I worked remotely on a cross-country Amtrak train. The views were unbeatable, but I wish I'd known 3 things.

Working remotely on a 43-hour Amtrak train offered stunning views and unique experiences. Amtrak's Southwest Chief lacks WiFi, so a reliable hotspot and backup power are essential. Meal times are scheduled and social, requiring advance planning to balance work and dining. The view from my desk at home in Los Angeles is pretty nice, as far as desk views go. I can see the lush landscaping of my neighbors' homes in the Silver Lake hills, and, if I lean to my right, the tops of the Verdugo Mountains north of Glendale - but it can get old. I recently traded it in for the ever-changing views that fly by on Amtrak's Southwest Chief , a 43-hour 2,265-mile train route from Los Angeles to Chicago that traverses through deserts stamped with deep red mesas, expansive farmlands, historic train stations, and the widest river in the continental US. As someone who has worked remotely from a wide variety of places over the past decade, I also wanted to see how doable it would be on a cross-country train trip. Very doable, it turns out. It felt surprisingly similar to a normal couple of days of work - I answered emails, filed stories, and chatted with my editor - but with the added novelty of daily life on the train. I made it to Chicago without any flight delays or airport traffic, and without using up any PTO on travel time. And the views from my "desk" could not be beat. While I'd definitely do it again, there are a few things to keep in mind and plan for if you want to work remotely from an Amtrak train . Not all Amtrak trains have WiFi, so I recommend using a hotspot Amtrak does not provide WiFi on all of its trains. Some trains and stations offer free WiFi, so it's best to check your specific route in advance. Even for those routes that do have WiFi, Amtrak says it only supports general web browsing, with limited streaming and large downloads, to ensure there's enough bandwidth for all passengers. If you have trouble connecting, Amtrak says you can report it to the conductor, but it doesn't offer technical support on board. The Southwest Chief does not have WiFi, so I planned to rely on my cellphone's hotspot and hope for the best. I gave my boss a heads-up that my internet could be spotty, as I'd read online that cell service might come and go. Thankfully, I found I had enough cell service to work on my laptop for the vast majority of the trip. There were occasionally moments where my connection would weaken or go out for a couple of minutes. Only once, somewhere in New Mexico , I lost service for about 30 minutes when I would've liked to have it. When I wasn't online, I did work that didn't require an internet connection, and it never lasted long enough to be a serious disruption. Be prepared to stake out a...

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