Traveling aboard an Amtrak train at a swift 80 mph provides a unique glimpse of the world outside, with some views lingering while others, like the fleeting sight of the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, disappear in an instant.
“You missed it,” chuckles Stuart Snyder, a volunteer with the National Park Service’s Trails & Rails program, as a passenger asks about spotting the lilacs.
Snyder is among 46 volunteer guides associated with the program, transforming select Amtrak journeys into engaging experiences akin to rolling national parks, complete with specialized stamps for National Park Passports. This initiative is a collaboration involving Amtrak, the National Park Service, and Texas A&M University, with 2025 marking its 25th anniversary.
Among the various routes, the Coast Starlight train, traveling between Seattle and Portland, stood out in 2024. It attracted 40% of the 120,900 passengers engaged with the program, more than any other train route nationwide.
Passengers can enjoy the expertise of these guides daily from April 25 to September 28 on the Coast Starlight. There are also guides available on the Empire Builder, traveling between Seattle and Wenatchee, on Thursdays and Sundays heading east, and Fridays and Mondays returning west.
On a recent weekday journey south to Portland, Snyder and fellow guide Bill Woodward encountered technical difficulties with their microphone system designed for the lounge car, making it challenging for all passengers to capture their informative insights as they strolled.
“Just project!” Snyder playfully chimed as Woodward explained the history of the Nalley Valley in Tacoma, theatrically holding up a can of Nalley chili as a prop.
Despite the microphone issues during the nearly 200-mile trip, both guides effectively shared a wealth of knowledge with the passengers.
“This is the Lewis River up here, folks. It’s not named after Meriwether Lewis but after a local trapper named A. Lee Lewis,” Snyder informed the passengers, clarifying the river’s origins from a glacier on Mount Adams, Washington’s second-highest peak, as opposed to the more commonly noted Mount Rainier.
Snyder, who has dedicated 19 years to the Trails & Rails program after a career spanning national parks, collaborated with Woodward, a Seattle Pacific University history professor in his second year as a guide.
Within the lounge car, the duo gathered around a table stacked with glossy historical photos and posters, showcasing intriguing items ranging from the notorious FBI sketch of D.B. Cooper to the Nutty Narrows, a bridge specifically constructed for squirrels in Longview. They also referenced a 100-page binder filled with curated facts about the route, consistently updated by various guides to ensure freshness in their storytelling.
“The guides can customize their presentations,” noted Sydney Rometsch, a park ranger and manager of visitor center operations for the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Seattle, the park collaborating closely with the Trails & Rails program on the Coast Starlight. “While there are suggested stops, guides have the flexibility to tailor their narrative, making each ride a unique experience.”
Rometsch, actively engaged with the program for about a year and a half, works with Jim Eagan, the local volunteer coordinator. Eagan has contributed to the program for a decade, focusing on building presentation skills during annual training sessions for guides and organizing field trips to destinations like the Mima Mounds in Thurston County. Such excursions allow guides to view landmarks firsthand rather than whizzing past at 80 mph.
Familiarity with history is essential, but guides also practice pacing and memorize smaller landmarks that precede larger ones to ensure they convey relevant background stories effectively before the train speeds by.
Each guide boasts personal favorites among the stories shared along the route. Classic favorites include the infamous D.B. Cooper saga, a man who hijacked a plane in 1971 and vanished with $200,000 in ransom. However, Eagan particularly enjoys discussing the eruption of Mount Rainier about 5,000 years ago, which caused a mudflow that redefined the Kent Valley.
Snyder takes pride in narrating the life of Billy Frank Jr., a Nisqually tribal member who played a pivotal role in advocating for Native fishing rights. Meanwhile, Rob Carr, another volunteer guide, enjoys highlighting the remarkable story of George Washington, an African American pioneer and the founder of Centralia.
Engaging with passengers is a significant aspect of their role, and Snyder remarks that the diverse mix of travelers often includes visitors from numerous countries.
However, not every passenger shares the enthusiasm for historical anecdotes. Some express their reluctance openly, such as the man who boarded in Portland and humorously exclaimed, “Oh no, not you guys!” as the guides began their narrative.
“We adapt to that, and by the time we reached Seattle, he shook our hands and said, ‘You guys were really great,’” recollected Eagan, reflecting on the experience of connecting through storytelling amidst initial skepticism.
Each journey on the Coast Starlight provides not only exemplary views of the majestic Pacific Northwest but also enriches the travel experience through shared histories, engaging stories, and a deep appreciation for the region’s diverse heritage.
image source from：chronline
