Amtrak's Cardinal is seen here on CSX tracks in Brooks, WV / Wikipedia

Since early October, volunteers at West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (NRGNPP) have been "Riding on that New River Train" (a nod to Doc Watson's classic) between Montgomery and Hinton, chatting with Amtrak passengers from across the U.S.—many of whom don’t realize they’re passing through America’s newest national park.

One of those volunteers, Jacki Wright, is loving the experience.

“Meeting people on the train is always interesting. You never know who you’ll meet, and seeing the New River Gorge from the train offers views you just can’t get from the road,” Jacki said.

Jacki, along with 11 other recently trained volunteers, is part of the nationwide Trails & Rails program, a 25+ year partnership between the National Park Service and Amtrak. New volunteers complete online courses on Interpretation and Railroad Safety, learn about park landmarks visible from the train, and shadow seasoned volunteers to get started.

NRGNPP’s Trails & Rails volunteers come from all over, from Huntington and Fairmont to Oak Hill and nearby areas. Some start in Glen Jean and take a shuttle to Montgomery, boarding the Amtrak Cardinal for a two-hour ride to Hinton, while others (often affiliated with the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society) board in Huntington or Charleston and travel to White Sulphur Springs or Clifton Forge, VA, before returning. The longer trip includes a 6–8 hour day with a layover in scenic White Sulphur Springs or Clifton Forge.

Adrienne Jenkins, NRGNPP’s Volunteer Coordinator, leads the program with support from Emma Hicks, a Community Volunteer Ambassador through Conservation Legacy, who helped launch the program.

“Emma put this program together in under ten months,” says Jenkins. “Her dedication has made it possible to offer visitors a new, engaging way to experience the park.”

Connecting railroads with the National Park Service goes back to the early days when visitors traveled by train to western parks like Yellowstone and Glacier. This Amtrak partnership is a continuation of that legacy.

Now, volunteers like Jacki get to be part of this tradition.

“It’s amazing to ride with visitors who might not have come here otherwise but are thrilled to see the New River Gorge,” Jacki says.