One highlight of the UP route to look for is when you go over the Kate Shelly High Bridge, at 2,813 feet long and 190 feet high one of the largest double track railroad bridges in the country. This is just west of Boone.
Yes there are some neat stations on the UP line- Carroll, Boone, Ames, Belle Plaine, but it doesn't go through Des Moines and not into downtown CR where the old passenger stations were.
If you do end up stopping in Omaha, I think you would enjoy the Durham Museum, a history museum located in a ornate old train station:
http://www.durhammuseum.org/
Coachseats is my name after all, so my longest trip in coach was during a 30 day railpass trip- when I called up to make the reservation, the lady was like....are you sure about this? Don't you want to take a break or something? Below was my itinerary. Now that I am married and have kids we do...
Here is an article from the Des Moines Register about it- good to see it is being publicized.
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/12/03/amtrak-offers-bus-train-connections-to-des-moines-ames-for-holiday-rail-trips-nationwide/article
I too hope it is successful- I think they...
It isn't Amtrak, but the Hawkeye Express delivers several thousand fans each game day right to the front gate of Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa. I used to volunteer as a car host for it and the train has become quite a big part of their game day traditions...
I took that connection several years ago from Carbondale to St. Louis and it was via a 15 passenger van. Not the most comfortable ride in the world, but it got me where I needed to go. If time is not an issue, I would agree to go up to Chicago and then down to New Orleans, all on the train.
Another follow up article from today:
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/10/21/branstad-cites-considerable-skepticism-about-iowa-city-train-but-awaits-dot-study-before-deciding-its-fate/article
I would have to say as a citizen of the great state of Iowa that it is kind of...
Unfortunately this article in the paper today does not make the situation look too promising:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20131020/NEWS09/310210020/McCoy-gives-up-on-train-funds?News
I know financially it might never add up enough to satisfy republicans, but there is a tremendous...
If it fits your schedule you can also take a Metra train direct from Union Station to O'Hare (where you transfer to a short bus ride to the terminal).
http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map/ncs/schedule.full.html
I personally wouldn't want the stress of worrying about making your flight so I agree with the people that recommend overnighting. But if you do want to risk it and are running late- you could bail out at Naperville and take a cab (would be a bit pricey) to O'Hare which would save you the time...
Here are a few I have read and would recommend. Some are novels, some are non-fiction:
The Big Red Train Ride by Eric Newby
Paul Theroux:
The Great Railway Bazaar
The Old Patagonian Express
Riding The Iron Rooster
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star
Zephyr: Tracking A Dream Across America by...
Yes you should sign up for Amtrak Guest Rewards first to get an account established. I'm sure lots of people here would be willing to refer you so that if you take a paid trip within 90 days you both get 500 bonus points. Then you can do you SPG transfer. I have done this SPG-Amtrak GR...