Auto train derailment south of Deland 3/26

[gwolfdog]

So is it safe to travel in your 70's with compromised immune systems. Stay in Florida or head back to Syracuse, NY? Flip a coin? Call a Psychic or Psycho?

 

[RichieRich]

So is it safe to travel in your 70's with compromised immune systems.

I'd stay put! Traveling/moving around only puts you in more contact with people & things that can be infected.

 

[ET2020]

I'd stay put! Traveling/moving around only puts you in more contact with people & things that can be infected.

I agree with this As long as you are in a comfortable place physically,financially,and emotionally

 

[user 14106]

If you can stay put, stay put. For those that decide to go (or have no choice) and take the auto train, use your head. Keep as much distance as possible in the stations, and if you have a sleeper stay in your room as much as possible and wipe surfaces before touching them. Consider taking your own food board or take the meal in your room. And when you arrive home, please follow the instructions and self quarantine for 14 days.

 

[user 14106]

If you can stay put, stay put. For those that decide to go (or have no choice) and take the auto train, use your head. Keep as much distance as possible in the stations, and if you have a sleeper stay in your room as much as possible and wipe surfaces before touching them. Consider taking your own food board or take the meal in your room. And when you arrive home, please follow the instructions and self quarantine for 14 days.

Another suggestion for those snowbirds that have to travel north and take the train: expanding upon the comment about wiping down surfaces, upon arrival at Lorton and taking delivery of your car, wipe down the door latch, steering wheel, shifting column and anything else the loading/unloading crew would have touched.

 

[west point]

What is unknown is what percentage of the whole population will finally get sick from the virus ? We know that many will only get a mild case. However about 8 - 10 % will get serious and need hospitalization. What anyone needs to expect is are they going to be one of the serious cases ? Just remember that if you are a serious case there will probably not be a ventilator available in the 2 - 3 week incubation period from now. The world medicine cannot answer these questions yet. So should you delay exposure as long as possible ? I would think so as there is always the slim chance better cures or a vaccine may be developed.

 

[user 15597]

We usually head north about the 3rd week of May. The small (by population) county in Massachusetts where we spend the summer has a high number of virus cases. We looked at the statistics in our county in Florida and compared them to the same stats in Mass--Mass has a higher number of cases and deaths. Given that the virus seems to be less stable in heat, we are staying in Florida. Our choices for the return trip were: Auto Train (proximity to others), airplane (same), driving (motels) and staying put in Florida just seems the better choice.

 

[mmatarella]

Another suggestion for those snowbirds that have to travel north and take the train: expanding upon the comment about wiping down surfaces, upon arrival at Lorton and taking delivery of your car, wipe down the door latch, steering wheel, shifting column and anything else the loading/unloading crew would have touched.

Headlight switch, seat belt buckle and release too.

 

[railiner]

We usually head north about the 3rd week of May. The small (by population) county in Massachusetts where we spend the summer has a high number of virus cases. We looked at the statistics in our county in Florida and compared them to the same stats in Mass--Mass has a higher number of cases and deaths. Given that the virus seems to be less stable in heat, we are staying in Florida. Our choices for the return trip were: Auto Train (proximity to others), airplane (same), driving (motels) and staying put in Florida just seems the better choice.

One more choice....get a full nights sleep before leaving, and drive nonstop. Bring your own snacks, and avoid motels. If you have 2 or more drivers, it shouldn’t be that hard. I drove from south FL to NY by myself, but I was a professional driver, so used to long drives...

 

[ET2020]

We usually head north about the 3rd week of May. The small (by population) county in Massachusetts where we spend the summer has a high number of virus cases. We looked at the statistics in our county in Florida and compared them to the same stats in Mass--Mass has a higher number of cases and deaths. Given that the virus seems to be less stable in heat, we are staying in Florida. Our choices for the return trip were: Auto Train (proximity to others), airplane (same), driving (motels) and staying put in Florida just seems the better choice.

Sounds like the best plan for you. What part of Florida are you in, and had you already budgeted the expenses through May anyway?

 

[user 15597]

We're in SW Florida & we are residents. We live either here or in Massachusetts, so the cost will be the same no matter what we do.

 

[Bob Dylan]

We're in SW Florida & we are residents. We live either here or in Massachusetts, so the cost will be the same no matter what we do.

Lucky you to have a Choice! Most of us are in place wherever we are for the Duration!!

