Capt_BJ
So Many Times
- Joined
- May 17, 2005
- Messages
- 3,517
I'm in a typing mood so I'll give ya a short report rather then send you to the long thread.
I've done AT twice - both times to move my collector car - taking AT from FL to VA was much less then the cost of trucking.
Lorton Station is pretty nice - Sanford station remains under construction so far as I know - they have an air conditioned tent for over flow but when it is 100 out side . . .
I took a roomette both times once alone and once with my son (6' and 200). It is crowded for one and really crowded for two.
Neither time did I think the a/c in the roomette car was worth squat - I found it uncomfortable to sleep.
I'm a light sleeper. On the south trip the roomette cars are right behind the engine. The engine sounds the horn for every crossing or an average of once every 39 seconds - all night long. I was a ship captain and THAT beats a fog signal!
It is OK to bring your own snacks and libations - this ain't flying and there is no TSA - you can tell the AT veterans, they have a cooler as did I the second time around. BUT a roomette has virtually NO storage space so make it a SMALL cooler.
Dinner on the sleeper side - both trips - was much better then I expected....MUCH. Not typical airline food here. Several choices including a beef, a chicken and a veggie lasagna both times for me (I had beef) wine included and a nice desert. You'll sit in booths for 4. I met very nice folks both times. Kids menu included chick' strips and my picky eather son was given those no questions asked.
Breakfast is contenental - cereal and a piece of fruit, glass of juice and a roll. But way better than nothing.
How long will it take for your car to come off? That is a total roll of the dice and has NOTHING to do with how early you arrived for loading. They distribute weight and size when they load the autos and they break train cars apart for unloading different then they stack 'em for loading. The LONGEST I've waited was about 45 minutes after the first car was announced and the other time I was the second car out..... Recommendation is expect 30 minutes and BE PATIENT.
here's my little friend waiting for his first train ride..... altho among the first to check-in he was almost the last to board and about the middle of the unload line
I've done AT twice - both times to move my collector car - taking AT from FL to VA was much less then the cost of trucking.
Lorton Station is pretty nice - Sanford station remains under construction so far as I know - they have an air conditioned tent for over flow but when it is 100 out side . . .
I took a roomette both times once alone and once with my son (6' and 200). It is crowded for one and really crowded for two.
Neither time did I think the a/c in the roomette car was worth squat - I found it uncomfortable to sleep.
I'm a light sleeper. On the south trip the roomette cars are right behind the engine. The engine sounds the horn for every crossing or an average of once every 39 seconds - all night long. I was a ship captain and THAT beats a fog signal!
It is OK to bring your own snacks and libations - this ain't flying and there is no TSA - you can tell the AT veterans, they have a cooler as did I the second time around. BUT a roomette has virtually NO storage space so make it a SMALL cooler.
Dinner on the sleeper side - both trips - was much better then I expected....MUCH. Not typical airline food here. Several choices including a beef, a chicken and a veggie lasagna both times for me (I had beef) wine included and a nice desert. You'll sit in booths for 4. I met very nice folks both times. Kids menu included chick' strips and my picky eather son was given those no questions asked.
Breakfast is contenental - cereal and a piece of fruit, glass of juice and a roll. But way better than nothing.
How long will it take for your car to come off? That is a total roll of the dice and has NOTHING to do with how early you arrived for loading. They distribute weight and size when they load the autos and they break train cars apart for unloading different then they stack 'em for loading. The LONGEST I've waited was about 45 minutes after the first car was announced and the other time I was the second car out..... Recommendation is expect 30 minutes and BE PATIENT.
here's my little friend waiting for his first train ride..... altho among the first to check-in he was almost the last to board and about the middle of the unload line
