I've taken this same trip (although I started from DC and then jumped on the Southwest Chief in Chicago) and echo that it is a blast. I'm from the U.S. but most

I've taken this same trip (although I started from DC and then jumped on the Southwest Chief in Chicago) and echo that it is a blast. I'm from the U.S. but most of my train trips have been in Europe (Mariupol - Lviv, Budapest - Berlin, Bucharest - Chisinau being some that stand out). The characters you meet on U.S. trains are a bit different, its full of people who have made a choice to be there given that air travel is often cheaper (than a sleeper car anyways) and way faster and given rates of car ownership in the U.S. Be prepared for lots of conversations (if you want them) with a broad cast of characters from train lovers to nervous flyers to probable drug dealers (okay this one is just speculation but got strong 'avoiding TSA vibes' from a couple of people). Much of the scenery you pass by isn't stuff you'd put on a postcard, but it opens your mind to just how vast America really is. Overall, highly recommend anyone to do it if they've got a few days -- the next time I go I will probably splurge on a sleeper car instead of just sleeping in a seat in my jeans (okay for 1-2 days but tough for day 3)