Gliding through Folkston, GA at dusk is the northbound Amtrak Auto Train P052-05 making the 855 mile long run north for Lorton, VA. This history of the Auto train dates to the formation in the 1970s by the founder Eugene Garfield a Lawyer which also had experiences working for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Auto-Train was a privately owned company with its own equipment, but traveled on leased from the SCL, and RF&P. Like any rail company in the 1970s and 80s that was mismanaged Auto-Train Corp fell into bankruptcy in 1981 with its last train making its run to Lorton on April 30th of that year. In 1983 Amtrak took on their own Auto Train service using the same Lorton and Sanford facilities. A concept that was pioneered by Eugene Garfield and the staff at Auto Train Corp has proven to be successful today.
Amtrak's longest train takes passengers and their vehicles on an overnight trip between Florida and the Northeast while eliminating 850 miles of driving. It is popular with snowbirds and families.
