So sorry you missed out on your Amtrak experience. Unfortunately, passenger train travel is a low priority for the USA government. The situation is pretty abysmal and would never be tolerated in Europe or Japan.

Next time may I suggest you take one of the better routings, better in my opinion anyway. Those trains would be the Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, or the California Zephyr. All three are known for scenery. I always travel in a "roomette" when alone, I think the high fare for a bedroom is unreasonable.

I'm going to be traveling in Europe soon and am looking forward to good train service Krakow-Warsaw, Warsaw-Berlin, Berlin-Paris, etc.