"wiser to keep it moving as quickly as possible"
This doesn't take into account track obstructions, such as flying houses and other debris, etc. I'm tempted to sign this, "Dorothy", except I've lived in one of the tornado allies and had my neighborhood hit twice within 6 months with 2 story brick homes moved inches off of their foundations, etc. Given the strength of the winds wouldn't you think that a train moving through the winds would make for a very rough ride for passengers.
And Mr. Harris, I've been wanting to know approximately how much a coach car weighs.?
According to wikipedia, a Superliner coach weighs 148,000 pounds, so 74 tons. This sounds about right. Presumably that is the empty weight. The sleepers and diners would be heavier.
And, GML, the last thing you want to be trying to do in a tornado or hurricane is to be moving, particularly moving fast. I have spent most of first 45 years of my life living in tornado country, except for the part when I was near the Gulf coast and you add hurricanes for flavor, and have spent most of the last 17 in Pacific Rim points where you had typhoons and earthquakes. A high wind will shake a train. Tornados have turned over freight cars, don't know about passenger cars, but even if it turns over, you are better off in it than outside it. Plus, being turned over by wind while sitting still is a lot less damaging than being turned over while moving.