In just over two weeks, I will be picked up by a friend in their car and leaving Vermont with my bicycle, trailer and gear. I'll be dropped off in NYC- Penn Station to jump aboard an Amtrak bound for Miami FL. I'll be stopping to visit friends just north of Orlando first though. Once I reach the "end of the line" in Miami, I'll be biking two days to one of the Keys where I've been offered a place to stay as I write my book. My plan is to stay there for three months and then jump on another train from Miami to Los Angeles, CA where I'll then ride my bike north along the coast to San Francisco where I've been offered another place to stay.

That's the fun part. Now the hard part.
How do I get my camping gear and clothing on and off the train?
I'd like to use the trailer rather than panniers simply because I have it and it will allow me to take more along.
Would I be better off switching to panniers though? I'm starting to consider it as I do need to check the trailer as baggage meaning that it will have to be boxed up, which is easy, but then trying to carry the gear that's supposed to be in it will be difficult. Panniers on the other hand, could just go as carry on bags.

Have you traveled by train to a location and then biked from there a long distance?
How did you manage your gear?

I have kayaked long distance (two months on the water) but its actually easier to pack gear in a kayak than on a bike without a trailer.