Hauling an F150 on the Amtrack Auto Train.

[RUNNING W]

Does anyone have any experience shipping their F150 on the Amtrack Auto Train? When I search this on the forum, nothing shows up.

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[Snakebitten]

You got my curiosity up and I spent a few minutes reading up.
But once I discovered it's an offer for a very specific and limited route, I'm not surprised that it's not been discussed on a truck forum.

Still, pretty cool concept.

 

[powerboatr]

before the alabama amtrack accident. you could load your vehicle in new Orleans and ride all the way to jacksonville fl . we looked at it a few times when i was on active duty way back when
to save on moving time. plus i love trains and the ride .

until tonight i had completely forgot about the option
trucks ride the rails all the time , just without owners ?

 

[Samson16]

Does anyone have any experience shipping their F150 on the Amtrack Auto Train? When I search this on the forum, nothing shows up.

I think the auto train goes through Sanford, FL. or at least it did pre-covid. Expensive if I recall.

I lived in Singapore as a child and we would take a train over the bridge and up into the Malaysian mountains to escape the heat. I have such good memories. Early 70's dream really. My dad was a young geophysicist and several families we knew would rent a sleeper and a bar car for the journey. Magical experience for a 9yr old Texas kid.

 

[Big Dog Daddy]

The Amtrack "snowbird" train runs daily from Lorten VA. just south of DC to Sanford FL. It's about a 24 hour trip with stops for crew changes. The northeastern'ers that winter in Florida use it all of the time. My father is a great fan of this not having to drive I95 for 2 days, and he's 78 a trip he shouldn't do anyway.

But yes they take full size pickups and large SUV's, even small motor homes. But you must call ahead and be there first as they are first to load. A plus to this is that there first off at the end point. ?

 

[Kodiak]

The Amtrack "snowbird" train runs daily from Lorten VA. just south of DC to Sanford FL. It's about a 24 hour trip with stops for crew changes. The northeastern'ers that winter in Florida use it all of the time. My father is a great fan of this not having to drive I95 for 2 days, and he's 78 a trip he shouldn't do anyway.

But yes they take full size pickups and large SUV's, even small motor homes. But you must call ahead and be there first as they are first to load. A plus to this is that there first off at the end point. ?

My dad finally started using this method. We are trying to get him to use it more. He is 91 and still drives up and down the east coast. He worked as a rocket scientist for Picatinny Arsenal in NJ and is a veteran of the Air Force. He now lives in FL but most of his old alum activities are in NJ. When he goes home (FL) he stops at my place in Richmond VA and although we tell him to break up his drive and stop when he leaves our place, he usually says he will but then never does. He drives straight home about 730 miles. That is brutal mileage to cover in one day, even for a young man, but he always does.

He just started using that auto train and he actually loved the experience. You pay based on the length of your vehicle. Most cars fit in the normal size pay scale but if you go over so many inches (I think 192") you pay for the oversize. They fit less vehicles in for the longer your ride is so you pay a little more for that length.

 

[HammaMan]

It's a cool idea, I've seen a few vids on that train. If our RRs didn't suck so bad and the service actually did some good runs like x country and what not, it'd be something to experience. We can't get nice things in the US, we're too busy wasting blood and treasure in other countries.

 

[jeffcrum]

The last time I saw F-150s on a train, it didn't turn out well.
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/r-i-p-ford-f-150-models-lost-train-crash/

 

[Melipron]

The Amtrack "snowbird" train runs daily from Lorten VA. just south of DC to Sanford FL. It's about a 24 hour trip with stops for crew changes. The northeastern'ers that winter in Florida use it all of the time. My father is a great fan of this not having to drive I95 for 2 days, and he's 78 a trip he shouldn't do anyway.

But yes they take full size pickups and large SUV's, even small motor homes. But you must call ahead and be there first as they are first to load. A plus to this is that there first off at the end point. ?

This is my first time seeing something like this, but I've seen ferries before where you drive your car onto the boat and then cross the river

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