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Here is part of a report that I sent to Amtrak after having taken the Texas Eagle to Milwaukee and the Empire Builder to Portland.  I have added some comments.I stayed overnight in Milwaukee, as opposed to Chicago, because it was significantly cheaper.  Also, much to my surprise, Milwaukee turned out to be delightful.  It has an excellent mall as well as several museums and good restaurants near the refurbished Amtrak station.  It was cold while I was there, but it was not a major problem.  It should be very pleasant during the summer.  "On December 2nd and 3rd I took Train # 21, The Texas Eagle, from Dallas to Chicago and Train # 339 to Milwaukee.  On December 4th I took Train # 7, The Empire Builder, from Milwaukee to Portland.  I was in Roomette # 6 in Car 2220 on the Eagle and Roomette # 3 in Car 2730 on the Builder.  I had a coach seat on # 339.The Eagle was terminated in St. Louis because of an ice storm.  No problem!  Having grown up in Altoona, Pennsylvania, which was a major railroad center, I understand how nasty winter weather can disrupt railroad operations.  We were placed on a comfortable bus and driven from St. Louis to Chicago.  As it turned out, I sat next to a man who grew up about 15 miles from Altoona.  And like me he is a graduate of Penn State.  So we had a nice chat.My accommodations on both trains were clean, stocked properly, and comfortable.  The train personnel were great.  The Eagle conductor told us why the train was delayed getting into St. Louis (the ice storm had knocked out the UP's signals) and, ultimately, that it would terminate there.  The car attendants on 2220 and 2730 were pleasant and helpful.  I had heaps of questions for the attendant on 2730.  He cheerfully answered all of them.  His demeanor was great; he made the trip more enjoyable.  If Amtrak still had a Chief of on Board Services, I would nominate him for the position.On the afternoon of December 5th first class passengers on the Builder were treated to a wine and cheese tasting event in the dinning car.  It was very nice.  And I liked the contest amongst the passengers.  I knew the start-up date for Amtrak.  As a result I won a bottle of wine."The meals were good on the Empire Builder.  They were so so on the Eagle.  The train has a fully staffed lounge car that is open most of the day and evening.  It serves a variety of snacks and beverages.  Lunch and dinner in the dining car are by reservation.  Breakfast is first come first served.I always take plenty of reading material when traveling by train.  During the day there is ample opportunity to visit with people in the lounge car and watch the scenery go by.  But at night it is nice to have a good book to get into.One of the best aspects of the trip was the run along the Columbia River.  The scenery is awesome. But I also enjoyed seeing the northern plains in winter dress.     Portland is one of the nicest cities in the United States.  The city leaders did not allow the downtown area to go to pot as has been the case in so many U.S. cities.  It has a downtown mall that is as good as any that I have ever seen.  It also numerous restaurants and lounges downtown.  Getting downtown, as well as around town, is easy.  Portland has one of the best public transport systems in the country.  On Saturdays, if I remember correctly, they run historic streetcars on part of the light rail system. Lastly, Portland is considered by many cyclists to be the best cycling city in the U.S.  It has numerous bicycle shops.  If you're a cyclist, renting a bicycle should be no problem if you plan ahead.   Have a nice trip.
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