A little late to the party, but just to thank you Flying Doctor for a wonderful trip report! I travelled on the Amtrak Cascades a few years back from Portland to Seattle which was a very enjoyable experience.

Unlike you I am quite a fan of LA (having a good friend living there helps), but am equally looking forward to heading a little up the coast to Santa Barbara and Solvang as part of a trip there next summer. Seriously considering taking the train to Santa Barbara now, possibly hiring a car for the drive up to Solvang (my other half refuses to consider rail replacement busses, so is unlikely to consent to the "thruway bus"...!)