 

[gwolfdog]

To add to my Anxiety, I watch to much crap on TV and the Internet about the Virus. If you're my wife's and my Age and Health condition, the DOOM, awaits at the door, before you leave the Condo and travel 2 days. Train, Plane or automobile, all have their Hazards. I still watch the Florida and NY Virus reports as to when it will peak. I appreciate the input. Just a Crap time to travel. At least no WH Briefing today.

Lucky you to have a Choice! Most of us are in place wherever we are for the Duration!!

 

[gwolfdog]

I agree with this As long as you are in a comfortable place physically,financially,and emotionally

Hitting .333 on that one. "There's no place like Home" if the only Corona is in a bottle waiting for you. "There must be someway out of here".

 

[Bob Dylan]

Hitting .333 on that one. "There's no place like Home" if the only Corona is in a bottle waiting for you. "There must be someway out of here".

"..Said the Joker to the Thief.."

 

[jiml]

"..Said the Gypsy to the Thief.."

Although I believe it's "joker" as opposed to "gypsy".

 

[Bob Dylan]

Although I believe it's "joker" as opposed to "gypsy".

Opps, you're right!

 

[Anderson]

Hitting .333 on that one. "There's no place like Home" if the only Corona is in a bottle waiting for you. "There must be someway out of here".

How do you hit .333 on something with five points?

 

[IndyLions]

Two bases on balls (walks) and one hit

 

[Skyline]

In your situation, I think I'd drive back north at a pace you can handle. Pack a cooler full of healthy food and drink (if you can obtain a cooler than can be powered via cord or battery -- even better). Pull over when you feel sleepy, need to eat, need some brief exercise, use a bathroom (tho the camper in me says bring a trowel, find a spot in the woods -- gotta be safer!). I'm pushing 70 myself, have a couple of old-people health issues, and driving straight through without frequent rests would be out of the question. I think I could make that trip in three or four days though. Bring lots of 91% alcohol-infused hand sanitizer, lysol spray, a couple rolls of those blue shop towels that are more robust than normal paper towels.

Best wishes... Let us know how it all works out.

 

[jiml]

On the original subject, Danny Harmon has posted video of the Auto Train reroute through Lakeland. It's on his Distant Signal YouTube page under "What CSX Letter Prefixes Mean" posted on the 6th. It's right at the end of the subject video; pretty good footage.

 

[ET2020]

On the original subject, Danny Harmon has posted video of the Auto Train reroute through Lakeland. It's on his Distant Signal YouTube page under "What CSX Letter Prefixes Mean" posted on the 6th. It's right at the end of the subject video; pretty good footage.

Thanks jiml - I enjoyed watching that video. I watched the entire 25 minutes, and it was worth it. I learned a few things about the prefixes and the signaling and switching activities. Very Interesting!
How did you get wind of that? Do you subscribe to Danny Harmon's youtube channel??
THANKS
ET

 

[fixj]

ET, I've followed Danny's Distant Signal you tubes for some time. Just link to them from his page.

 

[jiml]

How did you get wind of that? Do you subscribe to Danny Harmon's youtube channel??
THANKS
ET

I don't, but I should. I've been following Danny's posts for years, so frequently check for new ones. With more time on my hands I've been catching up. If you watch a lot of rail videos there are a few contributors that rise to the top. I'm a huge Florida railfan, partly because I spend a significant amount of time there, so Danny's Distant Signal is required viewing. There's a couple of guys out west that also deliver consistent "pro-level" content. Virtual Railfan is a great time-waster too, if you're not familiar. Start with their daily "grab bags", then move to their live cameras with 12-hour rewind. My wife calls it "train porn" after I once ordered a couple of railroad DVD's that couldn't be shipped to Canada and had them sent to my buddy in Virginia for pick-up. Apparently I've now graduated to online train porn.

 

[ET2020]

I don't, but I should. I've been following Danny's posts for years, so frequently check for new ones. With more time on my hands I've been catching up. If you watch a lot of rail videos there are a few contributors that rise to the top. I'm a huge Florida railfan, partly because I spend a significant amount of time there, so Danny's Distant Signal is required viewing. There's a couple of guys out west that also deliver consistent "pro-level" content. Virtual Railfan is a great time-waster too, if you're not familiar. Start with their daily "grab bags", then move to their live cameras with 12-hour rewind. My wife calls it "train porn" after I once ordered a couple of railroad DVD's that couldn't be shipped to Canada and had them sent to my buddy in Virginia for pick-up. Apparently I've now graduated to online train porn.

Hahaha - Did the DVDs come to you wrapped in plain brown paper??
Thanks again for the info.
ET