Car Transport By Train

Automobile manufacturers and railroads have been using and perfecting the car transport by train system for years.  It actually began not long after the automobile was introduced in the early 1900s and quickly gained in popularity.  Railroads found that they could handle two or three cars in a boxcar, but when the numbers began to climb, the started to experiment with better, more efficient ways to keep the cars rolling, so to speak.  Some of the initial changes they made were simply making the doors of the boxcars wider so that they could accommodate the cars.  However, they later needed more than just wider doors, the needed more space.  Ironically they found their answer by observing the way the circus traveled from town to town.  The circus typically used flat cars which are flat, open air carriers.  The adjustment that was made to this concept was the addition of a second deck to the carrier so that a second row of cars could be carried above the lower level, thus doubling the train's capacity.

This system of using the flat cars worked out well, however the popularity and demand for automobiles continued to grow.  Railroads continued to tweak and develop the concept of car transport by train.  New ideas included making double-decker flat cars that were 80 feet long to later stacking three-rows of cars.  The specially designed railroad cars are called autoracks.  As the system continued to evolve, three-level autoracks were used for smaller cars, while two-level autoracks contiued to be used for larger pick-up trucks and vans.  Eventually, the sides of the autotracks were covered to conceal the cargo on the train from the public and shield the cars from occasional flying debris.  Closing off the train cars also reduced vandalism and the number of people "stowing away" on the trains and even in the cars.

The use of the autotrack system was efficient, innovative and it was also expensive.  Many railroads either couldn't afford to or didn't want to spend the money necessary to invest in the system.  So, the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Norfolk & Western railroad came up with a plan where they split the costs by offering to own all of the flat cars.  By doing that, the other railroads could purchase just the racks.  Pennsylvania Railroad and Norfolk & Western started a new company to own these flatcars called the Trailer Train Company.  Later known as TTX, the company owns the vast majority of flatcars, autoracks, double-stack cars and other fleet carriers.  A number of other railroad companies also have stock in TTX.

Since the older style autoracks were made from steel, they were subject to rust.  The Canadian National railroad is trying newly designed autoracks that are not as heavy as the steel ones because they are made from aluminum.  Amtrak is using many of these autoracks in a system they have which allows passengers to take their cars on the train with them. 

Auto-Train

A lot of Americans love to travel to Florida, especially those Americans who live in the Northeast.  The general route by car is to drive Interstate 95 which carries travelers along the East Coast from New York City to Miami.  It is a journey of more than 800 miles.  So in 1971, a company called Auto-Train Corporation came up with an idea to offer a service that transported passengers and their cars from the Virginia suburbs near Washington, D.C. to the Orlando, Florida area.  It saved passengers the expense and hassle of renting a car when they arrived at their Florida destination.  The idea was a good one that a number of travelers used.  However, the company ran into financial trouble when it tried to expand the service into other markets.  Auto-Train filed for bankruptcy after ten years in business.  The service resumed in 1983 when Amtrak added it to its list of service options for passengers. 

Amtrack Auto-Train

When Amtrack took over the Auto-Train system in 1983, it started out only offering the service along the East Coast only three days a week.  However, the popularity of the service led Amtrack to expand to daily service after only a year.  Amtrack has had a great deal of success with the Auto-Train line.  It used the double-decker and triple-decker autoracks for a while, but they have since replaced many of them with newer racks.  Amtrack pulls a long line of train cars on the Auto-Train system.  In addition to the autoracks, the line includes their Superliner rail car which includes coach, diner and sleeper cars which allow travelers to sleep and rest along the long haul trips. Amtrack has upgraded many of the passenger trains and autoracks in recent years.  Meanwhile, the combination of the passenger trains and the autoracks can many times extend for nearly three-quarters of a mile making it the world's longest passenger train. 

Other Transporters

While Amtrack's Auto-Train system is a suitable system for those traveling on vacation to Florida and back, it may not be the solution if someone needs to move their vehicle one way.  The Auto-Train does have some drawbacks such as it is only available between the Washington, D.C. area and the Orlando, Florida area.  There are no stops in between for additional pick-ups.  Meanwhile, there are a number of semi-tractor transporters that will ship cars to various locations or offer "door-to-door" service.  At the same time, there are a few train transporters as well.  You will need to really research whether the option is cost effective for you.  Some of the transporters who use trains to move vehicles will need to subcontract with another company to provide that door-to-door service.  You will also want to know if the trains have coverings to protect your vehicle and whether there are any size restrictions.  Even Amtrack will limit the height of vehicles to 65 inches with at least four inches clearance on the ground.  Also, SUVs that are over 88 inches tall are not permitted.

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