Long Train Running.... don't know why I never went after that song. Right in my era and right up my alley. Glad you brought it up - I'm going to work on it. Good luck with your performance maggior ... although it's chord-wise simpler than it sounds ( to me ) it's quite the right hand workout.
Sounds like you/your teacher are really working hard to get the whole timing issue nailed. Good luck with that also. re: PRS - as ur out testing them out try to find a model "245" to try. Real short scale ( 24.5" ) means u can wire it up with 10's and still get really easy fluid bends. Quick and slinky.
T-Care