Paging Shortbus (or other NC DUer, 'speshly if they know 'bout trains)

[Bossy Monkey]

Alice wants to go on the train, and as you know or could guess the train comes through Columbia at about midnight and about 4 in the morning. Now that Norf Carolina has those spiffy new Norf Carolina trains, we thought we'd come catch one. Unfortunately it appears that we missed our chance as the only one left for today out of Charlotte is at 5:30 and we couldn't get one back. The question then is/ am/ are: Are the trains worth a trip? Are they pretty, historic, or anywise interesting? Does anybody ride these things except for commuters or train buffs? Would this constitute a legitimate excuse for riding up to Charlotte to eat gambas al pil-pil at Don Quijote? Inquiring minds and all that.