When I was 21 back in 1976, I brought a USA railpass for $200 or so.
I went to the NMRA convention in Chicago ( at the O'Hare airport Hyatt ).
5 nights in coach on the then "new" Amtrak service, I will never forget.
You can sleep in a chair car, but it is not fun.
But if you are young and have little money, it can seem to be an adventure.
I still do model trains and ride Amtrak, but not overnight.