I've ridden the Autotrain 3 times since 2011, that's from Sanford, Florida to Lorton, Va. That's just south of DC, it's was enjoyable except the last time, our train hit two people on the tracks just an hour from arriving at Sanford. Our train sat for six hours until we could get back underway.
The most memorable train ride was in May 1969, a trip that changed my life. I was studying restaurant management at St. Petersburg Jr. College. An older cousin of mine had opened the first sub shop on the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland in the early 60's "Billy's Famous Subs". He said, come on up this summer and get some experience working at my place.
When school let out in May, I took the train from St. Pete to Baltimore. I went to the lounge car a couple of hours into the ride and when I went back to my seat, a young woman and her baby were in my seat. I went back to the lounge car and spent the whole 25 hour trip there, not sleeping. Several GI's were onboard all in uniform and swapping stories and it really seemed like a neat adventure being in the military.
When summer ended and my 4 months of making subs were over, I found I really didn't like the restaurant business. I was happy a couple of years earlier when my draft lottery number of 265 was announced, meaning I wouldn't be drafted. When I got home, I quit college and enlisted in the Army.
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