Great!! Then if possible, I'd like to be able to take the CZ, then catch the CS, to seattle, and follow back around to the northeast. Has anyone on here ever done this before? If so, I'll probably need some help.
You can take the the California Zephyr (CZ) from CHIcago, Il to SACramento, Ca. You would have approx an 8 hour layover for the Coast Starlight (CS). It will take you all the way to SEAttle, Wa where you would spend the night to take the Empire Builder (EB) back to CHIcago, Il.
You can also take the CS to Portland, Or (PDX), then board the EB there, but you would not go to SEAttle, Wa. The two parts of the EB join back up in Spokane, Wa (SPK) then continue on to CHIcago, Il.
We have taken the CZ from Salt Lake City, (SLC) Ut to SACramento, Ca then the CS to OLYmpia, Wa, about an hour from SEAttle , then reversed it. Someday we would like to make a loop including the EB in this route, much like what you are considering.