auto-train
Sanford Terminal

Auto-Train's Orlando, Florida-area terminal was in sunny Sanford -- less than 30 miles from then-new Walt Disney World and other area attractions.

Image: Mary Jayne and John Z. Rowe. February, 1978

The road to the terminal.

Image: Stan Jackowski

The Sanford Terminal, photographed March 1, 1973.

Image: Don Jaworski

Part of the Sanford passenger facility in 1978.

Image: Mary Jayne and John Z. Rowe. February, 1978

A train arrives at Sanford.

Image: Stan Jackowski

Sanford passenger platforms at right, auto carrier transloading facilities at left.

Note all the open doors on the bi-level auto carriers. For loading/unloading the doors of all the carriers would be opened at both ends -- and temporary metal bridges installed between them -- so autos could be driven through one or all of the carriers as required to reach the ramp shown in the photos below (without ever having to reposition the train).

Image: Mary Jayne and John Z. Rowe. February, 1978

Sanford terminal automobile unloading ramp area.

Image: Stan Jackowski

By the time this photo was taken, the new tri-level auto carriers were in use.

The tri-levels could accommodate 12 big automobiles each. The bi-level cars held only eight.

Image: Mary Jayne and John Z. Rowe. February, 1978

Auto-Train had hoped to get 10 autos into each bi-level carrier, but families who wanted to ship their cars to Florida had, on average, much bigger cars than auto-train had counted on.

To handle these land-yachts, tri-levels were bought just as soon at they came to market.

Image: Mary Jayne and John Z. Rowe. February, 1978

View from the SCL tracks.

Image: Stan Jackowski

The locomotive facilities at Sanford.

Image: Mary Jayne and John Z. Rowe. February, 1978

4002 is taking on sand used to increase the locomotive's traction on the rails when starting to pull a heavy train (up grades or in the rain).

Image: Mary Jayne and John Z. Rowe. February, 1978

Unloading cars at Sanford.

Welcome.

Images: Anonymous

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