First-time Amtrak rider here and I'm looking into booking a 2-zone RT award EUG-CHI and trying to get the most mileage/scenery for the buck. Going to CHI I see a CS option down to LA and then the Texas Eagle up to CHI. But I see that there is only a 1 hour connection time in LA. From reading all these threads I get the distinct feeling Amtrak isn't always on time . So I'm wondering if anyone wants to give me odds on successively making it on time to catch the TE. If my odds aren't good, just wondering what the Amtrak protocol is for such missed connections: Do they put me on the next available TE? Or do they not care which particular route I was originally booked on and only care about my final destination and would just put me on a Southwest Chief (for example) if that's available sooner? Or am I offered a choice of available options? So many questions. I wouldn't be too worried if I didn't have hotel and plans for a particular day's arrival, but I will have, and it appears to me that if I miss that TE connection, that will mean an overnight in LA. Not optimum.
So any help/advice from the Amtrak experts out there would be much appreciated.

If the Starlight is running Late and Amtrak has determined that the connection with the SunsetLtd./ Texas Eagle will be missed, you would probably be de-trained in Sacramento or Martinez and be put on a San Joaquin Train/ Bus ( change in Bakersfield) to LAX.

This is a guaranteed connection so Amtrak will get you to Chicago ASAP but you won't be doing a layover in LA to catch the next Sunset, it only runs 3 times a week.

Don't worry, enjoy the nice ride and scenery and leave the "driving" to Amtrak.

but if you should miss your connection your accommodation is not guaranteed.
JUst a place to plant your butt

Now that would suck getting dropped down to coach for 2 or 3 days and basically nullifying the main reason (sleeper) I think I could endure such a long trip in the first place. Through no fault of my own no less. I would be using points for the trip, so should I expect compensation for something like that or is it just a case of "Welcome to Amtrak, sucker"?

They will give you back the difference IF you ask

I've never heard of an award reservation being credited any account of points back, no matter what the issue. I've only heard of Amtrak vouchers being offered. When is your experience of being credited back the difference in points from?

Once connecting to the CS from SW Chief we were late due to flooding in IA. We took a bus from Victorville to Bakersfield then a train to Oakland. We were compensated 10,000 points.