This. The wife and CHIEF Jr. were already in Austin for a home game this year, and had her vehicle. I got the bright idea to jump on Amtrak, in Cleburne, at 4:15 and get off downtown. The train didn't get to Cleburne until almost 6 pm. The depot closed at 5 pm, so we just had to sit outside, in the heat, with no access to water or a bathroom. The trip wasn't bad, if you sit at the bar in the dining car. BUT, when we got to McGregor we had to sit on the track for over an hour waiting on a freight train to pass going the opposite direction. Then, at Belton, we had to do it again.
I finally called Mrs. CHIEF, told her about the shitshow, and had her come pick me up at the station in Taylor, as the train was going to have another hour delay. So, all in all, a trip that I can drive in about three hours took over five hours just to get me 45 minutes away.
There are Youtube videos of people traveling the eastern seaboard on Amtrak from Florida to New York where the train arrived almost a full 24 hours late. Also another one where the traveler jumped on Amtrak in Florida and rode to Seattle. He missed his ferry ride to Anchorage by four days.
CHIEF Jr. went with my parents about 2010 or so. He said it was absolutely first class, Skyview roof was epic, food was phenomenal. Nice overnight accommodations in Kamloops. It is considered the best rail experience in North America by many.
CHIEF