Auto Train Travel Tips

by Don Weinstein

Last update May 1, 2020

Miscellaneous

Railfans can easily view Auto Train operations at the Lorton and Sanford terminals. There's plentiful visitor parking at Lorton; bear to the left of the greeters booth when entering the station area. Visitor parking is more limited at Sanford. Railfans arriving by public transit can use the Fairfax Connector bus to visit the Lorton terminal, and the Lynx bus to to visit the Sanford terminal. Arrive around 1:00pm, when things start to get busy, and plan to stay until around 4:00, by which time the Auto Train should be on its way. Railfans may also wish to watch the morning arrival of the Auto Train, making sure to check the Amtrak website for the estimated time of arrival.

You can expect to see a variety of Amtrak equipment, including vintage switcher engines, auto carriers, and several varieties of two-level Superliner passenger cars. The train is pulled by two P40 diesel locomotives, which are tentatively scheduled to be replaced by Amtrak?s next generation engines in 2021. All the equipment is easy to photograph from public areas. Both stations have rest rooms, snack counters, and outside benches. Amtrak's Auto Train crews tend to be friendly towards well-behaved railfans; they take a great pride in their train and enjoy seeing others take an interest in it. With the heightened nationwide concern about security you will be challenged if you stray into non-public locations. If you're asked to leave an area, immediately do so.

The Auto Train operates on CSX tracks along its entire trip. If you wish to see the Auto Train en route (remembering that much of the trip, particularly during the winter months, is in darkness), it follows the general route of Lorton, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Rocky Mount, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Deland, and Sanford. The following frequencies should prove helpful to hear the Auto Train and other CSX operations along its route: 161.550 (particularly useful at Sanford), 161.100 (heavily used at Lorton), 160.590, 160.410, 161.520, 161.830, 160.725, 161.565, 161.205, and 160.360 MHz. Amtrak and host railroad CSX generally refer to the northbound Auto Train as train P052, and the southbound as train P053, the P referring to Passenger. Please note that there is a zero following the "P" and not the letter "O". You may hear a crew saying P Oh 52 or 53, as that is easier to say than zero. Sometimes they will abbreviate things to just the train numbers, 52 or 53. Other times they will even add the date of the train's departure; for example either P052-0205 or P052-05, which would indicate the train that departed Sanford on February the 5th.

At Lorton, expect to see a number of trains operating along the adjacent ex-RF&P tracks, including CSX freights, many Amtrak trains, and, on weekdays, Virginia Railway Express Fredericksburg line commuter trains. At Sanford, you might see the SunRail commuter train on weekdays (their station is on the other side of the Route 46 overpass), and the occasional Amtrak or freight train.

Your Comments

Comments about these tips or your trip are always welcome and may be sent directly to Don Weinstein. Don tries to respond to questions and comments within a day of receipt. Remember that he has no official relationship with Amtrak or the Auto Train other than as an occasional passenger. The Auto Train material on this website was totally revised and updated in May 2020. If you see something that should be changed or added, please let Don know!

Thanks to David Warner for his help in updating this web material.

Individuals wishing to use all or part of this document on their own websites or in other media, including print publications, must first obtain permission from the author. See also the copyright statement on this page.

HAVE A PLEASANT TRIP ABOARD THE AUTO TRAIN!

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