With a spare weekend before my flight back home, I’d already decided to complete my foray along Amtrak’s east coast route to line’s end at Miami. What I’d not counted on is tornado season beginning unseasonably early…

In British rail lexicon, Tornado on the line is a good thing. In Florida, less so. The threat of twisters had imposed speed restrictions, and a full-on tropical storm had derailed the freight train immediately in front of the Silver Star I was due to catch. Sunshine state indeed!

As it was, my wait at Orlando station grew longer and longer, as the clouds grew darker and darker. The TV in the waiting room was interspersing wildlife documentaries about puffins in the Shetland Islands with grave reports from ‘certified meteorologists’ (as opposed to vacuous blonde ‘weather presenters’ with all-American smiles) about the impending storm. 3½ hours later, my train – and indeed the rain – turned up. Shortly after the train left Orlando, fellow passengers were receiving reports that a tornado had ravaged through part of the city. We’d escaped just in time.

It was a memorable journey – not so much because of the scenery, which was obscured by the torrential downpour – but because of the train being buffeted about by the power of the wind. Because of the delay, we were treated to regular dispensation of the Amtrak emergency ration pack. Aptly, this included fish-shaped cheese snacks.

The route, via Tampa (and a reversal in Neve) and Okechobee was far from direct, and the weather-induced restrictions led to arrival in Miami being 5 hours behind schedule. After a quick taxi ride to my hotel, bed was a welcome sight.