When I took the Adirondack to Montreal last August, the border crossing into Canada took 45 minutes with about the same load as Reindeerflame's train.

Amtrak and VIA eliminated the Chicago-Toronto International train last year, ostensibly due to extended delays at the border coming into the US. But that was pure politics, given how the process was not always inefficient, could have been made more efficient, and that most delays actually stemmed from CN dispatching.

But the New York-Montreal Adirondack route is beautiful, and is regularly assigned comfortable 60-seat coaches. I'd highly recommend it if you have the time. ^