Originally Posted by mev

Here is what I do:
1. Go to Amtrak.com and look at the overall route network. This tells me the likely train routes that come close to where I want to go.
2. Look up the particular route and download the link to the schedule. Look for the little suitcase icons. Those are stations that have baggage service along that route.
Once I figure out that I have a starting/ending stations with baggage service that make sense - I go back to the main Amtrak site and ask for a route schedule between those two stations. Look carefully however - since it will sometime suggest bus for some segments depending on timing (so I modify my times to make sure I stay on trains).

As far as Amtrak travel itself goes, I've ridden ~5 different Amtrak routes and they are somewhat different. Some of them like the Cascades has a separate bike car (and hence possible to get on/off w/o boxing the bike and also at non-baggage stations). However, most of them I've shown up at the train station somewhat in advance and then asked for a bike box. They've had them almost all the time though once I did end up with a recycled box. Amtrak boxes are big and hence removing pedals and turning handlebars (and for my large bike removing seat) are all that is needed. Check in the bike at baggage and it will get transferred as long as your tickets also connect you.

Otherwise, easy and relaxing way to travel. On-time reliability varies between routes and I found it to be less on-time if you are at end of a route and delays have accumulated. I also noticed that sometime when it is late - it can be very late (e.g. 8 hours once on Starlight in Pacific Coast since train ran into a huge tree stump at middle of the night in narrow canyon near Lake Shasta - and ~7 hours once in East Coast when storms knocked out the signaling system). However, approach the train travel as part of the overall adventure and it has usually worked out fine with that attitude.