Eugene K. Garfield, 74, founder of Auto-Train
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefEugene K, Garfield, who created the American Auto-Train concept, died last week at age 74.
Garfield worked as assistant to Alan S. Boyd, the Secretary of Transportation under President Lyndon Johnson, and also as an assistant to the President’s chief of staff. During that time, Garfield oversaw work by the Transportation Department examining the feasibility of moving passenger customers’ automobiles by train between the Northeast and Florida, which concluded that the private sector could best address the market need.
In 1968, Garfield determined to act on that recommendation, forming Auto-Train Corp., which operated from 1971 to 1981. Amtrak revived the Auto-Train concept in 1983 under W. Graham Claytor’s guidance, and continues to operate it.
