Is the autotrain a newer model?

[kandb]

We took the autotrain 3 years ago and got the family bedroom. We are taking it again in Oct. and from the pictures on the website, I was wondering if the train is newer? On the website it looks updated. Also, I am assuming there are 2 autotrains, is one newer then the other? Just wondering. Thanks, Linda

 

[DC7800]

Both Auto-train trainsets are essentially identical. While there are some passenger cars on this train which date from around 1980, most equipment used on Auto-Train are Superliner II designs built in the mid-1990's. Nothing new since then (except for auto-carriers), though cars have may been refurbished.

 

[chartle]

Also I'm pretty sure that there is certain amount of rolling stock, passenger or car carrier, and at any particular trip a rail car can be on either train.

I'm not saying that they switch cars around all the time but at certain times of the year there are more people and cars going in one direction than the other. So they configure the trains as needed.

 

[DC7800]

I'm not saying that they switch cars around all the time but at certain times of the year there are more people and cars going in one direction than the other. So they configure the trains as needed.

Consists can and do vary, but if you put extra cars on the southbound train, you of course have to leave them on the next days northbound train as well, or else the equipment has no way of getting back to Virginia, so it can come south again...

Both trainsets therefore carry the extra equipment for the snowbirds coming south this fall, even though they may be half-empty northbound.

 

[chartle]

Consists can and do vary, but if you put extra cars on the southbound train, you of course have to leave them on the next days northbound train as well, or else the equipment has no way of getting back to Virginia, so it can come south again...

Both trainsets therefore carry the extra equipment for the snowbirds coming south this fall, even though they may be half-empty northbound.

Yea I guess I didn't think it through, but I would think that the cars move between trains some as they build trains for the expected demand through the year.