I was actually surprised you could do it by train at all. I wouldn't even know how to begin to attempt a train journey in the US. (other than hitting up Amtrak's website and hoping for the best).

I was also surprised at train travel in Norway on my recent visit; I hoped to book a ticket from Oslo to Bergen but it was basically impossible. Only a couple of trains a day, all sold out. I drove instead, which was also a shock, since I spent virtually my entire drive at or below 80kph. The train would have been roughly the same speed -- so, not as bad as your Tahoe example, but not great by continental European standards either :)