By Cheryl Keenan, The Fayette Tribune
GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — Volunteers with New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (NRGNPP) have been Riding on that New River Train (see classic song by Doc Watson) since early October, keeping the rails hot between Montgomery and Hinton talking with Amtrak passengers from across the United States, many of whom aren’t even aware they’re about to visit the nation’s newest national park.
Jacki Wright is one of those volunteers and says she’s having a great time.
“Interacting with the visitors is interesting and fun. You never know who is on the train. Plus, it is fun to see the New River Gorge from the train. There are views you will never see from the road.”
Wright is one of 11 other volunteers recently ‘initiated’ into the program, making her and the others not just a volunteer with NRGNPP, but also with the nationwide Trails&Rails program, a partnership between the National Park Service and Amtrak that started over 25 years ago. The program is mostly volunteer driven and is active in 11 other national park areas throughout the U.S. To become part of the program, Wright and others had to also complete two short online classes on Interpretation and Railroad Safety, learn information about the park, especially park features visible outside the train windows, and ride the train to watch a more experienced volunteer.
