This seems really neat, actually. While it seems it would be a bit more expensive than you'd think, if you loved railroads then it would be a cool thing to own. I guess the only restriction would be having to hook into an Amtrak train/route, but otherwise I think traveling North America by rail could be pretty interesting.

My cost comment comes from seeing cars "surplus" for a few thousand dollars, but I'm guessing they might need significant upgrades to be eligible to hook up to Amtrak, not to mention being comfortable for the owner.