Dave from Kirkwood on 6/1/2021 10:18:07 PM:
I've ridden Amtrak a couple times with a bike, and it is pretty straightforward. You should be prepared to lift your bike into the train car (Amtrak should direct you to the car with the bike spots), which is a couple steep steps. You will then roll it to one of the spots at either end of the car. It will sit there for the ride, but you can sit near it and get things from it during the trip.
As for the Washington bridge, it is lovely now for bikes (compared to the previous bridge). The separated sidewalk is on the left side leaving Washington. On the other side of the river, you have the choice of riding a narrow shoulder on busy highway 47 to Dutzow, or taking a right coming off the bridge and riding Augusta Bottom Road to intersect the Katy about 3 miles east of Dutzow. Augusta Bottom Road is gravel for a bit, and then paved near the Katy Trail. It has little traffic, so most recommend that option.