Obviously, your choice, but I was struck that you weren’t interested in the social aspects of the train journey and that seems to be the appeal for many.
Well, except almost nothing in Fargo actually occurs in Fargo, ND. I can’t say that I recall much about it except it is what people in Grand Forks are referring to when they talk of “going into the city”. But it sounds like your expectations are set at a reasonable level, and as you are bringing food and entertainments you can mostly choose when and if to expose yourself to potential pathogens. As much as I’ve played devil’s advocate in this discussion, I think the risks, while not negligible, are probably about on par with unmasked air travel which almost everyone is doing these days. If you’re really enthused about the trip I’d say go for it with the caveat that you might prepare for a return flight if you really find it interminable.
Maybe the food options have gotten better or we just have different standards but I found the costs and quality on the Coast Starlight to be objectively awful, basically low quality microwave dinner food at Michelin star prices. This was, admittedly, about fifteen years ago and I’ve only taken shorter trips since which did not have full dining options, but I’ve generally found the cleanliness and customer service to be indifferent at best, so I just planned to bring my own food. I haven’t traveled on a train post-pandemic and have generally curtailed travel in general so I may certainly be out of date on standards but while I used to make a concerted effort to ride trains whenever the option was available, these days I’d fly if I absolutely can’t drive.
Stranger
I took the trip OP is planning two years ago and didn’t catch covid. I did, however, come down with a terrible bout of rotavirus and wound up spending most of my vacation in the hospital. Maybe get yourself vaccinated for that as well.
Not an option for adults. Or even kids past the primary series window as babies.
Ugh. That’s disappointing.
There does seem to be a push for people to get the RSV vaccine.
I travel via Amtrak roomette as often as possible and although it is sometimes “quaint” in all respects, I love it. The longer the route, the better. Way safer than air travel, but way slower and more scenic. I always feel like I’ve actually been somewhere, and for me that counts for a lot. Highly recommended, let go of fear and enjoy.
Yeah. That’s the opposite. The actual vaccine is for adults only. All 75+, 65+ with risk factors, and pregnant women at 32 to 36 weeks. The last group is aimed at protecting the babies. The mom’s response passes through to the baby. For babies whose mom’s had not gotten vaccinated there is a passive antibody option instead.
If you are now going to tell me the Soggy Bottom Boys have stopped touring, well, then life has no meaning.
I followed your thread on the trip with great interest and then much sympathy!
That’s one aspect of train travel that appeals to many, but it’s not the only thing. There’s also the opportunity to unplug for a few days, and the amazing scenery. And some people just really like trains.
The Empire Builder, which is the route OP will be taking, has “traditional dining”, and if they’re getting a sleeper the price of all three meals is included in the fare. I found the food to be really good during my trip. The steak and baked potato I got for dinner on the first night was easily restaurant-quality, and included a coconut prawn appetizer, chocolate cake, and a complimentary alcoholic beverage of your choice. The breakfast and lunch menus are pretty basic, and since you obviously can’t have a deep fryer on a train there are things they just can’t make, but I wasn’t disappointed with anything I got. They’ll also serve your dinner in your cabin if you ask.
Here’s the current menu;
RSV is not the flu; they’re two different diseases. There are vaccines for both of them, but they’re two different vaccines. Flu vaccine needs to be renewed annually; RSV is relatively new but at this point they seem to think it’s one and done.
“A Man of Constant Sorrow” does seem like an anthem well-suited for revival today.
Stranger
Sing it, Brother!
The NHS website seems to correlate RSV highly with tobacco smoke (inhaling what others have exhaled) and that is a damned clever virus to ride on smoke like that. Fortunately, it’s usually just a cold type thing.
My family took Amtrak from New York to Orlando in 1976 as my Dad only had train, rent-a-car and Disney world money. We did Cape Canaveral and DC on the way back. I thought it was “only” 19 hours and of course flying is like 2. I’ll go with flying out of Seattle to Chicago/Milwaukee and spend some time there (if it’s not Southwest airlines)
I don’t think they are meaning to say the virus rides on the smoke, but that babies passively exposed to tobacco smoke have airways more likely to react badly to the virus. As well as adults who are smokers.
Nothing that the OP has written places them in a high risk group for serious RSV disease.
The OP is going to be doing something over the two days. They may be flying and dealing with an airport for several hours and then being in crowds seeing sights, eating, having coffee, so on. Or they can be on the train. Some of that time in their own room and some in a common area of a fairly limited number, one car’s worth, of people.
I am not seeing much marginal increased risk of those two days being on the train. Neither option is completely zero risk and neither is “a death sentence.” Of the two it is much closer to the former than the latter in both cases.
I’m not seeing a “death sentence” either. Life is risky. You could be killed by a car crossing the street to get to the train station. You could also die at home.
I’m still wearing a mask on public transit, including trains and airplanes. But if you have a private sleeping car, that seems pretty safe (from a respiratory virus perspective). Depending on how crowded and ventilated the train is, i might be more or less comfortable eating in the dining room. It sounds like there’s an option to eat in your own car if it’s super crowded and stuffy. Personally, I’d bring my comfy Korean KF94 masks, and wear those when mingling in the viewing areas and not eating. (I buy my kf94 masks from Behealthyusa) But i think I’m an outlier in covid-caution. I hate catching regular colds , too, and don’t much mind wearing masks. Mostly, i don’t much mind wearing masks, so there’s little downside.
Anyway, if it’s a trip you’ve wanted to do, I’d do it. Plan to do it now, before bird flu starts spreading among Americans. 
If it’s any consolation I have been hit by a car and had Covid twice and survived.
Just sayin/s 
I read somewhere that most people die in bed, so I have started sleeping on the floor.