Trails & Rails
Amtrak and the National
Park Service partner to enrich
the train travel experience.
E
ver looked at the beautiful scenery
passing by your train window and
wanted to know more about it? If you
you ride
ride the Maple Leaf
or Adirondack north between the Hudson Valley and
Central New York on weekends from May through
October, you can find
find out.
Since 2002, Amtrak and the National Park Service have partnered
to run Trails & Rails, a national program featuring volunteer guides
to provide commentary on selected historic sites along selected
trains across the country. Trails & Rails talks primarily take place in
the café car, but guides also walk through the train, identifiable
identifiable by
their uniforms—or sometimes period costumes.
“We’re storytellers,” says Joe LaLumia, Trails & Rails’ New York
State volunteer coordinator,
coordinator, based
based near
near Hudson.
Hudson. “The
“The National
National
Parks were founded about 100 years ago, about the same time as
the railroads. Originally, you visited the parks by train. By sharing
the National Park Service’s story and railway information, we make
a connection between the route we’re traveling on and history.”
Guides on the Maple Leaf, between Albany-Rensselaer and Utica,
discuss the Erie Canalway National Corridor, home of the famous
canal, Underground Railroad and Women’s Suffrage Movement.
Amtrak.com
Amtrak.com
On the Adirondack, guides
from Croton-Harmon to Hudson
talk about the Hudson
Hudson Highlands,
Highlands,
Foundry Cove, Bannerman’s
Island, West Point Military
Academy, the Vanderbilts and
Roosevelts and the Hudson River
School of
of Art.
Art. From
From Albany-Rens-
selaer to Port Henry or Westport,
guides relay stories of Albany political intrigue;
intrigue; the Erie Canal;
Saratoga Springs’ Revolutionary War battles; and Lake George, Lake
Placid and Lake Champlain.
But every program is unique. “Each volunteer does everything a
little bit differently, and the questions we’re asked are often about
things we hadn’t planned on talking about,” says Lalumia. “We find
find
a story that interests the people who are there and share it with them.
The fun is in the interaction between the volunteers
volunteers and
and visitors.”
visitors.”
Trails & Rails attracts riders from around the world. “We’ve had
people from more countries than I can think of,” says Lalumia.
“Some Australian visitors contacted me recently—they’re coming
this fall and wanted to make sure we’ll be onboard when they’re
taking the train. That’s astounding.”
Trails & Rails has 48 guides in New York State (excluding a
separate program in New York City), reports Lalumia, and is
seeking more volunteers.
volunteers. Free
Free training in regional history and basic
safety takes place in New York City. To find
find out more, email
[email protected] or visit NPS.gov/subjects/amtraktrail-
sandrails/volunteer.htm.
New York By Rail | 39