Where to park a car, with connections to CZ?

Situation: my brother's car has gone to that great junkyard in the sky unexpectedly ;-) ;-( (he's on LI, and I'm on the other coast) and I'm looking for a place on the Amtrak system where I can take an extra one from my driveway, drive it and leave it at said station, and take the CZ and maybe a connection to the CZ, back to the west coast. I'm thinking about places directly on the CZ from OMA and to the east; or maybe places on the LSL or CL or?? where I can take such to CHI and then the CZ back here. Though two requirements are, one hard, one soft: I'd like it to be a smallish station where he'll be able to find the car easily (eg, OMA where there are maybe 40 parking spots and they're right out the front door to the station), but large enough that if the car sits there for 48 hours it won't be a problem; and the boarding time is reasonable and likely to be predictable, eg, anywhere on the CZ west of CHI and before OMA [i've played the 1am boarding times too many times already this year - how about something user friendly like: 2pm]. I'm trying to avoid the large cities in that I'm going to be in a rush, and don't want to fight my way through a huge strange city, being pressed on time etc - so I was thinking, maybe two or three stops west of CHI on the CZ; or maybe two or three west of WAS if I have to go (he has some serious disabilities, so I'm going to have to meet him more than half way across the country). The other tradeoff is: my driving time vs time on the train in that I have a class to get back to teach, so can't spend too many days on Amtrak (and I'd hate to use the flying cattlecar). And a freebie would be: somewhere nice to see over the thanksgiving week, ie, pretty, but not in the grips of winter yet. Anyone have any thoughts?

I'd consider Galesburg!!

Galesburg would be a very good choice or if you don't want to go quite so far east you may consider any of the Iowa stops which all have small handy stations.

Galesburg had been on my list, if for no other reason than it was the site of one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1856 (??). But many thanks for the input... any idea on the parking there?

Just to follow up: did some google earth viewing: looks like the parking in Galesburg is much like OMA in terms of size and proximity... and it turns out that the Lincoln-Douglas debate took place at Knox College, at the east end of the "Old Main" building... five blocks west on South Street from the Amtrak station, where Broad would cross it from the north (but doesn't because the campus is there)... but hugely close to the station, ie, no excuse to not see the locale (other than maybe five feet of snow... but would be way early and unusual for such).... but it was 1858, no 1856.

We have left our vehicle at the Osceola station. Both trips were almost a month long and our vehicle was safe and sound when we returned. Parking was free...I assume it still is.

Osceola is another possible... Have never been there, so, maybe a further recommendation ;-) many thanks for the suggestion. ... and I like the idea that you were able to leave a car there for a month... though in this case, hopefully I'll be able to hand him the keys in person... though given his problems, and that Murphy is live and well, hopefully the longest it'll sit is for a day or three.

Galesburg would be a good place. It's very safe with plenty of parking.

My brother's car was left there for 2 weeks and was just fine.

Mount Pleasant is also good. We routinely park there or Galesburg for weeks at a time.

Although it was more than a decade ago, I also have left a car in the Osceola, IA station lot for several weeks at a time with no problems. Back then, the agent even had a portion of the lot specifically marked out for long-term parking. And the rate (free!) was very nice, too.

Another vote for Galesburg. Plenty of safe free parking.

To all that followed up: many thanks!

Burlington Iowa would work. The westbound from Chicago arrives at 5:35PM when on time. If your brother was on the train you could hand him the keys etc. as you boarded. The parking is free at BRL.

There are a couple of nice restaurants along the Mississippi River if you got into Burlington by 4:15PM.

Last December my wife and I rode the CZ from SAC to BRL and rented a car there. On the return trip, the CZ was a bit late into BRL but we got back to Denver on time.

Galesburg for sure,,,,

It's where we drive from Ohio to catch the CZ

great well lighted place very safe

As for Lincoln - Douglas,,,

it was held at Knox College, which faces Monmouth annually in the oldest football rivalry west of the Alleghenies,,,