An interesting look at taking a train across the US
 

Loved this so much--great photos and captions sprinkled with cute humor. Thanks so much for posting this, jubilada! Now I need this train trip on my bucket list...

Jayne, me too, although I need a sleeper.

I think the key sentence is "American railroads are reminiscent of a bygone era".

Snail-like and nothing like the high speed trains in europe - and schedules are more a hope than a promise.

Thank you for posting this. I would love to do this someday.

I've done it both in the US and across Canada. I would have to agree about the schedule-keeping in that one needs to be very flexible. When I decided to take the Empire Builder from Portland to Chicago a couple years ago I was greeted in Portland with, "we're sorry but we have no idea when the train will leave since we aren't even sure right now where the westbound segment (scheduled to arrive and turn around in Portland) actually is."

Looks like it was fun for you and certainly a cost effective way for singles to travel. Thanks for posting.

Um, it wasn't me.

Nice photos, cool trip.

I would love to do something like this. Like you, I'd spring for a sleeper car. Thanks for sharing this.

Once did it across Canada….. I was in the upper bunk. Can't imagine
how I got up there!

Re: the schedule problems, I would just do it in a leisurely way, not worrying as much about time as process.

Yes, this seems like one of those trips where the journey itself is the destination.

My parents love taking the train. They get a sleeper and for the most part are flexible with their schedule. They did need to switch routes a few month ago due to 30+ hour delays on the California Zephyr otherwise they would have missed their anniversary party.

I've done a lot of cross country Amtrak train rides east-west and north-south over the last 15 years. While it is true that things can and do go wrong on the long-distance as well as the short-distance runs, by and large, my experience has been incredibly positive and worth it for opening my eyes to all that North America has to offer.(Even in the thought of as generally reliable Northeast my mother was stuck on a Regional train in the past few years for 5 hours when the power went out outside of Philadelphia, arriving in her destination of Princeton Junction at 2 am.)

I have, unfortunately for Amtrak, found there is no comparison as to the food served aboard when comparing any of the Amtrak trips I have taken, to the meals served aboard "The Canadian." ViaRail's food is far superior in quality and when you are spending several nights aboard it makes a big difference IMO.