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Staying Flexible at the Last-Minute.

PORTLAND–The last of my eight train rides–Seattle to Portland today–was to be the frosting on the cake: a relaxing five-hour ride in the Coast Starlight’s parlor car. Alas, it was not to be. In fact, it was a complete flop. Because of a bridge failure, the Coast Starlight with its Pacific Parlour Car is temporarily…

Boston to Chicago on Amtrak 449.
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Boston to Chicago on Amtrak 449.

CHICAGO–The ride here from Boston on the Lake Shore Limited was really enjoyable. For one thing, the train passes through countryside that starts all my old New England genes clanging around, especially the stretch from Springfield through Pittsfield to Albany and then west from there until it’s too dark to see much. Furthermore, we had…