Car Train 101

Trains are fascinating. They’ve been the stuff of great adventures, infamous crimes and the setting for many movies and books. Simply, they are something for everyone.

A few years ago we ventured on the Rocky Mountaineer, a beautiful (and pricey) way to see the Rocky Mountains in western Canada. It was strictly for scenic travel. This year we combined adventure and purpose by taking the Amtrak Car Train for part of our migration back to Canada from Florida.

The car train transports people and their cars from Sanford FL to Lorton VA. Here’s how our journey went:

It all started with a Google Search and adding the Amtrak app. From there we chose our date (April 22). There are a number of options for travel: coach (seats of four facing each other); roomettes (two seats facing each other that convert to bunks in a private cubicle – that’s what we chose) and bedrooms (slightly larger than a roomette and also with a private toilet – it’s what we would choose next time). Two passengers and two cars booked. The booking process was a breeze.

On the day of departure we leave our place around 11 am in order to get to the station before 2:30 pm which is the cutoff time for loading cars. It’s about 90 min from our place to Sanford. As you approach the station there’s plenty of signage and attendants to guide you. At the car check in booth you are given a magnetic number for your car to stick on the door or place in the windshield. The checkin clerk provides a pamphlet with the number written on it to you. You leave your keys in the car with the driver window down and you take what you need for the trip as your car is no longer accessible.

We walk into the station which is a large and sunny terminal with seats similar to an airport gate area. There’s a small convenience store and a food truck outside. Rudy gets us checked in and reserves our dinner. Good thing we are a bit early as there are 3 dinner seatings: 5, 7 and 9 pm. The early time is popular with seniors! We like to eat early. Sleeper passengers have meals included. Coach passengers can access the lounge for drinks and snacks and light meals (such as a burger or grilled cheese).

The boarding process is fairly quick and you leave the terminal area to walk to the train right outside the doors. Each car is numbered and you know your car and room number from check in where you get a boarding pass and dinner vouchers. Boarding starts at 2 pm.

We easily find our room which is on the second floor. It’s tiny but functional. The room is equipped with an electrical outlet (bring a multi adapter for all your devices as there’s only 1 outlet), pillows, several bottles of water and more at the comfort station and a folding table.

The butt photobomb was unintentional… I was trying to capture the hallway.

As we get settled in, our room attendant, Johan, greets us. We let him know we are newbies and so he gives us a few tips: 5 pm dinner is announced and everyone gets in the hallway to walk to the dining car (for us it was two cars away) so he suggested we go to the lounge prior to as the lounge is adjacent to the dining car and we can avoid the line up! Also, for breakfast the dining car opens at 6 pm for sleeper guests and then at 7 pm the coach passengers can access; his advice was to head in at 6:30 to avoid the congestion. He let us know that he would convert our room to bunk beds at around 9:15 pm as he helps with dinner service. There’s a full bathroom with showers and towels in the first level. Anything we need use the call button.

The conductor makes an announcement at around 3:30 pm to advise that we will be “coupling” and should remain seated. Shortly after there’s a few jerky bumps and then we start to roll. 4 pm departure and we are on time.

We make our way to the lounge prior to dinner. There’s a variety of beverages and we each get a libation – wine for me and gin/tonic for Rudy. In the lounge there’s seats and tables where others are playing games or just sitting. We meet some nice folks and enjoy a chat while we sip. Such interesting conversations and from all over North eastern USA.

At 5 pm they announce dinner so we shuffle to the dining area. Tables are decked out with linens and silverware. Everyone has to share a table so we meet another couple who joins us for dinner. Dinner is a menu selection of hot entrees including pasta, steak, salmon or chicken. Starting with a salad and roll and finishing with a choice of desserts. Wine or beer is complimentary with dinner.

After dinner we venture back to our room (with more libations of course) and we set up the iPad to watch downloaded shows. There’s wifi on board but it’s not streaming worthy. It’s great for playing games, texting and even a FaceTime call to my folks.

As the sun sets, we are chugging through Georgia and there’s an announcement about the paper mill in Jesup. The announcer advises that the sulphuric odour is from outside and will pass. He wasn’t kidding. Yuck!!

The Paper Mill opened in 1954 and has been smelling the area ever since.

Johan arrives after 9 pm to convert our room and I climb to the top bunk. It’s a bit tight and has no windows or much air circulation. But even so, I was able to get some sleep. I tend to toss and turn quite a bit due to pain and this was no simple feat in my bunk! I don’t know how people do it regularly… Once I heard Rudy snoring I knew things were okay.

At 6 am I could see slivers of light through our privacy curtains and I waited until 6:20 to rouse Rudy (who was still asleep and snoring). We both used the restroom and then ventured to breakfast in the dining cart. While there, Johan reconfigured our room back to a seating arrangement.

Breakfast was a choice of hot and/or cold items. Cereal, quiche, fruit and coffee were all available.

We are now in Virginia and crossing the James River. From time to time there are announcements of notable landmarks. Such as the beautiful Victorian homes of Fredericksburg, Ashland the area where Secretariat hails from and Quantico. The scenery is gorgeous!

It’s 10 am and we are rolling into the Lorton Station. We are a bit late due to traffic. Train traffic is a thing.

Off loading passengers is followed by the vehicles and there’s an announcer who lets you know what numbers are ready. I’m not sure how the numbers works but Rudy has 110 and I have 209. As it turns out, there were over 500 human passengers and over 350 vehicles on board. So the wait could be ???? Some of the people we met and chatted with said it’s random at best and unless you have priority (an extra fee and only 28 spots – sold out by the time we booked). It’s a beautiful sunny day so it’s fine with me.