First day on the train

Jim and I met at the Dearborn Amtrak station in the wee hours of the morning well ahead of the boarding time. 
We placed the bikes in the cafe car and went to find our seats.  Only a minor dispute over the weight of my grany-bag (limit is 50lb, I am under by more than a few onceses)
We sat next to two gentlemen who were traveling for weeks on multiple trains across the country, they were having a great time.  We were not sure if we wanted to be on the same train when they told us they had 4 train issues that blocked them (including a burned out bridge).  Our trip from Dearborn to Chicago was comfortable and uneventful.
We and our bikes arrived in Chicago and we had a few hours to walk around town and get a meal out. 
We found a great map in Chicago Union Station
We departed Chicago on the Southwestern Chief with our bikes safely stored in the luggage car.
We found our roomette (car 330 room 2) and moved in.  Power, lights, AC and comfortable chairs that convert to beds with bath and shower down the hall.
While eating dinner (better then expected) we crossed the Mississippi