Eugene K. Garfield
Eugene K. Garfield | |
---|---|
Born | Newark, New Jersey , US | January 18, 1936
Died | December 26, 2010 | (aged 74)
Known for | Originator of Auto Train |
Partner | Brenda Brush[1] |
Eugene Kerik Garfield (January 18, 1936 – December 26, 2010) was an American lawyer who founded the Auto-Train Corporation. Auto-Train became what is now known as Amtrak's Auto Train. He served in the executive branch of the State of Florida and the federal government.[2][3]
Early life and government career
Garfield was born in Newark, New Jersey, on January 18, 1936, and developed a lifelong interest in railroading after receiving a toy train set as a child, which his sister would later recall: "I would ask him, 'Is that what started all this?'".[1] He graduated from Rutgers University in 1957 with concentrations in Natural Sciences and Higher Mathematics. He graduated from the University of Miami School of Law on June 9, 1960, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.[1]
He practiced law in
Post-government career
Following his work in the United States government, Garfield founded the Auto-Train Corporation as a passenger railroad that could also transport personal cars. The Auto-Train came into service in 1971, carrying passengers and their cars on the 900 miles (1,400 km) between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida, with food service, movies and sleeping cars available to passengers during the 15-hour trip in each direction.[1] The initial trip featured luxury food for passengers and a bar that remained open until 3 a.m.[4]
Garfield had his own personal
He was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Pan American Development Foundation,
Later years
Garfield retired from Auto-Train along with the practice of law and served as the Chairman of the North American Maglev Corporation, his next locomotive endeavor. He died at the age of 74 on December 26, 2010, in Hollywood, Florida due to esophageal cancer.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Weber, Bruce (December 30, 2010). "Eugene Garfield, Founder of the Auto-Train Service, Dies at 74". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
Eugene K. Garfield, who originated the American Auto-Train, ferrying passengers and their cars between Virginia and Florida, saving people the effort of driving to their winter vacation homes and the expense of renting cars when they got there, died in Hollywood, Fla., on Sunday. He was 74. ...
- ^ "Little train that could". Time. January 1, 1973. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- ^ a b "Eugene Kerik Garfield, J.D." South Florida Astrological Association. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
- ^ a b c Shapiro, T. Rees. "Eugene K. Garfield, founder of Fla.-bound Auto Train, dies at 74", The Washington Post, December 30, 2010. Accessed January 9, 2010.
External links
- Bill's Railroad Empire - the original Auto-Train page
- George Elwood's Fallen Flags site, original Auto-Train pages
- from a 1971 Auto-Train Corp. brochure, including information on the 2nd short-lived Auto-Train route (Louisville-Sanford service)
- Orlando Sentinel newspaper article about Auto-Train Corp and Amtrak's Auto Train replacement
- SEC filing for company which operated Florida Fun Train
- Florida Fun Train information on trainweb
- Orlando Weekly article about Bee line Monorail System
- Florida Fun Train history
- Maglev "not likely to be developed without significant Federal Government investment." Archived 2007-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
- The Rise & Fall (& Rise) of Auto-Train by Peter Dibble on YouTube.