Recently on a trip on the Downeaster, the conductor told me that it was a felony to turn the seats. Is this true?
I doubt if the conductor has arrest powers. It was a joke.
The conductor can request that law enforcement meet the train at the next station. It's irrelevant whether or not the conductor personally makes the arrest. Convincing a cop to haul you off to jail for turning a seat is another matter though. I suppose it could fall under some clause about interfering with a member of the train crew, or something like that.
Right, the conductor can toss you off the train, so I wouldn't mess with the seats if he tells you not to. Unless you put up a big fuss and start hitting people, it won't be prosecuted as a felony.