I have more miles in the air than on trains. I have done very little train travel since Amtrak took over. I have had lots of air travel adventures. I recall a trip from SF to Chicago. We were flying along and the pilot came on the PA system and said we were low on fuel and would have to stop in Iowa to refuel. That did not sound too bad, but I had missed the significance of the problem. Once we landed in Iowa we lost our landing slot in Chicago. Six hours later we took off heading on to Chicago.
While on a train trip in Mexico, must have been in late 1960s, the train I was on had several of the head end cars derail. We sat there for eight hours while the Mexicans lies to us about why we were delayed. Finally about 3:30 am I decided to walk forwarded and see if I could ascertain what was causing the delay. I did not get to far before I ran into the army troops that heed dispatched to guard the mail cars, which were detailed. I did run into a very nice track crew trying to regauge rails under the train. They were working using kerosine lamps that looked like tea pots with a wick hanging out the spout. They were about as effective as a candle. I went back to my car and went to sleep. The next morning we were again rolling along, many hours late.
Best train trip I recall was either a non stop Metroliner, Washington to NYC or an express from Philadelphia to somewhere in norther New Jersey on a long train of MP-54 which still had wooden sash.
