Don't know if I answered this, so here goes (maybe again) -What do you mean about "incurring the wrath of my employers, who didn't get a rakeoff from rail travel" ?
The manager who inherited me on purchase of my previous employer never particularly liked independent thinkers. I steadfastly refuse to ride in a center seat, on Continental Airlines, on any Airbus, nor would I drive Asian branded rental cars. Still don't.
(I have over 8 Million miles on American Airlines alone, and of course, seldom rode in Steerage).
Many times I could find a better airfare and less hours in travel, but the Corporate Travel Agent tried to book me on unsuitable flights, and steadfastly refused to book AMTRAK ("Our computers won't book AMTRAK"). My manager always had First Class upgrade coupons and was driving a leased car courtesy of the Travel Agency.
When I was assigned somewhere, and wished to ride AMTRAK or my airline/airport choice, I would make up any difference in airfare, and of course did not claim the hours for travel other than what their airline would incur.
It came to a head one day, and in the course of a heated conversation, he hung up on me, after speaking uncivilly about the marital status of my parents, and horrifyingly insulted my sainted mother. I called the competition and within an hour was hired over the phone at a better rate and no problems with travel arrangements ("You're a professional - you know how to do your job, we're not nannies or travel agents").
I wanted to invite the other guy to micturate along a given length of woven sisal, but my better breeding prevailed, so I FEDEXed my keys, credentials and other paraphernalia including a recording of his remarks vis a vis my mother, and resigned instanter. The CEO of the company was not amused, nor their attorney.
I AMTRAKED to my first assignment the next day, found the keys to the mobile unit (which I had never seen) in the standard hiding place, and engineered a 12 camera two network three language soccer match series over the next 3 days. Worked for them until they got bought.
Oh yeah - The other company sent me a letter of apology, and asked if I would care to reconsider. Nice of them. The other guy was gone for good.
Final note - I will retire (After 57 years) on 3 January 2021. I have three AMTRAK routes to go, and my Tesla wants to stretch its legs. First trip planned - DFW-LaPlata via Tesla, then the Chief to LAX, LAX-EMY, EMY-GBB, GBB-LAP, then LAP-DFW via Tesla. Took my daughter and granddaughter DFW-CHI-LAX-DFW, now there are two more Foamers in the house, and my wife wants to go, too.
Yeah, I take travel seriously. And am an unrepentant Foamer.