There is a version of this story where nothing goes wrong, and it is boring. The version worth keeping has the wrong train, a closed door, and the kind stranger who pointed us the other way.
The trick, if there is one, is to go early and keep expectations light. Lines move fast, people are kind, and the small stuff — the extra napkin, the window seat — quietly stacks into a good time.
Have you tried it yourself? Tell me in the comments — I read everything.