
839	SOUTHBOUND AUTOTRAIN PASSING BY TIM'S RIVERSHORE CAFE IN DUMFRIES, VA. THE TRAIN IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OUT OF LORTON, VA. THIS WAS SHOT FROM THE PARKING LOT OF THE CAFE. THE FOOD IS GREAT. JULY 14, 2001.
843	LEAD UNIT ON TRAIN 53 JUST ARRIVED AND CUT-OFF TO GO TO THE ENGINE HOUSE FOR SERVICE AND INSPECTION. THIS UNIT WILL TRAIL ON TRAIN 52 NORTHBOUND. SANFORD, FL. DEC 30, 2000.
506	WITH THE USUAL SWITCHERS ON THE FRITZ, AMTRAK HAS ASSIGNED P32-8 506 TO SWITCHING DUTY AT SANFORD AND 514 WILL SHORTLY BE SWITCHING IN JACKSONVILLE PERMANANTLY REPLACING CF-7 #590. DEC 24, 2001.
555	AMTRAK 555 SSB1200. SANFORD FLORIDA, JULY 23, 1999. THIS IS USED TO ASSEMBLE THE SUNSET LIMITED AND TO ASSEMBLE AND DISASSEMBLE THE AUTOTRAIN. EX ATSF 1222 REBUILT FROM SW9U 2422.
556	PULLING THE AUTORACKS OFF OF THE MAINLINE EAST ON THE AUTOTRAIN SPUR. THE COVERS OVER THE RADIATOR INDICATE HOW COLD IT WAS. IT WAS IN THE 40'S WHEN I GOT THERE. SANFORD, FL. DEC 30, 2000. EX ATSFD REBUILT FROM SW9U 2423.
558	SSB1200 HEADING SOUTH TO RETRIEVE THE AUTO CARRIERS. LORTON, VA - DEC 31, 2000. EX ATSF 1225 REBUILT FROM SW9U 2425 & 1425.
563	LORTON, VA. AUG 25, 2000. EX SF SSB1200. BEING SO CLOSE TO IVY CITY, YOU USUALLY SEE DIFFERENT SWITCHERS AT LORTON. EX ATSF 1232 REBUILT FROM SW9U 2432..
567	JUST NORTH OF THE AUTORAMPS WAITING FOR A SWITCH ALIGNMENT TO RETRIEVE MORE AUTORACKS FROM THE SIDING. LORTON. VA, DEC 28, 2001.EX ATSF REBUILT FROM SW1200U 2441 & 1421.
9013	THE AUTORACK. IF I HAD TO GUESS, THESE CARS MUST HAVE DEADHEADED SOUTH. SANFORD, FL, AUG 25, 2000.
9092	BI-LEVEL AUTORACK FOR SUV'S AND VANS. ALL THREE ARE VISIBLE IN THIS PHOTO INCLUDING THE EOT DETECTOR. SANFORD, FL. DEC 30, 2000.
9115	TRI-LEVEL AUTORACK. SANFORD, FL. DEC 30, 2000.
EXPERIMENTAL AUTO CARRIER	ONE OF FOUR PROTOTYPES TO BE TESTED BY AMTRAK. THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE IN PART TO BE LIGHT WEIGHT AND FIT 5 CARS PER ROW. SANFORD FLORIDA, DEC 27, 2001.
34041	THIS ODDBALL UNIT ON THE AUTOTRAIN WAS A SUNSET LIMITED CAR. THE NATIVE AMERICAN INTERIOR WAS A NICE SITE. SANFORD, FL. JAN 1, 2000. I BELIEVE IT A PULLMAN.
34122	SUPERLINER II COACH. SO IT'S NOT THE BEACH! SANFORD FL. JAN 1, 2000.
34129	LOVE THOSE PALM TREES. APRIL 19, 2000.
38051	SUPERLINER II DINER FOR COACH. DON'T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EAT STEAK ON A STYROFOAM PLATE WITH METAL UTENSILS. SANFORD FL. JAN 1, 2000.
39000	AMTRAK 39000 TRANSITION SLEEPER. THIS WAS ON THE WRONG END FACING SOUTH. SOME OF THE CARS WERE OUT OF ORIGINAL ORDER AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AT LORTON. JULY 15, 1999.
RAMP	THESE ARE THE NEW RAMPS FOR THE CAR CARRIERS. AS OF THIS DATE, THE LORTON, VA. STATION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. JAN 2, 2000.
RAMP	THIS IS WHAT THE PLACE LOOKS LIKE BY THE TIME I GET MY CAR. LORTON VA, DEC 28, 2001.
RAMP	SANFORD FL FACING THE STATION. THIS WAS THE DAY OF THE BLIZZARD BUT THE TRAIN EVENTUALLY ARRIVED ONLY 1 HOUR LATE. IT WAS IN THE 40'S AT SANFORD FLORIDA. DECEMBER 30, 2000.
SANFORD	WE ALWAYS SEEM TO BE ONE OF THE LAST TO GET OUR CAR? APRIL 19, 2000.
SANFORD	GO OVER THE AUTOTRAIN TRACKS AND MAKE THE FIRST RIGHT TURN PAST THE COMMISSARY AND YOU WILL SEE THE OLD SEABOARD STATION WHICH USUALLY HAS SOME PARKED CSX TRAINS AND YOU CAN ALSO CATCH THE MIDDAY SILVER SERVICE TRAINS. SANFORD, FL, AUG 18, 2000
SANFORD	4:15PM AUGUST 18, 2000. IF YOU MAKE THE RIGHT TURN AND THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE, MAKE A U-TURN, FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO 4 EAST THEN 95 NORTH.
LORTON	THE NEW STATION. LORTON, VA. DECEMBER 31, 2000.
LOOKING BACK	DON'T DO THIS FROM A MOVING TRAIN!! THE PASSING COAL & SAND TRAINS TOSS OFF ALOT OF DEBRIS. THE TRAIN HAD STOPPED DUE TO SIGNAL PROBLEMS AND WAITED FOR PERMISSION TO RE-ENTER THE MAIN THRU A RED SIGNAL. I ASKED AND GOT PERMISSION TO TAKE THE PHOTO. SOMEWHERE IN VIRGINIA, AUG 26, 2000.

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