The trains that come and go west of Chicago are usually the much bigger Superliners. They have the high-ceilinged Observation Cars with the glass arching overhead. There seats clustered together, and a few tables.

Somewhere south of Chicago approaching the Mississippi River we grabbed a table so we could dine on:

• Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
• Sweet Soppressatta
• Prosciutto di Parma
• Parmigiana Reggiano
• Sliced Red Bell Pepper
• and a half-bottle of a Cotes-du-Rhone