Florida Adventures in Railroading Inc (FLAIRR) is proud to announce that auto-train 3 saw home rails and Florida Sunshine on August 25, 2022 for the first time in 40 years. This project began back in December 2021 when we were first made aware that it needed a new home. FLAIRR contacted Fillmore and Western and quickly agreed on a price. We begin fund raising and looking for a new home for auto-train 3. We needed a place with active rail and close to St. Augustine. The first three locations we checked into would not work for various reasons. We found a welcome home at the St. Marys Railroad in St. Marys, GA.

Next came a mechanical inspection, that revealed the car was basically in very good condition. However it would need a COT&S, cracks were noticed in pedestal liners along with some other minor defects need some attention. Knowing we were dealing with an over age freight car we started working with the FRA in California on getting a waver to move it on its own wheels to St. Marys, GA. As we made our request we got the question of, “It’s a what?” Since that first time that has become the most ask question we hear.

After explaining that it was built by by Canadian Car Foundry for Canadian National as an overbuilt auto carrier box car. Converted for use in high speed passenger train use, with BX Express Trucks, type F couplers and D-22 brakes. Later having a platform and cupola added for brakeman rider area thus making it an auto-carrier/caboose. It is truly a one of a kind.

After explaining this to the FRA they wanted an inspector to look at it before giving a waver. That inspection found more cracked pedestal liners and a broken inner coil spring. The FRA decision was that we could get a waver on the over age car as long as it had a fresh COT&S and all defects under CFR Title 49 Part 215 sere repaired.

The decision was made to go ahead and invest in the repairs. Andy Wilkinson and Jarod Beason were hired to complete the repairs to be done in Fillmore. AT-3 was moved to the RIP Track in Fillmore that happened to be on city property. (Local government and railroads don’t work well together.) The City of Fillmore refused to allow any repairs to be made in the City of Fillmore. We were stuck in the middle of the feud between Fillmore and the Sierra Northern. Sierra moved us to Santa Paula where work was able to be done.

As work progressed and repairs were being made questions as to the damage found and how did it happen. Some pictures surfaced of the Hortense, GA 3/13/1973 auto-train wreck surfaced. These pictures and the consist of the train we were able to figure our where #3 was in the train. It was just ahead of steam car #137 the damage on the car was from that wreck. We ended up replacing 2 inner coil springs on axle #2 (B-end), 5 pedestal liners, and many bolts. In the wreck 137 hit 3 right at the #2 axle. Also in the wreck the a-end plowed into an embankment leaving marks on the bolster bowl and center pin. That truck need all 8 pedestal liners replaced.

As the repair process went on we found that everything on the car seamed to also be one of a kind. Finding parts became a challenge, but with networking we found everything we needed. By the end of June the car had all the defects repaired, it was renumbered to RPCX 730027, it was stenciled for the move and the waver was granted.

On July 27, 2022 RPCX 730027 made its way onto Union Pacific and began its journey to its new home. As of today August 27, 2022 the auto-train caboose is almost home it has been an interesting month and we are looking forward to finally seeing what we have been working toward since December 6, 2022. We will be planning a dedication ceremony sometime in the near future.

https://flairr.org/

What made Auto-train decide to modify an auto rack instead of just buying a normal caboose?

Cabooses don't carry automobiles. The converted car did both.

This is a bit like modifying a baggage car on a M&E train to accommodate a rider, rather than append a complete rider coach to the end.