To answer a question I am on the following trains
Carolinian to DC
Capitol Limited to Chicago
Empire Builder to Portland
Coast Starlight to LA.
I will be checking bags at NYP
This was an award routing.
I anticipate my checked bags to take a more direct route.
I need to drop the rental car at national a few blocks away.
If the REDCAP can handle the bags everything else will fall into place

Thanks for the info