We'll be taking MINI to see Mickey in a few weeks and have decided to take the auto train, in part because our 7 y.o. son is very interested in the train experience.

I was curious to know if anybody's used the auto train to go from DC down to Florida. In particular, how careful are they with the cars and is the service on board any good?

 

A year and a half ago, I had to go to Orlando fora meeting. My wife and I took the Autotrain down and drove back via the Cape, Daytona & Savanah. Before going I posted this query here on NAM. The trip was great. The train caused no damage and was a breeze. The service onboard the train was good, but were were in the winter doldrums off-season. The only "difficulty" was that I found that the "Cheap seats" were not too comfortable for sleeping.

The drive back was a blast. Your 7 yr old might find the Cape interesting. To drive a Mini in the beach at Daytona was a memorable experience:

 

As long as you're comfortable with sleeping on a train ( I am ) I find it a great way to go. I've taken several different cars, my friend took his '73 Vette.

Never had a problem other than getting a bit dirty. That was way back when some of the car carriers weren't 100 % sealed to weather. Not sure if that is no longer the case.

I found mid week was emptier train. If a double decker coach the upper is better 'cause you don't get all the through train foot traffic and the noise from the doors opening and closing 'tween cars, which can be a bit loud.

Else the back of the last coach is good, again no traffice past you during the night.

If you're on when it's not busy you can spread out at night to empty seats and use 2 and sprawl a bit more.

It's a adventure!

 

Thanks for the info! We have paid for a family sleeper car so hopefully that should make it easier to get some sleep. I'm looking forward to the adventure and will enjoy it more knowing that our MINI will be safe too.

 

While I haven't done the AutoTrain myself, everyone I know who's taken it has been thrilled... However, I don't know of anybody who's taken Amtrak in the last year or so. I've heard rumblings that with the acute budget issues over the last year that service isn't always up to par. Nothing systmewide, but more complaints about the condition of the trains and service than I've heard in the past.

 

We took the auto train down to Orlando several years ago and drove back. No problems at all. The food was even pretty decent. The wait while everyone was loaded onto the train in Lorton was the only really tedious part of the trip - because they make you stay on the train. The wait in Orlando to unload was less than 20 minutes.

 

with my 2001 1.8t GTi - the car came off clean - we arrived at 10 am after departing from Lorton at 3 pm the previous day - three hours late - - the train only goes max of 55 mph - it is afterall the longest train in the United States.

The food was pretty good. My advice, bring some ambien with you or if you forget, just find a nice friendly college kid and well smoke some uhm ... never mind I won't go into details about how how I fell asleep on the Auto Train.

 

We took our Mini down to visit my parents over last Easter break. No problems with the loading or unloading, they seemed to be very careful. It was a blast to see a Mini appear out of the train after SUV, truck, van, SUV, SUV... If anyone has motion-sickness in the family, you might want to bring some dramamine. I had no problem on the train but the morning after I was wobbly for hours on solid ground. You said you have a private car but for anyone else reading, they seemed to put all the families travelling with kids in the same car. Not all the seats were full but our car was at least twice as loud as some other cars we walked through.

 

Awwww... No Uncle Krutches long distance trip stories?

 

(apologies for resurecting a very old thread, but it seemed more appropriate than starting an identical one...)

I'll be putting my MINI on the Auto Train for TGICR (see this thread https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=80665 )

The Amtrak site doesn't give you a whole bunch of info, and I've still got some questions - if there are people out there who have used the Auto Train before, your experience would be greatly appreicated!

Amtrak says you should disable the car alarm, or you may arrive with a dead battery. My 03 MCS has the factory alarm. The alarm is activated when the car is locked. There's question #1: Does Amtrak lock the car? I'm guessing they do.

I know about pushing the lock button twice to disable the motion sensors, but I can NOT count on Amtrak staff to do this. I need to find another way to disable the alarm so that it's not going off for 16 hours on the train. I found an old thread that suggested just unplugging the alarm siren. I'll have to test that tonight when I get home. Perhaps there's a fuse I can pull? But knowing that fuses on the MINI rarely supply power to just ONE thing, this might not work. I don't want to disable something else, like the locks!

(I'm also bringing one of those portable jumpstarter boxes just in case!)

Most of the auto train feedback I've found has been positive, and I'm probably worrying about nothing - but I'd rather be prepared...

 

My only concern would be to find out if they use wheel/tire strap downs or chains to the suspension/frame. I've heard a story or two about a MINI suspension being damaged by flat bed towers hooking chains to suspension etc and tightening down too far. Wheel straps would be safest.

That said they do this day in and day out. It's probably fine either way.

Edit: I bet they don't lock em as they'd be having a lot of the same issue with alarms. They might even leave the keys in them to make unloading quicker. It's not like someone could drive it off enroute!\

I mentioned in a earlier post I liked it. My Aunt and Uncle took it about 4 months ago and were happy...

 

My sister took it years ago and hated everything about it, so it's probably great.

 

I love the auto train... When I worked for the O's I would take the auto train to Florida & back every year... Great food & accomodations... Definately a very relaxing way to get to Florida... Not cheap though...

 

We've taken the mini on the Autotrain twice (both time south-bound only). They don't lock the car, and they leave the key in the ignition. My 2002 MCS has the factory alarm and I had no trouble with it, and I did nothing to disable it. They take care of loading the car onto the enclosed carrier at the start and unloading it to a parking lot when you get there, so they need the key to drive the car! For us, the unloading took about an hour both trips.

We did the situp "cheap seats" the first time, and did the more expensive "roomette" option the second. For us, the comfort and privacy of the roomette was a nice touch. The roomette entitles you to their "gormet" 1st class meal which was pretty good. They also have free wine/cheese in the 1st class club car as you depart Lorton, but they don't advertise it well. Unless you have a compelling reason, I suggest that you go to the club car right after you get on the train.

 

When I took it from Orlando up here in 2003 they did a videotape walk around before they put the car on the train so they have evidence of damage.

 

That's what they still do (as of January)

 

Whew! That's what I wanted to hear - THANKS!

BTW - I got a roomette - hopefully I can actually get some sleep on a moving train - it'll be a first for me...